How to properly cook tofu?

Question

I'd love to incorporate tofu into my diet but can't seem to cook it properly. Tonight I pressed it, basted it in teriyaki, and then pan fried it, and it came out so salty I couldn't eat it. What am I doing wrong here, and what are some good ways to cook tofu?

Answer 1

I cook it the same way you do.

You just have to add alot of sauce.

It's texure makes it hard to absorb-even though it is said to take on whatever flavor you cook with. haha.

I have also grilled it before.



Slice it into thinner slices to help it obtain more marinade.

pat it with a towel, or leave it out a little bit to make it more dry.

& marinading it for an hour would help it.



I always drizzle more of the marinade onto my dish after its cooked too.

Answer 2

I've been Vegan for 13 years and haven't yet tried Tofu.

I probably should, but it's always seemed strange to me, lol.



My boyfriend (not Vegan) loves Tofu. He always drains it, freezes it, defrosts it, and drains it again. Apparently it gives it more of a chicken-like consistency. Repeating the process gives exaggerates the effects of the first process.

Baking it makes it less soft, it makes the outside crisp and the inside softer.



Use silken tofu in smoothies, puddings, and other desserts, or as an egg replacement in a recipe (1/2 cup = 1 egg). Make a casserole, quiche, or pie (not dessert) with soft tofu, and use firm for tofu scrambles, lasanga, or pasta. Extra firm tofu (frozen) is good for stir-fries and as meat replacements.



*Note: Tempeh is a much healthier (less processed) alternative to Tofu. It's also very high in protein, and also made of Soya beans. You'll see it near the Tofu, I'd suggest steaming it first to get rid of its natural bitter flavour.



**Note: Tofu is not salty at all. That was probably due to your own seasonings. Try following a few recipes with Tofu as the main ingredient until you better know how to work with Tofu. Vegweb.com has 13,000+ recipes (all Vegan). They have a lot involving Tofu, so check it out!



~ Good luck : )

Answer 3

It really depends what you're trying to make! You need to make sure you have the right firmness of tofu for whatever you're trying to make. We like to use extra firm tofu (but not Mori-nu if marinating)and marinate it, then bread it with panko bread crumbs and bake it or fry it. It makes a tasty, inexpensive meat substitute, and you can use the cheap packaged marinades to give you a nice flavor.



EDIT: I would also suggest looking into a recipe for seitan. It is, if made properly, tofu's tastier cousin. :)

Answer 4

My guy says there is no way to cook tofu, but try barbeque sauce. Better idea-- use a little with your every day cooking.

Answer 5

try to get the ones that you can eat without cooking. They are at asian markets and they have a brown outsidde. You can just cut it up and eat it with clam sauce. Taste really yummy! just make sure you get the right tofu 0.0

Answer 6

I add tofu right into my spaghetti sauce and cook it in there. Or I press it, and fry it with onions, green peppers, zucchini, and a little bit of garlic, add some kung pao sauce (or desired Chinese sauce) and put over white rice

Answer 7

i tend to get them freshly made and not the package ones. i would eat it raw with honey and sugar :D



we tend pan fry or grill it then whle cooling we then flavour it.

Answer 8

Tofu is just beans and hippie juice. You don't have to cook it at all, just smoke a joint with it, and enjoy. For extra flavor, kill an endangered whale/penguin, grind it up, and add as topping.

Answer 9

Try putting it on a spit over and open fire.

Answer 10

Make burritos! :)