Natto Manofu!

Mabodofu in Japanese or Mapo Doufu in Chinese Mapo doufu, is a popular Chinese dish from the Sichuan (Szechuan) province. It is a combination of tofu (bean curd) set in a spicy chili- and bean-based sauce, typically a thin, oily, and bright red suspension, and often topped with minced meat, usually pork or beef. Variations exist with other ingredients such as water chestnuts, onions, other vegetables, or wood ear fungus, but these are rarely considered authentic Sichuanese.

The Japanese sometimes combine it with natto to create a vegan recipe!

Natto Manofu!

INGREDIENTS: For 2~ people

-Natto: 2 standard packs
-Tofu (silk to fu): 1 standard block/300~400 g
-Leek: 1/2 finely chpped
-Fresh ginger: 3×3 cm cube, finely chopped
-Garlic: 1 clove, finely chopped
-Salad oil or seasme oil: as appropriate
-Soy sauce: 1 tablespoon
-Mirin/Sweet sake: 1 tablespoon
-Japanese sake: 1 tablespoon
-Doubanjiang/豆板醤: 1 tablespoon
-Shichuan pepper (if a vailable): a little

RECIPE:

-Mix the natto with its tare/sauce. If tare is not provided, mix it with 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. Press water out of tofu. Cut tofu into small pieces (size of the pieces is up to your preference actually!).

-In a bowl mix soy sauce, Japanese, mirin and Doubanjiang into seasoning sauce. Set apart.

-Heat oil in a frypan. Throw in the chopped leek, ginger and garlic. Stir fry for a while.

-Once the leek have become half transparent throw in natto and the seasoning sauce. Mix and heat quickly for a short while.

-Add tofu, Fry until natto has mixed with tofu.

-If there is not enough water to your preference, add some hot (not cold!) water. Sprinkle with Shichuan pepper and serve atop freshly steamed plain rice!
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Vegan Natto & Aburage Tofu

Tofu and natto are both made from soy beans and can be easily combined into vegan recipes!

Natto & Aburage Tofu!
If you have any problems with quantities, look at pics or experiment!

INGREDIENTS: For 2 people

-Abrage/deep-fried tofu: 1 standard pack/2 blocks
-Natto: 1/2 standard pack
-Natto tare/sauce/dresing (sold with pack): as appropriate
-Miso: 2 tablespoons
-Leek: 1/2 chopped
-Soy sauce: as appropriate

RECIPE:

-Sponge water the oil and humidity off the aburage with some kitchen apaper. Cut through as to be able to open and stuff the tofu. The best method is to cut at an angle as shown in above picture, leaving half closed. Actually, you had better experiment, although you must keep in mind that the tofu should not be completely cut!

-Add some chopped leeks and the tare/sauce to the natto and stir until sticky. Add remaing chopped leeks and stir well.

-Paste the inside of the tofu with miso. Use a spoon. Stuff each tofu block with half of the natto. Secure with a toothpick.

-Fry until tofu attains a nice toast colour. No need to use oil!
You can also grill inthe toaster!

-Cut to size of your preference or serve it whole. Provide soy sauce for more seasoning if needed.

-Aburage as sold packed in Japan, although you will find them freshly made at any good large supermarket here!
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Vegan Edamame Tofu

This is the season for fresh edamame and there are so many ways to accomodate them!
Have you ever thought of creating a vegan recipe with them and tofu.
Here is a simple way to please everyone!

Vegan Edamame Tofu!

INGREDIENTS: For about 6 people, unless you have a big appetite!

-Kinu Tofu/Silk Tofu: 400 g
-Edamame: 1 cup (boiled in salted water and extracted from their pods)
-Agar agar: 8g
-Water: 385 CC/about 2 cups
-Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
-Mirin/sweet sake: 1 tablespoon

-Vegan konbu dashi/seaweed soupstock: Check RECIPE: 1 cup/200 cc/ml
-Mirin/sweet sake: 3 tablespoons
-Soy sauce: 3 tablespoons
-Grated wasabi: as appropriate

RECIPE:

-Soak the agar agar in the water for at least two hours or overnight.

-Peel off the thin skin of each edamame. Borin work, I must admit, but worth it!

-Place the tofu over a bamboo strainer/zaru to take as much water off as possible.
Press the agar agar strongly to drain it of any water.
Drop the agar agra in 400 cc of water and simmer on a weak fire until completely dissolved.

-Drop the edamame, tofu, salt and mirin in a mixer/food processor.
Turn until you attain a smooth paste.

