4.27.09 Salt & Pepper Tofu
Ahh...tofu. The official icon of vegetarian eating. Leaving meat-eaters everywhere to run and hide at the mention of it. Which is really too bad. Sure tofu is basically tasteless when not seasoned properly, but umm, so isn't chicken. And that is actually a GOOD thing. Tofu's porous qualities make it great for marinading and for dishes where you really want the spices to stand out. Like this one. It is spicy, and when cooked to a golden brown, leaves a crunchy exterior with a softer inside. And really, what more could you ask for?
Salt & Pepper Tofu
adapted from Secrets of the Red Lantern . serves 2
1 package extra-firm tofu (12-16 oz), drained
1 jalapeño pepper, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 t fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 T salt
1 t pepper
1 t sugar
1/2 t five-spice powder
2 T olive oil*
4 scallions, chopped
With a sharp knife, cut tofu, lengthwise into thirds. Place side-by-side on an absorbent towel and cover with an additional towel. Place a heavy pot on top of the towels (the heavier the better, as you are trying to extract as much water as possible from the tofu) and let sit 20-30 minutes. Cut tofu into 1" cubes.
In a large bowl, combine jalapeño, garlic, ginger, salt, pepper, sugar and five-spice powder. Stir well and add tofu cubes. Toss until tofu cubes are well coated on all sides. In a large skillet, heat oil and add tofu (and spices). Cook on medium-low heat, 8 minutes, turning cubes every 1-2 minutes. Add scallions and cook an additional 2 minutes, until tofu is golden brown.
* reader lizkat, uses peanut oil with great success
Reader Comments (23)
That looks terrific! I LOVE tofu and think it gets a bad rap by most of our population. I'll try this!
that looks so yummy, i needed some inspiration to cook more tofu, thanks!
mmmm....i love tofu and am always looking for new ways to cook. don't you think it's kind of an acquired taste? i think most people don't like the texture.
Thanks for sharing this recipe...tofu is always welcome in our home.
wow-just found your blog from the class! I am so impressed and will be a new follower! I can't wait to try some of your recipes!
i'm just starting to cook tofu and looking forward to trying this recipe! your blog is next up for review in our mini groups from holly's course. it's great! i just wanted to introduce myself and give my kudos!
Hi Melinda- I guess I never had a problem with the texture, but I can understand the problem- especially if you eat it without baking or frying so the outside browns.
I'm totally going to try this recipe. One of my favorite restaurants makes salt and pepper tofu and I just couldn't figure out how to do it right.
My 3 year old son hates cooked tofu but he'll eat it raw. strange...
Thank you so much for your comment on my blog today! I feel so luck to have found you today! - my husband and I are having a vegetarian week and my vegan cousin is coming for dinner tomorrow! :)
Love the blog - keep up the great work!
Hope you have a wonderful day!
this sounds great, but a bit too spicy for me. perhaps i can find a way to make it less so.
YUM. Going to definitely try this. Love tofu.
This looks incredible! Now on the menu for this week. I think my little one will like it too. Thank you!
I plan on making this tomorrow night. Any suggestions to make it a full meal?
Hi Rebekah, The tofu would be great over brown rice with snow peas/broccoli/carrots stir fried in soy sauce and sesame oil. Or another suggestion would be a salad w/the orange-ginger dressing. Enjoy!
Hi! I found your blog from a link posted on The Kitchn. I love your blog! The recipes all look so tasty and the photos are beautiful. I had the salt and pepper tofu today and it was delicious - so flavorful with a nice kick. Ive had tofu a bunch of times but it was my first time cooking it. I thought it was a great recipe to start off with.
However, I had one problem that maybe you can help me with. The tofu got a bit crumbly when it was cooking. (I used extra firm, as advised.) Is that normal? If not, how do I avoid this next time?
Thanks. Can't wait to try some more of your recipes! :)
Hi Yesenia- Glad you enjoyed the dish! As far as the crumbling tofu is concerned, I have come across this problem before. If you do not press the tofu long enough to extract the water, it will not hold its shape well. I use thick towels to absorb as much as possible—you could always change the towels after 10-15 minutes if they are too damp. Also if the tofu sticks to the bottom of the pan when cooking and you struggle to get it free, it may crumble as well. You could try to either use a non-stick pan or add a bit of oil and shake the pan often to prevent sticking. I always try to remember it is a bit delicate and give it a light touch! I hope you try working with again and let me know how it goes!
this sounded sooooo good, I am making it right now. the trick to browning tofu I learned from Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. Peanut Oil. sorry but olive oil takes a really long time to brown the stuff and peanut oil doesn't... thanks for the recipe and hope my comment is not considered rude!
Hi lizykat- Thanks so much for the suggestion. It's not rude at all! I have not had a problem with olive oil, but would love to try peanut oil next time. I'm going to add it to the recipe, so readers could try it as well.
Do you have an out of country source for your soy products? Virtually all soy beans grown in the states is GMO. I had to eliminate it from my diet several years ago due to severe allergies.
Do you have an out of country source for soy? All grown here in the states are GMO. I developed a severe allergy several years ago so had to eliminate it from my diet.
Hi Susan- From what I have read all organic tofu is non-GMO. Trader Joe has a version: Trader Joe’s High Protein Organic Tofu or you could try this one http://www.vinhloitofu.com/. This link may be helpful in identifying other soy products which are GMO free http://www.soyinfo.com/haz/company.shtml. Of course I would check with the company directly for updated info, since you do develop severe allergies.
Great recipe, made it last night and served it with steamed broccoli and brown rice. One change I did make was cut way back on the salt and brushed the pressed tofu with soy sauce and lime juice. Thanks!
This looks decent! I'm not a huge fan of tofu but the doctor said I gotta cut back on my red meat and pork, so I'm hunting down alternatives. I think my main hang up with tofu is the texture-- but this recipe looks pretty good. Taste like chicken? Hope so.
-Sylvia