Lets face it, eating healthy can sometimes be very boring. This is why I try to be creative with my meal options. Being a vegetarian I have to take the main staples of my diet, in this case tofu, and find all types of ways to make it taste different. Much like chicken, tofu can be sautéed, grilled, fried and baked. It can be served in salads, soups, stir-fries or as a seasoned meat substitute in pretty much anything. Tofu can take on any flavor and texture depending on how you prepare it and is even found to be appetizing among some meat eaters.
For sometime now I've been buying my baked tofu at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. I love the texture of baked tofu because it's firm, much like fried tofu, but with out the extra fat calories. It never occurred to me that I could bake my own tofu for convenience purposes, considering not many food stores carry the baked option. Just the other day I finally got the brilliant idea to do it myself and found this tasty recipe on fatfreevegan.com.
BAKED TOFU:
This tofu recipe can be used for adding to stir-fries, rolling up in sushi, and serving with gravy on Thanksgiving. It's a great, easy all-around tofu recipe that even kids love.
- 1 lb. extra-firm regular tofu (NOT silken)
- about 1/8 cup soy sauce
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Slice tofu 1/4-inch thick. Brush each slice, back and front, with soy sauce and allow it to marinate for 10 minutes.
Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes, turning once halfway through, until a deep, golden brown and crispy on the outside but still tender on the inside. Remove from oven.
If using in a stir-fry, cut each slice of tofu into 8 cubes and add to stir-fry near the end.
For sushi, cut tofu lengthwise into about 6 thin strips. Roll up with rice in nori rolls.
Slices of baked tofu are great served with a "chicken style" or mushroom gravy.
Variations:
Add 1 tsp. sesame oil to the soy sauce for a great addition to stir-fries.
Add 1/4 tsp. of poultry seasoning or rosemary for a vegan turkey substitute.
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