Tofu Recipes

Is Tofu a smart / low cal food? What are some neat ways to put tofu in your diet? Who has some tasty tofu recipes.

The recipes I'm going to post I think show my bias since I'm living in Korea... however, these are really delicious ways to eat tofu.

This is just a panfried tofu with a soy sauce based dressing... there are two, one is spicy (the best one) and one isn't.

The second is a spicy tofu stew. It uses the soft tofu. Serve with rice (or not). It's really delicious.

The third is a kimchi/tofu stew. Spicy, delicious, healthy. Again, serve with rice or not.

Also, a lot of people post in the vegetarian section of CC about new ways to cook tofu. The one I see come up the most often is baking it in the oven with barbeque sauce. I can't find barbeque sauce in Korea (and don't have an oven) so I can't vouch for it but it sounds good enough.

I like to dice up tofu (1/4 inch dice) and add it to this recipe:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php? storyId=106604562#106605361

I don't usually make the recommended quantity, as I'm not feeding 8 people, so I end up with a lot of leftover dressing - which is fine, as it's totally delicious. It's also very flavorful, so a little goes pretty far (which is good, because it's a full-fat dressing). I actually prefer this recipe warm, but it's also pretty good cold.

Edit: I make a recipe similar to the first one alibsam posted, but the spicy dressing in the one I use has diced fresh chili and red chili powder instead of  the chili flakes, and it doesn't have sugar (and it's so freakin' good!)

I've got three recipes saved in the database

Tofu & Mushroom Curry.... very tasty and highly recommended

Tofu Fried Rice..... a lot lower calorie than it sounds and made with brown rice.

Tofu & Cashew Nut Stir-Fry...  the nuts give it some texture

Original Post by kriklaf:

Edit: I make a recipe similar to the first one alibsam posted, but the spicy dressing in the one I use has diced fresh chili and red chili powder instead of  the chili flakes, and it doesn't have sugar (and it's so freakin' good!)

Just a note: the chili powder used in Korean food is not the same as western chili powder. You'd have to go to a Korean market to get it... the Korean name for it is gochu-karo.

Use the forum Search to find prior posts.  Here, I've done it for you

http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/search2.php? search_type=forum&forumid=7&searchpro =tofu&x=44&y=12

Grilled tofu sandwiches for lunch--just grill slices of extra firm tofu in a skillet and use instead of meat--you can do batches and refrigerate for lunches all week.

Tofu's good in curries (as GI Jane posted), stir fries...pretty much as a substitute for any recipe that has meat chunks in it. I've also grated extra firm tofu and added it to veggie chili.

You can blend silken (soft) tofu and put it in smoothies or in this banana-chocolate pudding recipe (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chocolate-Banana -Tofu-Pudding/Detail.aspx)

Hi Y'all,

Have thought about trying Tofu for years.  Even bought some once but never got around to it.  I am stepping out.  Headed to the store and try some tofu cooking.

thanks for the info

love & light

marjg

I often make my own tofu burgers.  I smash up tofu with onions, garlic, bell peppers, and any other veggies I have around, and I add an egg and enough panko bread crumbs to make the patties stick together.  I vary the seasonings and spices depending on my mood.  I either bake the patties in the oven until they are brown, or I fry them with a little olive oil in a pan (the flipping can break the patties apart though, they are very fragile).  I put them on toasted bread with the standard burger fixings, and my boyfriend and I really enjoy them. 

Original Post by alibsam:

The recipes I'm going to post I think show my bias since I'm living in Korea... however, these are really delicious ways to eat tofu.

This is just a panfried tofu with a soy sauce based dressing... there are two, one is spicy (the best one) and one isn't.

The second is a spicy tofu stew. It uses the soft tofu. Serve with rice (or not). It's really delicious.

The third is a kimchi/tofu stew. Spicy, delicious, healthy. Again, serve with rice or not.

 

Also, a lot of people post in the vegetarian section of CC about new ways to cook tofu. The one I see come up the most often is baking it in the oven with barbeque sauce. I can't find barbeque sauce in Korea (and don't have an oven) so I can't vouch for it but it sounds good enough.

I was going to post soon tofu soup also! I love making and eating it, or going to a local restaurant for a fix (they make their own tofu!)! I actually bought a clay pot just for that purpose. :)

UD

I like soft, silken tofu cut into tiny cubes and floated in clear soup with a few chopped scallions.  Of course Japanese style soup is great, but I just use my own homemade chicken or beef broth. 

Original Post by umneydurak:

I was going to post soon tofu soup also! I love making and eating it, or going to a local restaurant for a fix (they make their own tofu!)! I actually bought a clay pot just for that purpose. :)

UD

Ahh soondubu is delicious. There's an amazing, cheap place here in Seoul that only makes soondubu jjigae and I'm going to have to take my sister to when she comes next week. I just remembered about it...

And the clay pots are amazing. I need to buy a bigger one. Thanks for reminding me. :)

The key to tofu is in the preparation.  If you are using firm or extra firm variety, it greatly helps to press out the moisture.  I also always freeze mine before using to give an even firmer texture.  To press tofu, slice it or cube it and place it like this:

Top to Bottom:

a few lbs of weight, such as books/cans
cookie sheet
towel
tofu
towel
cookie sheet

Press for 15-30 minutes.  Once the moisture is pressed out the tofu will be more firm and have a better texture/flavor.  It will also take the flavors of marinade better. 

Another thing that sounds great although I have not tried it yet, is when you buy tofu, immediately drain it, then replace the liquid for a marinade (soy, broth, BBQ sauce, etc.) and freeze it. 

My favorite way to prepare firm tofu is baking it.  You can control the texture very well that way (based on how long you bake it) from brown and crispy to still soft.  Also it doesn't fall apart like it tends to do when you stir fry it.

Tofu scramble is good, too.

I also enjoy silken tofu occasionally but it's harder to prepare because it's so delicate, but there is no pressing involved in that kind.  PF Chang's has a wonderful curry stir fry that uses silken tofu - it's outta this world! 

This  is the best thing I've ever made with tofu, by farhttp://caloriecount.about.com/2000-calorie-la sagne-recipe-r224010