Posts

Mushroom Noodle Soup

/in , , , /by

This Mushroom Noodle Soup from is quick, easy, full of flavour, and very filling.

Ingredients: 
30g shiitake mushrooms
250g white or brown mushrooms, sliced 
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 inch piece ginger, minced
1l vegetable broth
2-4 tbsp soy sauce (or to taste)
200g suitable-for-vegans noodles of choice (we used black bean noodles)
Bunch spring onions (green onions), sliced
Block smoked tofu, cubed (exact measurements don’t matter here)
Jar or can beansprouts, drained
Hot sauce to taste (optional)

Directions: 
1. Cover the shiitake mushrooms with plenty of boiling water. Leave to soak for 10 minutes or so. 
2. Meanwhile, heat a frying pan over medium low. Add the mushrooms and cook until they release their juices. Add the garlic and ginger for about 1 minute until fragrant. 
3. Add the broth, soy sauce, tofu, noodles, and spring onions, and cook for the time recommended on the back of the pack of noodles. 
4. Add the tofu and bean sprouts to heat through. Serve with hot sauce, if desired.

Gochujang and Miso Tofu

/in /by

The mix for this simple and tasty dish has a wonderful flavour balance, and the slight acidity and the sweetness create a beautiful scaffold for the Gochujang. This is cooked in the air fryer, but if you prefer you can use the oven–adjust temperatures and times accordingly.

Ingredients: 
1 block tofu (approx. 350g), cubed, but not pressed

For the tofu coating: 
2 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

For the glaze: 
1 tbsp yellow miso paste
1 tbsp Gochujang paste
1 tsp date paste
1 tsp rice vinegar
1 tsp lime juice
2 tbsp water

1. If using the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 180C. Mix all of the ingredients for the tofu coating. Toss the tofu in it. Bake the tofu for 8-10 minutes until lightly crispy, shaking occasionally. 
2. Mix the glaze ingredients. When the tofu is cooked, toss in the glaze. Return to the air fryer at 80C for 3 minutes.
3. Serve with green onions and sesame seeds.

Toffles

/in , /by

If you haven’t tried a Toffle, you’re missing out. This is tofu cooked in a waffle iron; it’s easy to prepare, and its texture is both crispy and chewy. This recipe is incredibly simple, but you can vary the flavours as you wish.

Ingredients: 
1 block tofu, pressed and cut into 3/4 – 1cm slices
2 tbsp suitable-for-vegans tomato ketchup
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp water
2 tsp Jerk spice mix

Directions: 
1. Mix the ketchup, soy sauce, water, spice mix. Coat the tofu in it, and leave to sit for about 10 minutes while you preheat the waffle iron. 
2. When the waffle iron is hot, spray with cooking spray and add the tofu. Save the remaining sauce. Cook until really crispy–depending on the temperature of your iron, this could take between 5 and 15 minutes. 
3. Brush with the remaining sauce and serve.

Tofu Katsu Curry

/in , , , /by

A warming, spicy, flavoursome dish, this is surprisingly easy to put together. Serve with sushi rice and shredded carrots and cabbage for a filling and nourishing meal. The tofu is cooked in an air fryer, but you can bake or pan fry if you prefer.

Ingredients:

For the tofu:
400g extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
Liquid from 1 can chickpeas
1/4 cup flour
2 cups suitable-for-vegans panko crumbs

For the sauce:
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 inch piece ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic
500ml vegetable broth
1 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp turmeric
2 tbsp tomato purée
2 tsp rice vinegar
1-2 tbsp tamari or soy sauce, to taste
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp white or yellow miso
1 heaped tbsp cornflour

Directions:


1. Slice the tofu into 1/4 inch slices. Dip in flour and shake off excess. Add to the chickpea liquid and then coat in breadcrumbs. Fry in a preheated air fryer at 200C for 15 minutes, turning once.
2. Meanwhile, make the sauce. Lightly sauté the onions over a medium-low heat, add the garlic and ginger and stir briefly. Mix in the broth, curry powder, turmeric, tomato purée, vinegar, tamari, maple syrup and miso. Bring to a simmer. Mix the cornflour with a little water to a smooth paste. Add to the sauce and cook until thickened.
3. Serve the tofu and sauce with cooked sushi rice, shredded carrots, and cabbage.

Crustless Tofu and Vegetable Tart

/in , , , /by

Bound to be a winner for lunch or breakfast, this tart is sett on the outside and slightly creamy inside. It’s filled with vegetables and potatoes for for plenty of colour, texture, and flavour.

Ingredients:

For the Vegetables:
2 medium potatoes, peeled and finely diced
1 red bell pepper, finely diced
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, finely diced
10 black olives, finely chopped
1 bunch asparagus, in 1 inch pieces
4 green onions (scallions) chopped
1 cup spinach, minced
1 bunch basil, minced

For the Tofu:
400g tofu, drained and pressed
2 tsp onion granules
1 tbsp garlic powder
1/2 cup aquafaba (liquid from can of chickpeas)
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 heaped tbsp yellow miso
1 tsp turmeric
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 tbsp cornflour
3 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp chickpea flour

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 180C. Oil a loose-bottomed cake tin.
2. Sauté the potatoes until browned. I used the air fryer at 200C for 15 minutes, tossing midway through.
3. Add the potatoes and vegetables to a large bowl.
4. Mix the tofu ingredients in a food processor. Stir into the vegetables and mix well to combine.
5. Transfer the mixture to the cake tin, and even off the top. Sprinkle with plenty of black pepper.
6. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Cover with foil, and bake 40-50 minutes more, or until set (check with a knife inserted into the centre; there will be a little residue on the knife, but the tart shouldn’t be too wet). Serve and enjoy.

