Jamaican Jerk Tofu

Want to impress your friends with Jamaican fare for your next vegan dinner party, or just spice up your Saturday night supper? Try this full-flavored recipe that bumps up the flavor of tofu to "Irie, Mon!" Hot and spicy (but not too hot), this marinade/sauce can be adapted to the tongue-smoking level by adding Scotch bonnet or habanero peppers instead of the milder jalapeño.

Try serving jerk tofu with baked yams topped with toasted pecans and maybe that Caribbean staple, rice and beans (we've posted a recipe for gallo pinto from Costa Rica). Jamaican Red Stripe beer adds a refreshing, authentic touch.



This recipe makes enough marinade to cover two blocks of tofu, which serves four people. Divide in half if using one block of tofu.

6 scallions, sliced thinly (discard top 1/3 of green ends)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 Tbs. fresh ginger, minced
2 jalapeño peppers, minced
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
1 Tbs. ground allspice
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. thyme
1 Tbs. vegan brown sugar
1-2 blocks extra firm tofu



In a large bowl, mix the first nine ingredients, including olive oil. In a smaller bowl, combine spices and brown sugar. Add to liquid mix and stir. If using one block of tofu, spray an 8 x 8 pan with oil. Slice tofu into three slices from its narrow end. Place in pan and pour HALF of marinade over tofu. For two blocks of tofu, use a 9 x 13 pan, and pour ALL the marinade over tofu.



Let stand for 15 minutes. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

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Smothered Tofu Steak and Onions

Ingredients

1 package extra firm tofu
2 tablespoon olive oil (divided)
1 lg. onion
2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 cup extra water
Kosher salt and pepper to taste



Directions:

Slice Tofu into 6 even cutlets about 1/2 inch thick. Place on paper towel to drain. Heat non-stick pan. Slice Onion from root to stem. Add 1 tablespoon oil to pan. Add onions when oil is hot. Sauté onions until golden brown and caramelized (about 5-10 min.) remove onions, set aside. Add other tablespoon of oil to pan. Add Tofu and fry until golden brown on both sides (about 10 min.) Add onions back to pan. Add balsamic Vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and stir. When all combined add slurry of water and Cornstarch to pan. Stir until thick. Add water to thin out if too thick. Add salt and pepper to taste. Plate up this dish with the onions and sauce smothered over the Tofu Steaks. Serve with a side of Roasted Asparagus and a nice Rice Pilaf.

Serves: 2

Preparation time: 30 mins.

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Spinach and Peanut Sauce Over Rice

Gambian recipe. Serve over rice or couscous or millet.



2 Tbs. olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
3/4 green bell pepper
1 6-oz. can tomato paste
1 10-oz. package frozen chopped spinach (or fresh spinach)
2 vegetarian bouillon cubes
1/4 cup peanut butter
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Salt to taste
Rice or couscous or millet
Optional: fried tofu

1. Heat olive oil in medium saucepan. Sauté onion, garlic, and green pepper in the oil until onion is translucent. Scoop out the vegetables and set aside. Add the tomato paste to the saucepan for the process called "burning the paste," which means cooking the tomato paste until it bubbles and is thoroughly cooked.

2. Stir in the onions, peppers, garlic, and spinach. If you're using frozen spinach, no additional liquid is needed. If you're using fresh spinach, add 1/8 cup of water. Add the bouillon cubes. Sauté spinach until cooked.

3. Stir in the peanut butter. Add cayenne and salt to taste. Serve over rice or couscous or millet.

Optional fried tofu: Cut extra firm tofu into cubes. Place millet or corn meal in a bowl; stir in the tofu to lightly coat the cubes. Add approximately 3 Tbs. olive oil or canola oil to a medium skillet. Sauté the tofu until lightly brown; stir into the spinach mixture.

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Spinach and Peanut Sauce Over Rice

2 Tbs. olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
3/4 green bell pepper
1 6-oz. can tomato paste
1 10-oz. package frozen chopped spinach (or fresh spinach)
2 vegetarian bouillon cubes
1/4 cup peanut butter
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Salt to taste
Rice or couscous or millet
Optional: fried tofu

1. Heat olive oil in medium saucepan. Sauté onion, garlic, and green pepper in the oil until onion is translucent. Scoop out the vegetables and set aside. Add the tomato paste to the saucepan for the process called "burning the paste," which means cooking the tomato paste until it bubbles and is thoroughly cooked.

2. Stir in the onions, peppers, garlic, and spinach. If you're using frozen spinach, no additional liquid is needed. If you're using fresh spinach, add 1/8 cup of water. Add the bouillon cubes. Sauté spinach until cooked.

