Tag: tofu

Tasty tofu

~ Corrie ~ 2 Comments

Ever eaten a dry, tasteless tofu skewer? Me too… But it doesn’t have to be this way! Tofu can be an intimidating ingredient if you don’t know how to cook it, but done right, your tofu dishes will be bursting with flavour and taste scrumptious.

Teriyaki tofu steaks with broccoli

Teriyaki tofu steaks with broccoli
Serves 2 / Hands on time 10 mins / Total time 40 mins
You’ll need: 20cm oven-proof dish
280g firm tofu, drained
200g tender-stem broccoli
4 whole spring onions, outer layer removed and ends trimmed
For the marinade
2 tbs light soy sauce
1 tbs sweet chilli sauce
1 tbs maple syrup
1 tbs mirin
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp garlic oil or 1 garlic clove, crushed
1 knob of ginger, grated
To serve
Boiled rice or noodles
Black sesame seeds (optional)

Method

1. Pre-heat an oven to 220°C/200°C fan/425°F/gas mark 7.
2. Drain the tofu and cut into thick steaks and place in the oven-proof dish before putting to one side.
3. In a bowl, combine the marinade ingredients together and pour evenly over the tofu steaks. Give the dish a shake until all the tofu is evenly covered. Bake in an oven for 15 mins, before taking out and carefully turning the steaks over – I do this by inserting a fork into each tofu steak and carefully flipping them over. Return to the oven for 15 more mins.
4. Meanwhile, use this time to cook the rice or noodles. Steam the broccoli and the spring onions together 5 mins before the tofu is due to come out.
5. Remove the tofu from the oven and leave to rest for 5 mins before lifting the steaks out and placing them on top of rice or noodles. Scrape out any remaining sticky sauce and top the tofu with it. Serve with the steamed greens and a sprinkling of black sesame seeds.

Braised tofu & kale bulgur bowl
Braised tofu & kale bulgur bowl

Braised tofu & kale bulgur bowl
Serves 4 / Hands on time 45 mins / Total time 45 mins
300ml cold water
120g bulgar wheat
1 Knorr vegetable stock pot (½ for the stock, ½ for the stock)
1 tsp sesame oil
1 medium onion, roughly sliced
½ tsp sea salt flakes
1 tbs balsamic vinegar
1 tbs light soy sauce
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
500ml boiling water
125g Shiitake or chestnut mushrooms, sliced
280g firm tofu, cut into 8 thick slices
4 handfuls chopped kale
2 spring onions, finely chopped to serve(optional)

Method
1. Measure out the bulgur wheat and pour into a small saucepan along with 300ml of cold water and half a vegetable stock pot. Place over a medium to high heat until boiling before turning down and simmering for 8 mins. Once the water has absorbed, remove from the heat, give it a quick stir and cover with a lid. Put to one side.
2. Meanwhile, warm 1 tsp of sesame oil in a large pot with a lid over a medium heat. Add the chopped onions, ½ tsp sea salt flakes and 1 tbs of balsamic vinegar. Give it a good stir and pop the lid on. Turn down the heat slightly and allow to soften for 10 minutes – stirring occasionally.
3. Once the onions have softened, add the garlic along with a dash of stock and cook for a further 2 mins. Add the soy sauce, the rest of the vegetable stock and the mushrooms. Up the heat and bring to the boil.
4. Reduce the heat and carefully submerge the 8 tofu slices into the broth, before covering with a lid and cooking for 10 mins. Once the tofu is cooked, add 4 handfuls of kale directly on top the tofu and cover again for a further 5 minutes.
5. Loosen up the bulgur wheat by stirring with a spoon and divide into bowls. Top with the braised tofu and sprinkle with chopped spring onions.

Peanut tofu bowl with roasted greens

Peanut tofu with roasted greens
Serves 2 / Hands on time 20 mins / Total time 50 mins
You’ll need: A baking tray and a wok or large frying pan
1 tsp rapeseed oil or rapeseed oil spray (see tip below)
396g pack of firm tofu
1 can chickpeas, drained
100g tender-stem broccoli
4 spring onions, trimmed
2 tsp light soy sauce
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
½ lime, quartered
Satay sauce
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 tbs boiling water
3 tbs crunchy peanut butter
1 tbs light soy sauce
1 tbs rice vinegar
2 tbs sweet chilli sauce
To serve
Brown rice or bulgur wheat to serve (optional)
Freshly chopped coriander (optional)

