Tofu Recipes Anyone?

Updated on July 30, 2010
L.S. asks from San Diego, CA
16 answers

I have a 5 1/2 year old and he just won't eat any meat (he does lick fish though... for now). I would like to make a tofu dish that would appeal to him. Do any of you mom's have a great recipe that your kids like? Thanks in advance.

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So What Happened?

Thank you ladies! I see so many great ideas and tips most importantly the recipes. I am going to try my first tofu dish this weekend keeping my fingers crossed that it will turn out good (I'm not the best cook ...but I try). Thank you so much, I really wanted to add another dimension to our eating and to give my son a different protein source. I am also venturing into bean land looking at bean hamburgers and such. Thanks again.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

You already got some great ideas (and don't forget "fake meat" tofu or mushroom-aka mycoprotein-aka Quorn- products, like hotdogs, sausage, "ground" for mixing into pasta sauce etc.)

BUT

Anytime you add a legume + grain = complete protein. So that's things like rice and beans, hummus and pita, fallafl, chili and bread. Any legume + any grain. Nuts and Eggs and Milk also have complete proteins.

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M.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

I make Tofu soup with fresh tomato juice and some vegetables, my son loves that. Black bean also has a lot of protein, you can make black bean cake with them, lots of recipes for that on line.
hope it helps

1 mom found this helpful

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G.T.

answers from San Francisco on

I don't have such a problem as both my children LOVE tofu (even cold, straight from the package, yuck!)
Their favorite treats:
- in the wok with some ginger, soy sauce, mushrooms and broccoli
- fried with a little of soy sauce
- cut into 1/2 inch slices, then into funny shapes (like the ginger bread man) with a cookie cutter, breaded and just broiled in the oven.
- eggless egg salad: with a fork, mix 1 package of tofu (14-oz), 1/4 tsp of turmeric (gives the yellow color), 1 tbs mustard, 1/2 cup mayonnaise and from there just add whatever you would add to an egg salad. I use it as dipping, on top of crackers, in sandwiches...
- My husband adds it to soups. We had some picky eaters once for lunch and the parents couldn't believe they asked for second servings.
I also add some to fruit smoothies. I used to have a chocolate mousse recipe but I lost it (you may google it?)
Note: we use only the extra firm variety.
Enjoy!

3 moms found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Houston on

my daughter LOVES tofu, get the extra firm kind.

cut into rectangles

fry on olive oil on both sides, cover in honey or agave nectar while frying, sprinkle with salt, then after suffieciantly browned remove and toss in lemon juice/lemon zest and chopped scallions.(with this methond you can pretty much toss into any dressing, sweet n sour, barbeque sauce, ketchup, red wine vinegarette, honey mustard)skies the limit

another good recipe

cut into rectangles, marinate overnight in orange juice/soy sauce/ chopped garlic/olive oil/agave nectar or honey (any sweet syrup really) bake at 350, about 20 minutes, salt to taste

ridiculously succulent

sorry i dont have measurements for these i made them up basically

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C.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Soy products for boys is controversial. I would look up REPUTABLE sources before feeding your son soy, or at least be sure it's not GMO soy.

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R.S.

answers from San Antonio on

My husband makes chocolate mousse that is made from tofu...I will have to find you the recipe...it rocks!!

You might be able to find it on Google.

1 mom found this helpful
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E.E.

answers from Los Angeles on

For about two months my daughter ate the following only.

Orzo with tofu, steamed carrots, broccoli and sometimes kale and/or cheese. She's only 18 months so your son may want some more flavor. You could add whatever pasta sauce he likes to it. The orzo concoction can be frozen for up to a month. It's awesome.

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S.H.

answers from Detroit on

My only addition to the other ladies wonderful recipes is that if you dry fry the tofu first before you marinate it, it will soak up whatever you marinate much better, and quicker. By dry frying, I mean that you squeeze out the water from the firm tofu on a pan (with nothing in it... no oils, butter, dry pan) with a spatula... it becomes a very nice "sponge" then for whatever taste you would like it to be.

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J.A.

answers from Spartanburg on

Well, first if he doesn't eat meat then beans, dairy, and eggs are a good source of protein. BUT to get to your question, the only tofu dish I make that I actually like (the texture turns me off ) is to bread (I use nutritional yeast, but bread crumbs or whatever breading you want shakenbake!) saute with oil and/or soy sauce(depending on breading) and even my husband will eat it! Not to say tofu isn't good but my husband HATES it and it sounds like your boy isn't too thrilled either! I prefer tempeh to tofu, good protien but firmer texture which is what I like, but you can grill, fry, steam, season, bake both just like any animal product. I will usually mix one with a meat to make the meal go further. Good Cooking!

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K.S.

answers from Reno on

I’ve shared this with friends and both adults and kids like it.:
One lb firm tofu (drain and crumble with hands)
One lb carrots grated (with grater or in food processor)
1/3 cup soy sauce (I like the low sodium)
Few drops sesame seed oil (or to taste)
3 Tbsps sesame seeds
Olive oil

Cook the grated carrots in olive oil until tender (~ 10 minutes). Add the crumbled tofu and cook to heat, stirring to mix with carrots. Add the soy sauce and sesame seed oil and stir. Turn off heat and add sesame seeds. Serve over rice. More soy sauce can be used for taste at the table.

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L.K.

answers from Kansas City on

I make "ricotta stuffed shells" but use 1/2 tofu and 1/2 ricotta in the shells.

My family loves it and doesn't know the difference.

Good Luck

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J.T.

answers from Los Angeles on

Have you tried tofu adobo? I don't know what it is about this Filipino dish, but I haven't met a kid who doesn't like it. We normally eat it with chicken. Cut up extra firm tofu in cubes. Sautee an onion and garlic clove with a bit of oil. Then throw in the cubes. Add equal parts low sodium soy sauce and apple cider vinegar (it is o.k. if you use a little bit more vinegar than soy sauce). I usually use~ 1/4 cup soy and 1/3 c apple cider vinegar. Season with pepper. You can also throw in some ginger or a little sugar for a little kick. Serve the whole thing with rice. The rice sops up all the juice and mixes in nicely with the tofu. Have fun!

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B.V.

answers from Los Angeles on

Just a thought before you stock up on too much tofu:
Tofu is beans and beans mean gas, gas, etc. etc.
Try a little at a time and see how it works out.
I tried several toful dishes a few years ago and gave up.
We don't eat many beans either.
Good luck.

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R.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Be careful to not give your son a lot of tofu, and if you do make tofu then make certain it is Non-GMO. Tofu is especially not good for boys. I would only do tofu on rare occasions. My children like it when I crumble extra firm tofu and make it into a scramble (like scrambled eggs). I would flavor it with olive oil, soysauce or salt, onions, a little garlic powder, and curry powder will taste good and make it yellow. An alternative source of protein besides beans is Wheat protein called Seitan. Make certain he is not allergic to wheat gluten.

1 mom found this helpful

T.C.

answers from Austin on

My son likes the fried tofu, dipped in soy sauce or sometimes dusted with powdered sugar.
We have trouble getting our son to eat meat, but he likes other meat-type things. He eats cheese quesadillas, cottage cheese, chick peas(or hummus), black bean spaghetti(hard to find but high in protein), portobello mushrooms, or fish such as king crab, sardines, tuna, or even the fake krab(fun to unroll).

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