This recipe is tofu-licious! Even though the recipe has a long list of ingredients and you’ll need 3 pans and a bowl, it was extremely easy and it was done in about 25 minutes. I recommend doubling the sauce. As it is, it makes a great glaze for the tofu, but I would have liked it a little more saucy. It made about 5 servings and as I was eating the final pieces of tofu, I was thinking that these would be great toothpicked (minus quinoa and kale) and served as a hot appetizer. Yum!
INGREDIENTS:
Quinoa:
3/4 C quinoa, rubbed/rinsed, drained
Zest from one lime, divided in half and slice lime for garnish (use 1/2 the zest)
2 bruised cardamon pods (optional–I used a dash or two of dried cardamon)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tiny cinnamon stick (optional)
1-1/3 C water
Sweet Chili Lime Sauce:
3 Tbs sugar
3 Tbs tamari
1-3/4 Tbs lime juice
1/2 zest of the lime
1/2 tsp red chili flakes (I didn’t have this, so I used 1/2 tsp of Ancho chili pepper)
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp salt
4 mint leaves, sliced thinly
The Greens:
1 bunch collard greens, washed with middle veins removed (I used kale)
2-3 Tbs water
1 tsp lime juice
1 pinch salt
The rest:
14-oz extra-firm tofu, drained and pressed
Lime slices for a garnish (optional)
Mint leaves for a garnish (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
Combine the quinoa, 1/2 the lime zest, cardamon, cinnamon stick, salt, and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes, then remove from heat and don’t remove the lid. Let steam for 10 minutes.
Sweet chili lime sauce: Whisk together the sugar, tamari, lime juice, lime zest, red chili flakes, garlic, salt, and mint until the sugar and salt and dissolved. Set aside.
Tofu: Slice the tofu into 7-8 rectangles:
Then cut each rectangle in half to make two squares, and then each square into four triangles:
I sauteed the tofu in a dry skillet for about 10 minutes on each side. The recipe says to add it a “well-seasoned” skillet. Add the chili lime sauce and stir to coat the tofu. Turn off the heat. The sauce will bubble up, reduce, and form a glaze.
While this is happening, slice up the kale. In a wok (which I didn’t have, so I used a small skillet) add water, lime juice, and salt. Cover with a lid and steam until tender. (The other thing to do, is just add the greens to the quinoa and steam them that way).
To serve, layer plate with a scoop of quinoa, kale, then tofu. Garnish with lime slices and mint. Enjoy!
Recipe source: Vegan Yum Yum
It’s amazing how great vegan meals can taste. My husband and I have been loving tofu (we only really started eating about two months ago). I’m excited to show him this recipe!
There’s just so much you can do with tofu–and it’s cheap!
a “well seasoned” skillet is a black cast iron skillet that has had a thin layer of oil baked into it. the instructions come with a new skillet. the “seasoning” allows you to cook in the skillet without everything sticking to it. Because it is cast iron, you can cook in it at extremely high temp and get beautiful browning on the food.
Well, there you have it! 🙂 Thanks! Funny how the recipe didn’t mention anything about using a cast iron skillet. Learned something new.