Method
1. Preheat your oven to 200°C/180°fan/400°F/gas mark 6. Drain the block of tofu and cut into large chunks. Line a baking tray with baking paper and place your tofu chunks on it, evenly spaced apart.
2. Bake in the oven for 10 mins before turning the tofu and continuing to bake for 5 more mins. Meanwhile, make the satay sauce by combining all of the ingredients together in a medium sized bowl, large enough to include the tofu later. Put to one side.
3. Drain the chickpeas and prepare the veg by trimming the stalks of the tender stem and halving the spring onions.
4. Once the tofu is cooked, remove from the oven but keep the oven on. Transfer the tofu a bit at a time to the satay sauce coating the cubes carefully with a spoon. Once all the tofu is well coated, put to one side to marinate. If you’re making rice or bulgur wheat, now is good time to put it on (I recommend cooking just 50-60g for 2 people or you may end up with too much food).
5. On the same baking tray you cooked the tofu on, add the broccoli, spring onions and chickpeas. Drizzle with a tsp of sesame oil and 2 tsp of soy sauce and bake in the oven for 15 mins, giving it a shake halfway through. 10 mins before the vegetables and chickpeas are due to come out the oven, heat a tsp of sesame oil in a wok or large frying pan over a medium to high heat. Once hot, add all the tofu along with all the sauce and fry until sticky and a bit singed. The sauce will stick to the pan a bit as it’s quite sweet but simply scrape it off with a wooden spoon – these bits will add a delicious burnt caramel flavour.
6. Divide the cooked rice or bulgur wheat (if using) between two bowls and top with the chickpeas and greens. Spoon over the tofu and finish with a squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of chopped coriander (optional).

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.


Teriyaki tofu steaks with broccoli

~ Corrie ~ 6 Comments
Baked teriyaki tofu with broccoli

I know I should be spending my Sunday writing up this week’s blog, but I’ve fallen into a Backstreet Boys hole and now I can’t climb out of it. I went to see them last week and it has ignited my teenage obsession. I literally can’t stop Wikipedia-ing, YouTubing, Googling and general ogling my ’90s teenage obsession. After two hours of back-to-back hits and two pints of cheap wine (yes, pints), I was transported back to my 16-year-old self’s bedroom, where my Purple Ronnie wallpaper and blow-up chairs witnessed some truly shocking choreography. Without warning, I busted into my old dance routines in the O2 Arena – much to the horror of my male companion and those around me. I waved my arms, thrust my hips and flicked my hair like a deranged Britney Spears tribute act – I don’t get out much.
That being said, I had a blast and have been writing ‘I heart BSB’ on my pencil case ever since – I’m freelance now, thus the need to carry stationary around with me at all times.
Anyhoo, enough about my youth, let’s all just go away and download the Backstreet’s Back album and listen to it as we slice up some fat tofu steaks and whip up my version of this Japanese classic.

Teriyaki tofu steaks with broccoli
Serves 2 / Hands on time 10 mins / Total time 40 mins / V Df
You’ll need: 20cm oven-proof dish
280g firm tofu, drained
200g tender-stem broccoli
4 whole spring onions, outer layer removed and ends trimmed
For the marinade
2 tbs light soy sauce
1 tbs sweet chilli sauce
1 tbs maple syrup
1 tbs mirin
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp garlic oil or 1 garlic clove, crushed
1 knob of ginger, grated
To serve
Boiled rice or noodles
Black sesame seeds (optional)

Method
1. Pre-heat an oven to 220°C/200°C fan/425°F/gas mark 7.
2. Drain the tofu and cut into thick steaks and place in the oven-proof dish before putting to one side.
3. In a bowl, combine the marinade ingredients together and pour evenly over the tofu steaks. Give the dish a shake until all the tofu is evenly covered. Bake in an oven for 15 mins, before taking out and carefully turning the steaks over – I do this by inserting a fork into each tofu steak and carefully flipping them over. Return to the oven for 15 more mins.
4. Meanwhile, use this time to cook the rice or noodles. Steam the broccoli and the spring onions together 5 mins before the tofu is due to come out.
5. Remove the tofu from the oven and leave to rest for 5 mins before lifting the steaks out and placing them on top of rice or noodles. Scrape out any remaining sticky sauce and top the tofu with it. Serve with the steamed greens and a sprinkling of black sesame seeds.

Baked teriyaki tofu with broccoli

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.

