We love tofu. There, we said it! Bean curd often gets a bad rap because it is so mild, but when it’s prepared properly it can hold a lot of different marinades very well. From Pad Thai to sticky spicy tofu, these three delicious recipes should get you inspired to experiment with this super healthy and versatile ingredient. Below, you’ll find some of the best tips and tricks for how to cook tofu like a pro, plus some interesting different flavour profiles which pair fantastically with it. So without further ado, let’s get into Tofu: 3 Super-Delicious Recipes You’ll Love!
1. Vegan Pad Thai Recipe
This traditional Thai, stir-fried noodle dish is sweet, tangy, and comforting—and comes together in a few easy steps in just one pan. Bake your tofu in the oven in order to achieve a crispy outer layer, pre-soak the rice noodles in room-temperature water, and then toss the two in a wok with your vegetables, adding in beansprouts at the last minute. To serve, slice up some fresh lime wedges and sprinkle crushed peanuts over the top.
2. Sticky, Spicy Tofu
This spicy, sticky tofu recipe is a healthy vegan take on the popular sweet and sour Chinese takeout chicken dish. This recipe is quick and easy to make in under 20 minutes, loaded with plant-based protein and can be made gluten-free by using tamari sauce. The tofu has a crispy, lightly crunchy exterior, while the sauce plays with all five flavour profiles. This recipe can served in a wide variety of ways, but we suggest that you serve it over a Buddha bowl for a tasty and nutritious meal!
3. Spicy Braised Tofu
The glory of these tofu pieces is the contrast between their spicy, crunchy exteriors and their mild, soft insides. To begin, simply dry off and slice up a block of firm tofu into uniform, bite-sized pieces. Then fry these slices on high heat in a wide frying pan—remember to flip the pieces over to achieve an even layer of crispiness.
Whilst the tofu is cooking, prepare the aromatic base for your spicy sauce by mincing one clove of garlic, one half cup of minced onion, and two green onions. Next, make the sauce by mixing up some soy sauce, sugar, kosher salt, hot pepper flakes and water all together in a small mixing bowl. Now that all of the elements of the sauce are ready to go, you can begin to fry the aromatics in a small saucepan.
Once that the aromatics are all nicely caramelised, you can pour the sauce into the pan and leave this on the stove to bubble for about ten minutes, which should allow all the flavours to marry together. To finish off your spicy braised tofu, simply stir the tofu pieces into your fiery sauce for the last few minutes of cooking—this recipe would be perfect served over rice or noodles. Gorgeously yummy!