Soured Tofu Dip

/in , , , , , /by

Don’t be put off by the mention of “sour” in the title. This is adequately balanced by both sweet and salty notes. Perfect for tacos, nachos, wraps, in soups and stews, and it will show you just how versatile tofu can be.

Ingredients

1 block silken tofu (approx. 350g; more or less than this is fine)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp maple syrup
Generous pinch salt

Directions

Blend everything together. Season to taste, and enjoy.

Consider varying this recipe up with the addition of some herbs or garlic (or both!)

Fennel and Mushroom Penne in a Lemon and Garlic Sauce

/in , , , , , /by

Delicately fragrant, vivid, and lively, this comforting gluten-free dish is full of nutrients. Eat your fill!

Serves 2

Ingredients

1 leek, finely chopped
250g mushrooms, sliced
1 fennel bulb, quartered and finely sliced
150g tenderstem broccoli (substitute with broccoli florets if tenderstem is hard to find)
5 sage leaves, finely minced
Small bunch each basil and parsley, minced
200g brown rice pasta
2 large handfuls baby spinach

For the sauce

50g white beans of choice
150g silken tofu, drained
Zest 1 lemon
Juice 1/2 lemon
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 tbsp nutritional yeast flakes
1/4 cup unsweetened, unflavoured all-plant milk of choice (soy milk used here)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions
1. Steam the fennel and broccoli until just tender (about 5 minutes).
2. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions, drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking liquid, and rinse to remove the excess starch.
3. Sauté the leeks and mushrooms over a medium heat in a non-stick pan until softened (about 5 minutes). Add the sage.
4. Blend all the sauce ingredients. Taste and adjust seasonings if desired.
5. Add the sauce to the leeks and mushrooms vegetables, thinning out to desired consistency with a little of the reserved cooking water. Toss in the pasta, fennel, and broccoli to warm through.
6. Serve the pasta on a bed of spinach, garnished with a little extra lemon zest, more black pepper, and the minced basil and parsley.

Hot and Sour Soup

/in , , , /by

With a different combination of flavours in every mouthful, and taking under 15 minutes to prepare, this soup is bound to be a winner. It makes 4 large servings.

If you can’t find the types of mushrooms listed in the ingredients, use 350g sliced mushrooms of your choice, and if you can’t find the vinegars, use apple cider vinegar.

Ingredients

250g chestnut mushrooms, sliced
20g dried shiitake mushrooms, reconstituted (save the soaking water) and sliced
20g dried Chinese black (wood ear) mushrooms, reconstituted (save the soaking water) and sliced
1 can bamboo shoots (120g drained weight)
4 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
1 inch ginger, grated
1-2 red chilli peppers, deseeded and finely sliced
1.5 l vegetable broth
110g mung bean sprouts
200g extra-firm tofu, cubed
1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp maple syrup
Pinch white pepper
2 green onions (scallions), thinly sliced

Directions

1. Heat a large stock pot over a medium-low heat, and when hot add the mushrooms and bamboo. Lower the heat and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes, adding just a splash of water if the mushrooms start to stick.
2. Add the garlic, ginger, and chilli, and stir for about 30 seconds.
3. Add the broth, mushroom soaking water, bean sprouts, tofu, soy sauce, vinegar, maple syrup, and white pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Serve topped with the green onions.

Smoky Tofu Stuffed Peppers

/in , , , /by

A relatively easy dish, this serves 2 as a lunch or a side. Chiquino peppers are pictured, but I also made this dish successfully with bell peppers (capiscum); the same method and timing applies.

Ingredients

For the Tofu Filling

300g silken tofu
½ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion granules
2 tsp paprika
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt or to taste
2 tsp mild chilli paste (I used chipotle and smoked paprika)
2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Everything else

400g sweet peppers
1/2 red onion, chopped
100g mushrooms (I used shiitake), finely chopped
50g kale, in bite-sized pieces

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C. Line a baking tray with a silicone sheet. Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.
2. Meanwhile, in a pan over a medium-low heat sauté the onion and mushroom until the onions start to soften (about 2 minutes). Add the kale and 1/4 cup water. Sauté until the kale has softened or the water has absorbed.
3. Fill the peppers with the tofu stuffing and bake for 25 minutes.

Tofu Pesto Spread

/in , , , , /by

Although this spread is ideal for crusty bread, it also makes a wonderful stuffing for pasta shells. It’s incredibly simple to make: just put all of the ingredients into a blender or food processor.

Ingredients

1/2 block extra-firm tofu (about 170g), crumbled
1 cup toasted pine nuts or raw macadamia nuts
1 cup spinach leaves, tightly packed
Large bunch basil
Juice 1/2 lemon
2 tsp white or yellow miso
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 tsp sea salt, or to taste

Method

Pulse all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides if necessary. Don’t overprocess; you want the finished product to have some depth of texture from the nuts.