V – Vegetarian    Df – Dairy free


Braised tofu & kale bulgur bowl

Braised tofu & kale bulgur bowl
~ Corrie ~ 1 Comment
Braised tofu with kale & bulgur wheat

Being vegetarian for thirty-four-years, I’ve certainly eaten my fair share of tofu, aka, bean curd. Much like cheese, tofu is made from curdled soy milk and compressed into blocks – mmm tasty. Speaking of taste, tofu literally has none. Eaten raw it tastes wet, soft and tasteless – much like my ex boyfriend. However, cooked correctly, tofu becomes juicy, flavourful and sassy – much like Beyoncé.
To make Beyoncé tofu you need to make a bootylicious broth for your tofu sponges to soak up and I have just the recipe.

Braised tofu & kale bulgur bowl
Serves 4 / Hands on time 45 mins / Total time 45 mins / V Vn Df 
300ml cold water
120g bulgar wheat
1 Knorr vegetable stock pot (½ for the stock, ½ for the stock)
1 tsp sesame oil
1 medium onion, roughly sliced
½ tsp sea salt flakes
1 tbs balsamic vinegar
1 tbs light soy sauce
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
500ml boiling water
125g Shiitake or chestnut mushrooms, sliced
280g firm tofu, cut into 8 thick slices
4 handfuls chopped kale
2 spring onions, finely chopped to serve (optional)

Method
1. Measure out the bulgur wheat and pour into a small saucepan along with 300ml of cold water and half a vegetable stock pot. Place over a medium to high heat until boiling before turning down and simmering for 8 mins. Once the water has absorbed, remove from the heat, give it a quick stir and cover with a lid. Put to one side.
2. Meanwhile, warm 1 tsp of sesame oil in a large pot with a lid over a medium heat. Add the chopped onions, ½ tsp sea salt flakes and 1 tbs of balsamic vinegar. Give it a good stir and pop the lid on. Turn down the heat slightly and allow to soften for 10 minutes – stirring occasionally.
3. Once the onions have softened, add the garlic along with a dash of stock and cook for a further 2 mins. Add the soy sauce, the rest of the vegetable stock and the mushrooms. Up the heat and bring to the boil.
4. Reduce the heat and carefully submerge the 8 tofu slices into the broth, before covering with a lid and cooking for 10 mins. Once the tofu is cooked, add 4 handfuls of kale directly on top the tofu and cover again for a further 5 minutes.
5. Loosen up the bulgur wheat by stirring with a spoon and divide into bowls. Top with the braised tofu and sprinkle with chopped spring onions.

Braised tofu & kale bulgur bowl
Braised tofu & kale bulgur bowl

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.

V – Vegetarian     Vn – Vegan    Df – Dairy free


Peanut tofu with roasted greens

~ Corrie ~ 3 Comments
Peanut tofu with roasted greens
Peanut tofu bowl with roasted greens

I refuse to call this a ‘buddha bowl’ even if it is one. By definition, a buddha bowl is a hearty filling dish made up of raw or roasted vegetables, greens, beans, grains, rice and so on. So nothing to do with Buddha then. Stupid.
Anyway, as I now hilariously go to the gym once a week, I thought I better try and up my protein intake. At first, I thought this meant I could eat more cheese (score) it didn’t (boo). So I stocked up on chickpeas, peanut butter and tofu, in the hope that in 8 weeks, I would have the arms, legs and face of Jennifer Aniston. In the words of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, “there can be miracles, when you believe”.

Peanut tofu with roasted greens
Serves 2 / Hands on time 20 mins / Total time 50 mins / V Vn
You’ll need: A baking tray and a wok or large frying pan
1 tsp rapeseed oil or rapeseed oil spray (see tip below)
396g pack of firm tofu
1 can chickpeas, drained
100g tender-stem broccoli
4 spring onions, trimmed
2 tsp light soy sauce
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
½ lime, quartered
Satay sauce
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 tbs boiling water
3 tbs crunchy peanut butter
1 tbs light soy sauce
1 tbs rice vinegar
2 tbs sweet chilli sauce
To serve
Brown rice or bulgur wheat to serve (optional)
Freshly chopped coriander (optional)

TIP: Use microwavable brown rice to save time and washing up.