-In a large bowl pour the tofu mixture and add the dissolved agar agar a lttle at a time and mix well until all has been incorporated.
Pour the whole into a rectangular mold you will have wetted beforehand.

-Smooth the surface flat with a gum spatula. Knock down the mold on the working table a few times to ensure homogeneousity.
Let cool and place inside refrigerator.

-Mix the dashi, soy sauce and mirin/sweet sake.
Heat to just before boiling point. Switch off fire and let cool completely.
Keep in thefridge.

-Turn the edamame to fu over a cutting board.
Cut into 8 pieces and place them on serving dish as shown above.
Pour dashi drssing around it.
Decorate with a few edamame and some grated wasabi.

Enjoy!
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Tofu & Vegetable Juice Cake

The great thing about tofu is that you can devise simple and yummy food with few ingredients and little money!

Here is a simple recipe for a healthy cake for adults and children”

Tofu & Vegetable Juice Cake!

INGREDIENTS: For an 18 cm wide mold

-Real 100% vegetable juice: 40 g
-Tofu (Silk tofu): 300 g
-Sugar: 50~80 g
-All-purpose flour: 100 g
-Eggs: 2

RECIPE:

-Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius

-Line the mold with an oven baking paper sheet.

-Drop the vegetable juice, tofu, sugar and eggs in a food processor. Mix until smooth.
Add flower and mix again until smooth.

-Pour the lot into the oven mold and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 30~40 minutes.

-Let cool completely.

-Take out the mold and place on a serving dish. Chill it properly inside the refrigerator.

-Cut to size and serve.

-Decorate it with chatilly (beaten cream) cream.

-You can experiment with the taste with liqueurs and so on!

Easy, ain’t it?
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Vegan Japanese Cuisine: Yuki Nabe/Tofu Pot au feu

The Japanese have a very simple and healthy tofu recipe called Yuki Nabe/雪鍋 (“Snow Pot) which can be loosely translated as Tofu Pot Au Feu.
By just adapting the dashi soupstock to a vegan seaweed dashi, vegans and vegetarian can enjoy it!

Before reading the ingredients, check:
Vegan Japanese dashi soupstock recipe

INGREDIENTS: For 5 people

Tofu/Kinudofu/Silk tofu: count 1 block per person (1 block is about 300~400 g)
-Freshly grated daikon: 2 cups/400 cc
-Salt: 2 teaspoons
-Dashi: 5 cups/1000 cc
-Mitsuba/Trefoil/Japanese Honeywort: 1/2 cup/100 cc (Chopped). (if unavailable use fresh coriander or thin leeks, although the taste will be a lot stronger. Chopped shiso is fine, too)

RECIPE:

-Lightly press grated daikon to take out excess water.

-In a large Japanese nabe/pot (earthenware pot) pour the dashi/soupstock.

-Heat over a medium fire. Once the dashi starts boiling add the freshly garted daikon. Once it starts boiling again add the tofu cut into fairly bite-sized pieces.

-When it starts boiling again, lower the fire to very low and add the mitsuba and salt (if needed).

-Ask the guests to seve themselves with a ladle into individual bowls. Eat with a Chinese soup spoon (“renge” in Japanese).

-Have some grated lime skin, grated fresh ginger and even grated wasabi ready in small dishes for adults wishing for some more zip!

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VEGAN TOFU CURRY

As I said before, Koyadofu is one kind of tofu that can beasily arranged into all kinds of interesting appetizers in Japanese Homes’ Gastronomy!
Here is a simple suggestsion for a yummy lunch to be eaten by all, vegans, vegetarians aor omnivores:

Vegan (Japanese) Tofu Curry!

INGREDIENTS: For 4 people

-Koyadofu: 5 sheets/85 g
-Carrot: 1 medium
-Onion: 1 medium
-Potato: 1 medium
-Shiitake mushrooms: 10 small
-Green peas: the equivalent of 1 small can/60 g
-Curyr powder (of your preference): 1~ tablespoon (I would use 2)
-Soy sauce: 2/3 tablepsoon
-Garan masala powder: 1/2 teaspoon

-Salad oil

-Steamed rice: count a large bowl per person

RECIPE:

-Cut the koyadofu into small bits and let them (if dry) soak in lukewram water until they get soft. Press the water out of them and keep in separate bowl. Finely chop the carrot, onion, potato, and shiitake mushroom. Keep in separate bowl. boil the green peas beforehand if necessary.

-Fry all choped vegetables in salad oil for a while until the onions become translucent.

