Tofu, I love it! However, others might not agree.
When I say "Tofu", I tend to get "Oh, the little white chunks in Japanese Miso soup"
What is Tofu? It is originated in China and is made of condensed soy milk that’s pressed into solid white blocks in a process similar to cheese making.
Pro: Tofu is high in protein and contains all the essential amino acids your body needs. It also provides fats, carbs, and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Since tofu has a lot of nutrients in relatively few calories, it’s very nutrient-dense.
Con: It has gotten a bad wrap over the years, like most foods do for an array of reasons. Some say it's the soy in general, others complain about the consistency, but for me, it was just "scary" due to my lack of knowledge on how to prepare it.
There are several ways to prepare Tofu, but this is by far my favorite!
Let's Get Started !
I use the Aldi's brand here, but brand is based on preference. JUST make sure it is extra firm so you can make the recipe correctly.
Open Your package of Tofu and drain the water. I know some say to place weight on it, but I just softly squeeze it out.
Cube the Tofu 1" x 1" is fine or whatever shape as long as they are all about the same size.
In a bowl, Place Corn starch and a seasoning. I LOVE the Umami Seasoning (Aldi again), but Any flavor will do. I do about 2 TBS of seasoning to 1 cup of cornstarch. TOSS
In the air fryer, place a piece of foil down and spray with cooking spray. Once the Tofu is coated on all sides, place it on the baking sheet. 365 Degrees for about 28 minutes.
Recipe Ideas!
This amount of Tofu from one package makes enough for several meals in my week. So here are several ways to pair your Tofu it so you aren't bored.
Affordable Spicy Green Goddess Bowl
I have actually Blog Posted about this one before and you can find the full recipe over at this Blog site
Tofu Pad Thai
Pad Thai, so many amazing flavors all at once! I could tell you how to make a sauce from scratch, but honestly the store bought brands like Wegmans, Aldi's and Traders Joes have some merit behind them.
Italian Tofu Grain Bowl
This is throw together, but the ingredients are simple.
Farro
Tomato Paste
Pesto
Sautéed Kale
I chop the Kale into small strips and sauté it until is withered with Lemon Juice and salt. Be warned that if you decide to cook the vein / stalk part, it will take longer to start with those thicker pieces first before the leaves.
Fajita Tofu Bowl
I love Fajita Veggies and that is exactly what this is, a Fajita in a Bowl.
Bell Peppers, Onions & Mushrooms Sauteed together till soft.
1 can of each corn and black beans. Drained and rinsed.
Pickled onions
White rice. Now you can buy a bag and make it per the instructions, but if you are just out of time, the 90 second instant rice will work just fine.
Taco Sauce or in this case Chipotle Sauce from Target (oh Target...…)
Fire Cracker Tofu Stir Fry
I love stir Fry and I love spicy!
The sauce is killer, but we also added
Mini Bell Peppers
Broccoli
Chop and sauté in a Wok or a pan on high for about 3 minutes or so and then remove and set to sit
Add Water Chestnuts (sliced)
The noodles are Stir Fry Noodles. Cook on the package and add to the mix at the end with the tofu to coat.