Cooking Tofu » 2007

Archive for October, 2007

Tofu to please meat eaters

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007 by The Cooking Guy

Mention tofu to any avid meat-eater and you’ll hear words such as “boring”, “dull” and “tasteless” being thrown about. tofu is, in fact, a tasteless food, basically being curdled solidified soymilk.

It is, however, an excellent source of protein, calcium, vitamin B complex, vitamin E and phytoestrogens, all proven to go hand in hand with a number of health benefits, making it an ideal food for vegans and vegetarians which nutrients many miss out on.

However, one advantage of tofu is its ability to absorb the taste of other foods very easily; opening doors to a number of options of recipes and dishes based using marinated tofu that anyone will enjoy. And for the health conscience, marinated tofu is low in fat and still maintains all the health benefits that tofu promises.

tofu Marinades in Minutes
There are an extensive range of marinades on the market ready to heat and eat. No mess, no worries. However, if you’re running short of time, have a browse through your pantry to see what you can whip together. The rule with tofu marinades is that they don’t have to be complex to be tasty.

Try mixing 2 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp oyster sauce, 2 cloves garlic (crushed) with 1 tsp sugar to make a subtle, light marinade that children and adults alike would love. Or for something different try mixing 3 tbsp lemon juice with 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 2 tbsp shoyu, ½ tsp chopped rosemary with oil and a little pepper. Then you have the choice of grilling, stir-frying or baking the marinated tofu and serving with vegetables or salad for a light and tasty meal. Noodles or rice are also a great accompaniment, which can also be skipped for those wanting to keep an eye on their carbohydrate intake.

Keep Well Prepared
Try to keep a number of bottled marinades in your cupboard to make a healthy, fast last minute-meal. Remember that jars can last months and even years before going out of date so it pays to keep them on hand. Other ingredients that you can keep handy could include: soy sauce, sugar, oyster sauce, hoisen sauce, coconut cream, garlic, herbs and spice and sweet chili sauce. tofu is a healthy meat alternative that with a little inspiration and initiative can be used to make a very memorable dish. Remember that if you can, try to let your tofu marinade soak in overnight, but if you’re rushing, 20 minutes will be fine.