My favorite "Barbeque" Tofu

 

So this is one of my favorite things to make. I usually make this for christmas and even the meat eaters will eat it. I started developing this recipe a long time ago when I was vegetarian. Its inspiration comes from chinese cooking where to toss whatever you are making in a sauce. 

You can also skewer the tofu and vegetables and put on a grill if you like. But you will have to cut the tofu in bigger cubes and put two skewers through the tofu so you can flip it on the grill. And you should fry the tofu before putting it on the grill, because if you don't it will fall apart.

You can fry the tofu after seasoning with soy sauce or you can as an added step toss your tofu in cornstarch or a mixture of corn start and ground sesame seeds. Alternately if you have tahini add the tahini first and mix and then roll in cornstarch. This gives the tofu an almost meaty taste. But use really firm tofu if you are tossing in cornstarch as silken tofu because of its high water content will make any coating you put on your tofu soggy.

As a side note you can use both firm tofu and silken tofu for this recipe. Silken tofu especially does not like to be deep fried. I highly recommend for safety reasons you place a cover over your pot when frying silken tofu as there will be alot of sputtering of the oil.

In order for the tofu to stay together you need to deep or shallow fry the tofu making sure all the sides are cooked. The inside of the tofu will still be moist. Tofu loves to absorb flavors so seasoning before you deep fry is a good idea. 

This tofu is sticky, sweet and savory and also vegan. Its also an easy recipe to try. I guarantee you will not look at tofu the same again once you try making this barbeque tofu.

RECIPE

Cuisine: Trinidadian 

Servings:  4

Level: Easy

Spicy: mild

 

Ingredients:

454g            firm or silken tofu

2 tsp             soy sauce

1 tsp             paprika

1 tsp             sesame oil

 

2 tb              oil

1                  sweet pepper sliced

1                  onion sliced

4                  pimentoes chopped

4tsp              garlic grated

5                  leaves bandania (chadon beni or cilantro)

¼ c               chopped celery

¼ c               chopped chive

 

½ tsp            hot pepper minced

 

Sauce

¹/₃ c              ketchup

¹/₃ c              barbeque sauce

1-2 tsp          pepper sauce

1 tsp             soy sauce

1 tsp             sugar

½ tsp            vinegar

 

Optional:

¼ c               cornstarch

3 tb              ground sesame seeds or tahini

 

Directions

1.     Cut tofu into cubes and season with soy sauce, paprika and sesame oil.

2.     Deep or shallow fry tofu in very hot oil until the outside is cooked.

3.     Mix the barbeque sauce ingredients together.

4.     Heat the oil in a pan and fry the onion for a one minute, then add the garlic and fry for another minute.

5.     Add the sweet pepper, mushroom and pimento and fry for 2-3 minutes.

6.     Add the tofu.

7.     Add one third of the barbeque sauce mixture and fry until it dries down. Add another third and fry until it dries down and repeat with rest of barbeque sauce mixture.

8.     Take off heat and add bandania and chive.

 

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