Tofu help
Posted by SSF MACROSS on Dec 28, 2007 · Member since Dec 2007 · 11 posts
hello everyone!
I just went to the store and bought some Tofu, the name is "Tasty Tofu" something like that. Any ways, the problem is i have never had tofu. I don't know if i should cook it or what. Can any one help me out? Sorry if there is already a thread for this.
the name of the tofu is Tasty Tofu and in comes in a little container with water. Its in strips, there are maybe like 8 strips. I can't take a picture, sorry, the camera does not have battery. TEEHEE. And its asian by the letter on it.
Whatever you do, don't eat it out of the container! If you've never had it before, it can be a real turn off- like eating flour out of the bag. It's great when prepared properly, but out-of-the-package is an acquired taste.
Look at the ingredients - if it just has soy, water, and one or two other ingredients, it is probably plain tofu. If it has oil and flavourings, it is probably marinated. Marinated is okay straight - like on a salad, or in a sandwich.
If it says "silken" it is best blended for things like puddings and sauces.
Otherwise, it is great cooked in pieces. My favorite method is frying in a non stick skillet with a couple of spoonfuls of oil - until it is golden brown. Then, serve it with or in your favorite sauce (like barbecue, stir fry, etc) Tofu is very bland, and absorbs other flavours very well. It goes best with strong, sour flavours like tomato and citrus- based ones.
There are great tofu recipes on the recipes portion of this site, too. Try some of the ones for scrambled tofu!
Hope it goes well!
Oh goodness, there are SO many ways you can make tofu!
Like mdvegan said, if it's packed in liquid, you first need to pour away the liquid, and you will probably want to press the liquid out. I have never bought water-packed tofu that comes in strips (I buy the kind in a block) but the way I press mine is by sandwiching it in between two plates and then put something heavy on top. Leave it a while until it seems like most of the liquid's been squeezed out. Then there are lots of things you could do....cut it up into pieces and fry it in a pan with a little bit of oil (maybe as part of a stirfry); slice it, bread it, and bake it; grill it.......look at some of the vegweb recipes, see what looks good, and try it! It's also good to marinate the tofu ahead of time in soy sauce or whatever other sauces you like to add flavor before you cook it.
Here's another similar thread that talks about tofu prep, and freezing tofu in particular. This makes the texture a little different and helps it soak up flavors well.
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=20414.0
I hope that helps! Good luck :)
(Anna posted while I was typing...I agree, a tofu scramble would be a nice dish for your first tofu experiment :D)
Oh, here are some more ideas:
http://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-Tofu
Welcome SSF!
If it is a firm to extra firm tofu I reccommend you try out the general tso tofu recipie! It is really awesome and not too difficult to make!
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=8769.0
If you are looking for something simpler you can steam or grill it and add some bbq, sweet and sour or someother kind of marinade you like :) tofu can be something of an aquired taste--if it doesen't go well the first time, try a few more recipies--tofu can be really, really delicious!!!
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g22/EtotheN/funny/TOFU.jpg
Thank you a lot for your help!!
Capture, I would give a large, vegan chocolate chip cookie covered with gold-leaf to know what the "little guy" is saying in your picture! Doesn't look very "magic happy" to me! Magic, maybe, but it looks more like "killer tofu attacks buddies!" :D
Capture, I would give a large, vegan chocolate chip cookie covered with gold-leaf to know what the "little guy" is saying in your picture! Doesn't look very "magic happy" to me! Magic, maybe, but it looks more like "killer tofu attacks buddies!" :D
I think he's saying something like "Tofu is my happy drug..dude...I am so high!" I'm not sure why he's drooling though...tofu doesn't make me drool... ;D
Tofu scares me. I'm so scared to try it.
Try aseptic silken tofu in a dessert recipe like a mousse, pudding, or smoothie! That is the only way I can currently tolerate it....
Tofu is so yummy baked... or fried... or anything really.
I suggest General Tso's Tofu. Mmmmmmmm.
good luck with your tofu experience.
I am totally hooked on broiled tofu lately. Extra firm regular (not silken), cut in to small triangles (cause they're cuter that way ;)), sprayed with bragg's, then sprinkled with a healthy dose of chili powder, then broiled till firm on the top, flipped and broiled again. I eat these cold alongside soup for lunches, or mixed in to chipotle black beans. Yum...
ahhh....grilled tofu!!! yummers.
even inside, you can use a grill pan. i have a cast iron grill pan, and it makes that tofu sooo delish.
cut in to small triangles (cause they're cuter that way ;))
Awwww, cute indeed! Kind of like how sandwiches are cuter when cut diagonally. :)
ahhh....grilled tofu!!! yummers.
even inside, you can use a grill pan. i have a cast iron grill pan, and it makes that tofu sooo delish.
I just got a cast iron grill pan for the holiday and have yet to try it...but really want to! How do you prepare your tofu for grilling? I love the idea of grilling up some yumminess in my kitchen, just need to get going on that!
Awwww, cute indeed! Kind of like how sandwiches are cuter when cut diagonally. :)
They SO are.
it takes awhile to get it down in how you like it prepared, but its worth the hassel
curd of the gods!
I've had limited success with tofu myself but I really liked it seasoned with salt, pepper and chilli flakes nuked in the m'wave. It has to be in covered pyrex dish or such like as it splatters ALOT. It took a while to do, can't remember exactly but say at least 5 - 10 mins so that it goes a bit, well, chickeny although my memory is a bit hazy on that score ;)
ahhh....grilled tofu!!! yummers.
even inside, you can use a grill pan. i have a cast iron grill pan, and it makes that tofu sooo delish.
I just got a cast iron grill pan for the holiday and have yet to try it...but really want to! How do you prepare your tofu for grilling? I love the idea of grilling up some yumminess in my kitchen, just need to get going on that!
i LOVE grilled tofu too. For me, grilling gives a better texture than baking or pan frying (though I've yet to try using a cast iron pan). I got a tiny george foreman grill for christmas and it makes grilling super easy and fast. A grill pan works well too.
My favorite and easiest marinade-- the juice and zest of one orange per half a package of extra firm (not silken) tofu. that's all! marinate the (drained & pressed) tofu for a couple hours, or overnight (the longer the better-- the tofu sucks it up as it sits), then grill!
my other favorite marinade is orange juice and zest, plus some soy sauce and balsamic vinegar. this is more savory than using only orange juice. try it!
OMG LOL "killer tofu attacks buddies!" That is one of the funniest things I have heard. I like the picture...killer tofu...ahhhh
But anyway, I love tofu, love it. I have gotten to the point now that if I go for for a length of time without it, I crave it.
I like it in stirfries, with the tofu stirfried until it is golden brown on the outside...yummers. I have to try the broiled tofu that someone suggested.
....killer tofu...ahhhh
Any of you guys used to watch that cartoon show, "Doug"? They had a band called The Beets that sang a song called "Killer Tofu."
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg198/KissMeKate888/beets.jpg
It's a pretty fitting song, I suppose. :)
I hope SSF MACROSS didn't fall victim to the killer tofu! Haven't seen him around lately.
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