Tips for Preparing Tofu

I never was one to jump on the tofu bandwagon when it became popular to eat tofu at trendy restaurants. So, when I ended up trying something referred to as "tofu steak" on a Japanese restaurant menu (because I couldn't decide on anything else), I was pleasantly surprised. For something that I remember as a kid to have been pretty plain testing (read: cubed and then served with soy sauce), this dish was tasty, and I knew I had to figure out a way to recreate it at home.

Here are a few simple recipes to get you started and handling tips if you're not that familiar with tofu.

Prepping Tips:

1. If you plan on grilling or frying tofu, buy the tofu that is extra firm. When looking at the packaging, look for the words "firm" or "pressed." If the packaging says "silk" that usually indicates a softer tofu that has more water and is much more difficult to grill or fry.

2. Tofu comes in one big block. Prior to cutting, place the block on a wooden cutting board. Take a paper towel or cheesecloth and press down on the block of tofu to remove as much excess water as possible. The more water, the more likely it is that it will fall apart. (If you have no choice but to get the silk kind it is possible to press it yourself to get the moisture out, but you'll still have to handle it much more gently than you would the firm kind.)

3. Regardless of whether you are grilling or frying your tofu, make sure your pieces are not more than half an inch so that it cooks thoroughly.

Fried Tofu:

I like friend tofu the best, and the way I like to serve it is in triangular pieces. I'm not sure why, and there is no rhyme or reason for my doing so. Once you've removed the excess water, cut the main "block" into triangular pieces. While you are doing this, make sure to have oil (olive or canola oil) heating in a wok on medium heat. When the oil starts sizzling and tiny bubbles appear, drop the triangles into the oil very slowly.

Don't dump too many pieces into the pan at once and crowd them in. Instead, make sure to leave adequate space for the pieces to move. If you place all your pieces into the wok at once, you lower the temperature of the oil causing the pieces to fry unevently.

When the pieces look golden brown on the outside, remove them and place on a plate lined with paper towel. Allow the towels to soak up the excel oil.

Grilled Tofu:

Tofu sticks and when it does, you might as well just give up and start over. So, remember to use some sort of non-stick cooking spray. If you followed the above directions and cut pieces no more than half an inch thick, then a few minutes on the grill for each side ought to do it. Every time you turn a piece, make sure to leave it there. Don't constantly move pieces around the grill - that does not help cook it faster.

To make your life easier if you are dealing with small pieces, put everything on a skewer. It's much easier than having to use tongs and possibly breaking the tofu.

As you are grilling, make sure to continually brush your tofu with a marinade (Italian dressing or an oil vinaigrette works well). This helps to retain some amount of moisture so that it does not dry out.

When you're done grilling, try one of the dipping suggestions below.

Now, as far as what to serve with fried or grilled tofu, some say eating it plain is good. After all, tofu is porous and easily soaks up flavors. But, if you want even more flavor, try some of these ideas:

1. Peanut sauce - Just mix equal parts crunchy peanut butter with soy sauce. Add a dash of hot sauce (or more depending on how spicy you want the sauce to be) and a squirt of lime juice. Place ingredients in either the microwave or on very low heat in a sauce pan stirring to ensure everything is mixed together.

2. Sweet - If you want something a little more sweet, and downright simple, just mix soy sauce and sugar together.

3. Spicy and Simple - Soy sauce, rice wine and a bit of hot sauce is also good.

4. Thick - If you want a heartier consistency, I've heard of some people mixing Greek yogurt with chutney and saying it's the best stuff on Earth.

5. Curry - If you like curry sauce, try Spicy Nothings' Coconut curry sauce. It's delicious and something a little different. You can buy it online at Amazon if you can't find it in the store. (This brand also makes a "spicy & tangy" version too!)

6. Sour Cream - Try about a half a cup of source cream with a dash of water, soy sauce, rice wine, olive oil and a pinch of black pepper.