Trying to seek out new stuff to feed the kids (3 1/2 and 1 1/2 years old), I bought some tofu but don't know what to do with. How do you serve yours? Fry it up in skillet?
My daughter liked both soft and firm tofu cut into sticks, browned in oil and drizzled with teriyaki or soy sauce. It's a nice addition to stir-fries and soups, too (firm works better when stirring is involved).
I can't imagine my kids even trying it...I hope you find some good advice, it sounds very interesting and different!
Hi J.---There is so much you can do with Tofu. I recommend checking out the magazine/website www.vegetariantimes.com. I've found all kinds of great recipes including Kung Pao Sliders...yummy! http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/11626. Check it out. I also make a soup/stew with black eyed peas and greens and tofu. It is very simple...and again, delicious.
I have all kinds of great recipes so if you'd like to pm me your email I would be happy to share them with you. Good luck...HAVE FUN! D.
My daughter likes it sizzled in olive oil and agave nectar....then tossed with green onions and lemon juice.
I would look up some recipes. I've never cooked with it, but I've heard that it doesn't have much flavor on it's own, so it needs spices and\or a sauce.
I saute it up in the frying pan and then make a mild curry sauce. I serve it with the sauce over rice with fresh fruit on the side. The kids love it.
Recipe:
- Start water for rice (I usually use white rice that takes about 20 minutes to cook)
- Saute tofu until brown in butter or oil (in frying pan) on medium-high heat
- decrease heat to medium and add onion and garlic and a red pepper cut in small cubes and cook until onions and garlic are soft (a few minutes)
- Add a tablespoon of flour and a tablespoon of mild curry powder
- Add 2 cups of broth, simmer.
- When the water for the rice is boiling add salt and rice to water
- Once rice has come to a boil and is simmering add a grated apple to the curry
- Let the curry simmer on low until rice is ready. If you like your sauce thicker you may have to add some cornstarch while it simmers.
PS: I'm only mentioning the cooking of the rice for timing. I know that I have to add the apple when the rice is simmering. Also, my mom used to make this same recipe with cut up chicken or pork.
I do a bunch of different Thai recipes with Tofu in it. Kids love it.
So, do a stir fry or something like that. On it's own, Tofu is very bland, so you need to add it to something that has a lot of flavor.
We add it to stir fries. There are a ton of recipes - you just need to pay attention to whether they call for the soft/silken, firm or extra firm kind.
My son loves to eat tofu. He has two favorite ways to eat it.
We usually have about 80 grams of silken tofu crumbled up with a teaspoon of fruit sauce (the kind used for yogurt) mixed into it every morning for breakfast. We like mango and blueberry sauces the best. If you don't have fruit sauces, jam also tastes okay. But not as healthy...
He has been eating this since he was a baby. Loves, loves, loves it. I like it too. It is a really easy way to get protein into your breakfast. Keeps me going all morning when I have this paired with oatmeal.
Another big favorite for our family is iridofu. This is a favorite in Japanese homes. (We live in Japan.) This recipe is one of my favorites. I make this 2 or 3 times a month. Ingredients are easy to get and it cooks up quickly. If you drain the tofu in the morning and keep it wrapped in the fridge until ready to use, this takes about 15 minutes to make. There are 3 people in my family, so we can usually get three meals out of one time cooking. I serve it with genmai rice, miso soup, salad, and fruit.
Iridofu
2 packages firm tofu (800 - 1000 grams total)
1 small carrot (thinly sliced)
about 50 grams of your favorite mushroom: I like maetake or shitake mushrooms (thinly sliced)
Your choice of one of the following green veggies: 10-15 frozen green beans (cut into small pieces), a cup of green peas, or 2 small green peppers chopped up
2 Tbsp cooking oil (I use olive oil or sesame oil.)
3 Tbsp soy sauce (weak)
1 1/2 Tbsp sugar
1 beaten egg
1. Drain tofu of excess water. (Wrap in a kitchen towel or paper towels and place between two dishes with something slightly heavy like a small jar of jam on top of the dish for 30 minutes. Or microwave in a safe Tupperware for 2 minutes. Wrapping gets more of the liquid out resulting in a better tasting end product.)
2. While tofu is draining prepare veggies and egg as indicated above.
3. Heat oil in fry pan. Stir fry carrot and mushrooms for 3 minutes. (If using green peppers, add these at this time as well.)
4. Add soy sauce and sugar.
5. Add tofu and crumble up using a wooden spoon or spatula. (It should be chunky in texture, but if some of the tofu takes on a cottage cheese like texture that is fine.)
6. Cook until most of the liquid is absorbed.
7. Add green beans or green peas at this point.
8. Pour beaten egg over mixture and stir well. It is ready to serve when the egg disappears.
Serves 6-8 as a main dish.
(If you half the recipe on the tofu to 400-500 grams, keep the veggies the same amount, and lower the oil to 1 Tbsp, soy sauce 2 Tbsp, and sugar 1 Tbsp. Still use one beaten egg.)
A third way that we like, but can't always afford depending on the price of fruits: Cut silken tofu into cubes and add it to your favorite combination of fruits. We like it with banana, grapes, persimmons, peaches,strawberries, and kiwi. Choose at least three fruits and make sure one of them is quite juicy. If it's not juicy, add 1 tbsp of grape juice to your fruit salad. Throw in a little crushed jello and top with some homemade whipped cream and it makes a wonderful dessert.
Happy eating!
Soups, brown and black rice,
I used to put the soft kind in smoothies...until they got wise :)
i cook it in a pan with some olive oil, soy sauce or bragg and a little bit of ginger either fresh or powdered.
We cube it and throw it in the fryer or marinade in soy sauce for a few hours and bake in the oven. Serve with a side of rice and stir fried veggies, or by itself as a high protein snack.