Method
1. Preheat your oven to 200°C/180°fan/400°F/gas mark 6. Drain the block of tofu and cut into large chunks. Line a baking tray with baking paper and place your tofu chunks on it, evenly spaced apart.
2. Bake in the oven for 10 mins before turning the tofu and continuing to bake for 5 more mins. Meanwhile, make the satay sauce by combining all of the ingredients together in a medium sized bowl, large enough to include the tofu later. Put to one side.
3. Drain the chickpeas and prepare the veg by trimming the stalks of the tender stem and halving the spring onions.
4. Once the tofu is cooked, remove from the oven but keep the oven on. Transfer the tofu a bit at a time to the satay sauce coating the cubes carefully with a spoon. Once all the tofu is well coated, put to one side to marinate. If you’re making rice or bulgur wheat, now is good time to put it on (I recommend cooking just 50-60g for 2 people or you may end up with too much food).
5. On the same baking tray you cooked the tofu on, add the broccoli, spring onions and chickpeas. Drizzle with a tsp of sesame oil and 2 tsp of soy sauce and bake in the oven for 15 mins, giving it a shake halfway through. 10 mins before the vegetables and chickpeas are due to come out the oven, heat a tsp of sesame oil in a wok or large frying pan over a medium to high heat. Once hot, add all the tofu along with all the sauce and fry until sticky and a bit singed. The sauce will stick to the pan a bit as it’s quite sweet but simply scrape it off with a wooden spoon – these bits will add a delicious burnt caramel flavour.
6. Divide the cooked rice or bulgur wheat (if using) between two bowls and top with the chickpeas and greens. Spoon over the tofu and finish with a squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of chopped coriander (optional).


Peanut tofu with roasted greens
Peanut tofu bowl with roasted greens

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.

V– Vegetarian    Vn– Vegan


Tofu & tenderstem broccoli

~ Corrie ~ Leave a comment

IMG_9452

Tofu and tenderstem broccoli
Serves 2 as part of a bento box / Hands on time 20 mins / Total time 20 mins / V Vn Df
100g tender stem broccoli
400g firm tofu, cut into cubes
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped
2 tsp vegan white miso paste
1 tsp chilli paste or gochujang (gochujang is a Korean fermented chilli paste you can find in most supermarkets. If you can’t get hold of any, use a couple of drops of Tabasco or simply add a bit of fresh red chilli)
1 tbs soy sauce
½ tsp caster sugar
2 tsp toasted sesame oil

Method
1. Drain the tofu and cut into cubes. Bring a large pan to the boil and carefully add the tofu. Boil for 3 minutes (boiling the tofu removes some of the tofu’s moisture). Lift out the tofu with a slotted spoon and put in a colander to drain but don’t throw out the boiling water.
2. In the remaining water, boil the broccoli for 5 minutes, drain and set aside.
3. In a small bowl combine the soy sauce, miso, sugar and chili paste and put to one side.
4. Finely chop the onion and fry it in a large frying pan with the sesame oil on a medium heat. Once brown, add the chopped garlic and continue to cook for a further couple of minutes. If it’s getting too hot add a couple tablespoons of water to prevent it from burning.
5. Add the tofu and brown for a further few minutes. Add your paste and carefully coat the tofu for the next few minutes. Add another tsp of soy sauce and stir in. Finely incorporate the steamed broccoli and cook for a further 2 minutes.

Tofu & Tenderstem Broccoli

V– Vegetarian    Vn– Vegan    Df– Dairy free

 

Thai red curry with tofu

~ Corrie ~ Leave a comment
Thai Red Tofu Curry
Thai Red Tofu Curry

I tried and rather spectacularly failed last week to make a Thai Green Curry.
“It’s not that bad darling” said Jamie wincing slightly as he took another bite.
“It’s ruined!” I screeched as I dramatically flounced out the room to have a full blown Thai Green tantrum. I mean how difficult could it be? I didn’t even make the paste myself!… Once I’d calmed down, I apologised to Jamie and sulkily ate my vile curry on the metaphorical naughty step. But how had I got it so wrong?
After careful dissection of my own recipe I identified three major errors. The first was using reduced fat coconut milk. The second was adding too much stock. The third was substituting rice wine vinegar for cider vinegar and using two tablespoons of it. Gross!
So Thai green curry – you big fat idiot – I will not be defeated by you. I have revised my recipe and changed you into a Thai red curry and now you taste nice. Thank god, because I’m not sure Jamie could cope with another one of my curry tantrums.

