do u tofu?

i'm not a big tofu fan. in fact, i usually only make it every few months. whenever I do, it's always with a stir-fry, and i only cook it one way, so that its slimy texture is lost.


makes 3 servings
Drain
one block of extra-firm tofu
by putting some weight (like a book) on top of it, while it is atop something absorbent (like a kitchen towel) to take out extra moisture. This takes about 30 minutes.
Dice into 1/2" cubes and mix with:
1/4 cup of low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 cup of lime juice concentrate, or juice of two limes with zest
Let tofu mix well with marinade and let sit for a few minutes.
Meanwhile, in a wok or a shallow large skillet, heat over medium heat
1-2 tablespooons of Vegetable oil
1/2 t of red pepper flakes
1 T of minced ginger
2 T of chopped fresh basil or cilantro, or both

When oil is hot, add tofu. If using a skillet, having some type of cover helps the splattering (and ensuing clean-up). Cook until tofu is browned on all sides. This can take thirty minutes. I like the tofu to be charred on most sides. This gives it a crunchy, chewy texture that is delicious, and tastes like chicken (sorry, couldn't think of a better analogy)

Vegetables
Mix
half a zucchinni, sliced
half a white onion, sliced
half a red pepper, chopped
half a cup of sliced mushrooms (baby portobella are the best)
2 T of store-bought low sodium teriyaki sauce
Saute in same pan or wok over medium-high with
1 T of canola oil
I like to cook these vegetables very quickly, perhaps only 5-8 minutes. If done correctly, it will resemble a hibachi like stir-fry with the teriyaki sauce making the outside of the vegetables almost caramalized. Yummy!

My favorite rice is brown short-grain rice. At Whole Foods, it's only $2 for a pound in bulk. This is a relief because at most grocery stores, due to its "specialty" status, it's a bit expensive. 1 cup of uncooked brown short-grain will make about 3 cups when cooked (from the 2 cups of water added), which is the right amount for the following recipe. It takes 45-1 hr to cook completely, so plan accordingly.

I wish I had a picture of everything plated. . . but I ate everything up too quickly!