3. Stir in the peanut butter. Add cayenne and salt to taste. Serve over rice or couscous or millet.

Optional fried tofu: Cut extra firm tofu into cubes. Place millet or corn meal in a bowl; stir in the tofu to lightly coat the cubes. Add approximately 3 Tbs. olive oil or canola oil to a medium skillet. Sauté the tofu until lightly brown; stir into the spinach mixture.

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Spicy Barbecue Tofu

Ingredients:

* 1 pound extra firm tofu, well pressed and sliced into 3/4 inch rectangles
* 3/4 cup barbeque sauce
* 3/4 cup brown sugar
* 1 tsp chili powder
* 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
* 3/4 cup orange juice concentrate
* salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:
Whisk together the barbecue sauce, sugar, chili powder, pepper and orange juice over medium low heat until well combined, about 3 minutes.

Place the barbecue sauce mixture in a wide flat dish, and place the tofu in the sauce, coating both sides well. Allow to marinate for at least two hours.

Grill for 4 or 5 minutes on each side, brushing with additional sauce.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper just before serving.

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Curried Spinach with Tofu Paneer

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vegan parmesan (optional)
2 Tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon spicy brown mustard
1/4 block of extra-firm tofu, drained and cubed (total drainage isn't necessary since the cubes should be soft when cooked)
1/2 Tablespoon curry powder
3-4 cups baby spinach (approx - I used about three big handfuls)
veggie oil

Directions:

Heat veggie oil on medium heat in a large skillet.

In a small custard bowl, mix nutritional yeast, onion powder, salt, vegan parm, water, and mustard until well-blended. Pour in heated skillet. Add tofu over-top of the "cheesy" sauce; coat tofu cubes completely with mixture by flipping, turning, etc. Allow to cook on one side for about 3-5 minutes, then flip. Move to one end of skillet.

In the newly available skillet space, add more oil (if necessary) and curry. Add spinach and mix well with curry/oil. Stir-fry spinach and curry until spinach is cooked through. Stir-fry spinach and tofu together until mixed evenly.

Serve immediately over pasta or grain of choice.

Serves: 1-2 (hunger is a determining factor)

Preparation time: 10 to 15 minutes (approx)

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Daikon Pot-Stickers

3 tbsp. veg oil
2 tsp. mince fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups radish
1 cup carrot, grated
1/3 cup crumbled extra-firm tofu
2 tbsp. soy
20 Wanton (saltless soy) skins

In a large skillet, heat one tbsp of oil. Add ginger and garlic, add the radish and stir at a constant (very important!!!) for two minutes. Then add grated carrot. Stir constant for one minute. Add the tofu and soy. Take skillet off and allow to cool. Lay out wanton skins and place one tbsp. of the filling you've made in the center of each skin. Wet rim of the skins and fold, forming a triangle. Deep fry to the I's likeness (InI prefer a light brown fry), and allow to cool, then enjoy!

Southern Fried Tofu

Prep time: 40 min; Total time: 40 min

Ingredients

* 1 lb firm tofu
* 1 c. white wine
* 1 c. organic canola oil
* 2 tbsp. tamari
* 1 c. water
* 1/2 c. vegetable broth
* 1 c. spelt flour or whole wheat flour
* 1 tbsp. nutritional yeast
* 1 tbsp. cornmeal (buy organic if possible)
* 1 tsp. salt
* 1 tsp. fresh ground pepper
* 1 tsp. garlic powder
* 1 tsp. oregano
* 1/2 tsp. thyme

Drain and rinse the tofu. While tofu is draining (I do this by sticking a plate on top of the tofu and a can on top of the plate for 20 minutes to get the water out), set aside 1/2 c. of flour in a bowl.

Then make a batter. Mix remaining flour, nutritional yeast, cornmeal, salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and thyme in a bowl. Add tamari, water, and broth and blend to avoid lumps.

Then mix oil and white wine in a saucepan. Begin heating oil and wine so it will be hot when you are ready for it.

Once tofu is drained, slice it horizontally into six equal sized square pieces. Then cut each piece in half diagonally so you have 12 triangles. Dip each piece of tofu in the flour, then dip it into the batter, coating it completely. Hold the tofu over the bowl of batter for a few seconds to let the excess batter drip off.

Hold the bottom of the tofu in the oil for a few seconds to let the bottom cook so it won't stick to the pan. Submerge the entire piece of tofu in the oil and deep-fry to a light brown. Do this for every piece of tofu. Remove tofu from oil with a slated spoon. Drain for a few seconds on a paper towel and enjoy!