Thai red curry with tofu
Serves 4 / Hands on time 30 mins / Total time 45 mins / V Vn Df 🌶
1 tsp rapeseed or coconut oil
1 small white onion, diced
1 inch fresh ginger, grated
2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
400g butternut squash, peeled and diced
280g of firm tofu cubed
1 stork lemongrass, bashed
1 tsp brown sugar
1 can of coconut milk
3tbs or 100g Thai red curry paste* – I use Blue Dragon which is vegan
200ml vegetable stock, I use 1 Knorr stock pot
1 tbs light soy sauce
2 handfuls of kale
100g sugar snap peas
1 bulb pak choy, roughly chopped
1 lime
Handful coriander, chopped
2 chopped red chillies to serve (optional)

FYI: Thai red curry paste contains chilli but if you like your curry extra hot, then I suggest you add a chilli or a tsp of chilli flakes.

Method
1. Heat the oil in a large heavy bottomed pot over a medium heat and sauté the onions, garlic and ginger for 5 minutes, stirring continually – add a dash of water to prevent the mixture from sticking if needed.
2. Add the butternut squash and cook for a further few minutes before adding the curry paste. Cook for an additional few minutes.
3. Add the coconut milk, vegetable stock, soy sauce, brown sugar and the bashed lemon grass. Bring to the boil and add the tofu. Reduce the heat down and simmer for 15 minutes with the lid a jar. Add the kale, sugar snap peas and pak choy and cook a further 5 minutes.
4. Remove from the heat and discard the lemon grass. Roll the lime on a hard surface to loosen it and then cut it in half before squeezing over the curry. Give it a good stir and serve with rice and a sprinkling of fresh coriander and chopped red chillies.

Thai Red Tofu Curry
Thai Red Tofu Curry

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.

V– Vegetarian    Vn– Vegan    Df– Dairy free.   🌶– Spicy
* Some Thai red curry pastes contain crustaceans and fish. Always check the label.

 

Bean curd in black bean sauce

~ Corrie ~ Leave a comment
CHINESE NEW YEAR: Bean Curd in Black Bean Sauce
CHINESE NEW YEAR: Bean Curd in Black Bean Sauce

As it’s Chinese New Year, I thought I’d have a go at making my family’s favourite Chinese takeaway meal – beancurd in black bean sauce. Having only ever used black bean sauce from a packet, I was determined to try and make it myself but was doubtful I’d find fermented black beans in my local Sainsbury’s, but I did! I stumbled across it in the World Foods isle. They looked a bit weird so bought ready-made black bean sauce too just in case. If you can’t find fermented black beans, you can order them by clicking here or simply replace with a jar of ready-made black bean sauce.
I remember my dad not being a fan of the green pepper in this dish (he used to pick them out and moan every time we got a takeaway) but I like a touch of bitterness so have kept them in – sorry dad! Happy Chinese New Year!

Bean curd in black bean sauce
Serves 2 / Hands on time 40 mins / Total time 40 mins / V Vn Df 
You’ll need: Food processor, kitchen roll, wok or large frying pan
Black bean sauce
2 tbs fermented black beans in chilli, washed and sieved
2 tbs dry sherry
2 tbs light soy sauce
4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
½ red chilli, de-seeded and chopped (optional)
Stir fry
1 red pepper, de-seeded and sliced
1 green pepper, de-seeded and sliced
6 spring onions, sliced
280g firm tofu, drained
2 tsp sesame oil
Handful fresh coriander leaves, chopped
Brown basmati rice to serve

Method
1. Drain the tofu and lay the block on some layered kitchen roll. Cover in a few more pieces of kitchen roll and place something heavy heavy on top of it whilst you make the sauce.
2. To make the black bean sauce, put all the ingredients in a food processor and blitz until combined – be careful not to over blitz as you want the sauce to keep a bit of texture. Put to one side.
3. Add a tsp of sesame oil in a wok over a medium to high heat. Remove the heavy object from the tofu and cut into cubes. Fry the tofu in the wok for about 5 mins stirring continually until golden brown. Line a large bowl with kitchen roll and tip the tofu into it before sprinkling with salt.
4. Add another tsp of oil to the wok and add the sliced peppers along with the spring onions. Fry for a couple mins before adding the black bean sauce and the tofu. Stir fry together for 5 minutes until the vegetables are cooked and the tofu warmed through.
5. Serve topped with chopped spring onions and coriander.

1

If you’ve had a go at making any of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you. Follow me now @corrieheale and tag your recipe pictures using #corriesrabbitfood.

V – Vegetarian   Vn – Vegan.    Df – Dairy free