6 Cooking Tips That Will Make You Love Tofu – One Green Planet

All vegans must love tofu or they can’t be in the club. Just kidding! When you eat a plant-based diet, there are an endless number of foods to enjoy besides tofu. However, tofu is delicious, versatile, and packed with protein. For some people though, tofu might take some getting used to. With the right tofu cooking tips, you can learn how to prepare it, cook it, and make it tantalizing. If you and tofu don’t have a happy relationship but you’re willing to try to make it work between you, these tips for cooking tofu might help you like…or even love this delicious protein!

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest meatless, vegan, plant-based, and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help you get healthy! And, don’t forget to check out our Tofu Archives!

1. Buy the Right Tofu for the Job

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There are several kinds of tofu you can buy: silken, soft, medium, firm, and extra-firm. So, which one do you buy? It depends on what you want to make. Silken tofu is best used for sauces, creams, batters, and in baking. It’s perfect for tofu omelets and mousses. Soft tofu is great for tofu scrambles. I always buy the extra-firm type for all my recipes. It holds up to whatever I’m trying to do, whether I’m cutting it into cubes for Chinese dishes, slices for cutlets, or dredging it and frying it for Buffalo Tofu Fries.

2. Texture is Everything

If the tofu you have been eating tastes wet and spongy, well, no wonder you don’t like it. Tofu comes packed in a lot of water and one of the most important tofu-cooking tips is to get that water out. All that water is taking up space where flavor needs to be. When you open a package of tofu, drain the water out of the package. Then you need to press the tofu. You can either buy tofu presses that are available or do it yourself with paper towels and heavy objects. Read how to press tofu properly here. If you want the tofu to have an even denser, firmer, and chewier texture, try freezing it first. This is an especially good technique to use if you need the tofu to be firm and allow you to handle it without it breaking like when you’re making Tofu Scallops, pictured above.

3. Be Liberal With Seasoning

After the tofu has all the water pressed out of it, the next tofu cooking tip is to fill it back up with flavor by marinating it and/or seasoning it. A marinade can be as simple as tamari mixed with water. Most people come up with a recipe for a basic marinade that they use in the majority of their tofu dishes. Usually, it’s a combination of tamari, broth or water, oil, and a few herbs and spices such as garlic, oregano, or paprika. In ethnic recipes like Tandoori Tofu, pictured above, the marinade is essential to the flavor of the dish. Be sure to pat the tofu dry before cooking it to ensure crispness.

Whether you marinate the tofu or not, a dry rub of seasoning will help add flavor and a crusty texture when you cook it. Choose a few of your favorite herbs and spices, mix them in a small bowl and rub them over the surface of the tofu. When you pan-fry the tofu, that rub will become a delicious crust.

4. When in Doubt, Fry It

An unwritten (until now) but often-spoken suggestion of mine is “When in doubt, fry it.” Whenever there is a food that you or someone else finds unappetizing, try it fried. Cut the tofu into cubes or nugget shapes, dredge it in non-dairy milk, and then coat it with seasoned flour, bread crumbs, crushed-up rice cereal, or cornmeal. Then fry it until it’s browned and crispy. The tofu will taste moist and tender on the inside with a yummy crispy coating on the outside. Who wouldn’t love Crispy Tofu Nuggets, pictured above, or “chicken-fried” tofu? I want some right now! If frying isn’t your thing, that’s fine. Read my article on how to make the perfect baked tofu.

5. Use It in Your Favorite Dishes

Tofu is the perfect stand-in for chicken, fish, and even dairy. No rule says you have to eat tofu in a stir-fry (though that’s amazing) or in a salad like this Sesame Tofu Broccoli Salad (also amazing). Think of a dish you always loved, swap the animal product out, and use tofu instead. As long as you recreate the same flavors and textures that made those dishes your favorites, you will discover that you can still have them more healthily and compassionately. Try out making your own General Tso’s Tofu and Tofu “Shrimp” Scampi. Use tofu to substitute for ricotta in dishes like Spinach Gnudi Balls and Ooey-Gooey Baked Ziti. Tofu is also perfect for desserts. Use it for these Flourless Tofu Zucchini Muffins or this Cool Chocolate Mousse. Yum!

6. Eat It at Your Favorite Vegan Restaurant

If tofu is completely new to you and you have no clue what it’s even supposed to taste like, I would suggest having it at your favorite vegan restaurant. When I wasn’t sure how to make a tasty tofu scramble, I went to a vegan café and had one there. It was delicious and it taught me how good tofu could taste when prepared right. Then when I went back into my kitchen, I knew what results I was hoping to get. Plus, it’s a great excuse to go out and enjoy your favorite vegan eateries.

So if you find you’re having trouble with tofu and you’re ready to break up with it, hang on and try these tofu cooking tips before calling it quits. You might find out like I did, that when a block of tofu is treated the right way, it repays you with mouthwatering happiness. It’s a true love story.

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