Tofu?

I dont think i have ever had any. Is it low calories, and if so, what is the best way to eat for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner???

Try to keep it low calories, please.

Here's the CC list of tofu items Tofu

As you can see, firm tofu gets an A-

It can be incorporated into many dishes to replace meat.  You can do a stir fry, put cubes of it in soup, mash it to replace the ricotta cheese in lasagne, and so much more.

It has no real flavor of it's own, but takes on the flavor of whatever you're cooking

I like to cut it in 1/2" slices and marinate them overnight.

Everybody, post recipes!  And see also the Vegetarian Forum!

and don't forget to check out This Thread!

If you want it to have a chewier, "meat-like" texture, supposedly you can freeze it and then thaw it out again before cooking.  I've got a block sitting in the freezer right now.  I'll let you know how it turns out :)

Frozen tofu is awesome!  Here is my frozen tofu curry recipe - it's completely delicious, easy, and gets an A.  You can also make this same dish with garbanzo beans or lentils instead of the tofu.

Ingredients 16 oz firm tofu, frozen and rethawed. 1 medium onion, minced 16 oz tomatoes, diced and peeled 2 tsp canola oil 2 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp turmeric 1 tbsp coriander 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper 4 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp raw ginger, mincedDirections

1. Thaw tofu and tear into 1-inch chunks
   
2. Heat oil in a large, deep saucepan over medium-high heat.
   
3. Add cumin seeds and stir.
   
4. When cumin seeds start to pop, add onions. Stir and cook onions until translucent, about 3 minutes.
   
5. Add tomatoes and stir, mashing into a paste.
   
6. Add turmeric, coriander and salt and stir well; cook about 8 minutes.
   
7. Add tofu, black pepper and turmeric. Stir and cook until tofu is heated through.
   
8. Add lemon juice and ginger just before serving.
   
   

Hello daisyg,

I just made some tofu tonight. Tofu is great, you can do just about anything with it. Although, the way I made them tonight is not the healthies, but it tasted sooooooo good.

2 blocks firm tofu
2 tbsp fresh chpped ginger
1 tbsp chopped garlic
2 onions sliced
2 medium carrots cut into thin strip or use cheese grater
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tbsp sesame oil
Sambal (asian pepper sauce can be found in grocery store in asian section)
cornstarch
oil

Heat oil in pan (this is to fry the tofu)
cut tofu into small cubes
coat tofu with cornstarch (this will make it crunchy)
Place fried tofu on paper towel to drain

In another pan:
heat 1 tbsp oil
saute onions, carrots, ginger, garlic
add soy sauce and sambal
remove pan from heat and add sesame oil

Once everything is done pour sauce in a mixing bowl and then add in the tofu and toss. This will taste just like a stir fry.

Ooooops...... Let me add first before you do anything place the tofu in a strainer and place a plate on top of it and weight it down with something heavy, but not too heavy that it will crush and crumble the tofu. The reason why you want to do this is to drain out as much of the liquid from the tofu. This way your not aplattering grease every where when you fry them.

If you don't want to fry you can omit that entire step and either use a non stick pan and PAM and brown in saute pan. Or you can put it in a 350° oven. Enjoy!!!!!!!!

I found tofu to be kinda high calories (for its volume).

A really good one i ran across the other day is polenta. 1/4 pound is about 50-70 calories (depending on what type you get). I dont think it has the same protein as you can find in tofu though...but has more flavor of its own (its cornmeal base and comes with lots of different flavors).

6 ounces plain, firm tofu = 183 calories, 19 grams of protein, no cholesterol, 10% of the iron you need and 87% of your calcium needs.  It provides 2.9 grams of fiber.

5 ounces of cooked chicken breast = 211 calories, 40 grams of protein, only 2% of the calcium and 7% of the iron you need, plus some cholesterol, and no fiber.

Tofu is higher in fat than cooked chicken breast, but all of it is good fat from soybeans.  Chicken is higher in protein.

I always used the soft tofu for my fruit shakes:

Rasberry Banana Tofu shake

1 package (12 oz) silken tofu

1 banana

1 c fat free soy milk or skim milk

1 c rasberry

1/4 c frozen orange juice concentrate

Just mix everything in a blender, it makes 4 servings with 150 cal.  You can also used it with your other fruit shake recipes, just replace the 1/2 of your milk with it.  Enjoy!

i love to add cut up tofu to homemade salads :)
delicious.

I like Tofu very much...here a nice recipe for you..

Ingredients:

• 2 cups firm tofu
• 2 cups canned or fresh pumpkin
• 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground clove
• one 9-inch deep-dish pie shell (see recipe below)

Method:


Blend tofu until smooth. Add the above ingredients and continue blending until mixed. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour ingredients into pie shell. Bake for an hour, or until crust is done. Chill in refrigerator for at least an hour.

Serve chilled.

Serves 8.

Source: http://www.imsickofbeingfat.com

Nasoya makes a light tofu that's lower in fat and calories.  Honestly, I can't tell the difference. 

I also have tried, and use, the Nassoya Lite Firm Tofu, and i absoloutely love it in sir fry's. The whole package (14oz) is only 200 calories and 7.5g fat, plus you get lots of calcium and other vital nutrients. Nassoya Lite Firm Tofu

I ditto that freezing firm tofu in the freezer and then adding it to recipes makes it "meatier".

My mother did this once and I loved the texture-- it came out spongy and really filling!  Below is a great recipe for a soup with it that is great for light meals:


*chicken stock
*chopped or ripped up bok choy
*salt
*ginger
*scallions
*vermicelli (only a handful)
*frozen firm tofu.

You can add anything else you want to this soup-- it will taste good.  If you want more veggies, try adding spinach or daikon radish.  Or even some shreded chicken for a heavier meal.  Very simple and pure.

my daughter doesn't really eat meat.. so now I make a lot with tofu!! this thread has helped SOO much!!

thank you guy's and girl'sl!! lol

Cut tofu into ~1/3" cubes and saute in a very little butter - I don't drain in first, so there's lots of liquid.  Cook whole wheat pasta.  Steam broccoli.  Saute a mix of mushroom types in olive oil with thyme and pepper.  Layer tofu, pasta, mushrooms and broccoli on plates.  Very satisfying.

fartman, I made your tofu pumpkin pie yesterday.  It's fantastic!  I brought the leavings into work and they were devoured.  Thanks for the recipe!