-Add some water and bring to boil. Remove any unwanted matter if necessary. Add chopped koyadofu. Cook until carrot are sufficently soft. Switch off fire. Add curry powder and mix quickly. Add soy sauce and garam masala and mix quickly. Switch on the fire and cook over small fire until you are satisfied withe the consistency of the whole.

On a dish turn over a bowl of rice and surround it like in the toppicture with curry to which you add the green peas at the last second (on directly “seeded” over it) for good effect.

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Koyadofu Cheese & Bacon Rolls

Koyadofu is one kind of tofu that can beasily arranged into all kinds of interesting appetizers in Japanese Homes’ Gastronomy!
Here is a simple suggetsion for yummy snack to be eaten by all, and with a good beer for adults!

Koyadofu Cheese & Bacon Rolls

INGREDIENTS: For 8 rolls

-Koyadofu: 4 sheets or 80 g
-Sliced cheese: 2
-Flour: as appropriate
-Thin pork belly slices: 8
-Salad oil a little

SAUCE:
-Dashi/Japanese soup stock (if unavailable use bouillon of your choice): 1 cup/200ml/cc
-Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
-Mirin/sweet Japanese sake: 2 tablespoons
-Sugar: 1 tablespoon

RECIPE:

-Soften the koyadofu into lukewarm water. Press water out firmly.
Cut each “sheet” into identical halves

-Cut the sliced cheese into 4 identical parts.

-Cut the koyadofu as shown in picture through 4 fifths of it depth. Insert a pice of sliced cheese inside the cut.

-Roll the koyadofu “sandwich” inside a slice of pork belly and sprinkle with flour.

-Heat some oil in frying pan. Place the rolls together with their “tails” down. Cover with glass lid and cook over medium fire until the meat is conpletely cooked and attained a nice colour.

-Add the sauce ingredients and cook turning the rolls 2 or 3 times until the juices have practically disappeare/evaporated.

-Serve on a plate with some chopped thin leeks and if desired sprinkle with a little chili pepper!

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TOFU CHAWAN MUSHI

Here is another simple tofu recipe you can either serve hot (great in winter) or chilled, although I would go for the former.
Chawan Mushi/Chyawanmushi/茶碗蒸し is a Japanese way to steam a flan/pudding that is not sweet. It makes for great appetizers or full meals if served aplenty.
Great for kids and waistline-conscious people!

Tofu Chawan Mushi!

INGREDIENTS: For 4 ramequins/cups

-Tofu: 1 cup:200 cc/ml (untreated, light type)
-Eggs: 3 medium-sized ones
-Egg yolk: 1
-Dashi (fish or seaweed): 1/2 cup/100cc/ml
-Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
-Soy sauce: 1 teaspoon
-Mirin/sweet sake: 2 teaspoons
-Chicken soup stock: 50 cc/ml
-Water or dashi: 150 cc/ml
-Cornstarch: 1/2 tablespoon
-Water: 1 tablespoon
-Grated fresh ginger (or yuzu kosho): enough for decoration and taste

RECIPE:

In a bowl beat the eggs and egg yolk. Add tofu, dashi, salt, soy sauce and mirin. Mix well with an electric whisker. Pass through a thin sieve/chinois. Pour mixture inside ramequins/cups.

You can either steam it in a steamer or cook in a bain-marie. Or proceed as shown in picture above. Once the water has ben brought to boil, switch down heat to low and steam for 12~15 minutes.

While you are steamig the tofu chawan prepare the topping sauce. In a pan pour the soup stock and water/dashi. Bring to boil. Mix cornstarch and water, and add it little by little to soup until you have reache da satisfying consistency.

Check if the tofu chawan mushi is well cooked. Pour sauce over each cup. Serve with a little lump of grated fresh ginger. Serving with chopped thin leeks also makes for good combination in looks and taste. One can also season the sauce according to one’s taste and priorities!
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VEGAN TOFU CUISINE: AGEDASHI TOFU

“Agedashidofu” or (Tofu first deep-fried, then served with dashi soup” is a very popular Japanese dish that can easily be adapted to fit vegetarian and vegan priorities!
Moreover, whatever dashi/soup is left can be poured onto a bowl of freshly staemed rice for a fillingand healthy suppelementary dish!

Vegan Agedashidofu!

INGREDIENTS: For 2 people

-Tofu (momen tofu) 1/2 a large piece (can of course be increased!)
-flour: 1 tablespoon (whatever flour as this could add an interesting variation!)
-Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon
-Oil for deep-frying
-Freshly grated daikon (to taste)
-Thinly chopped leek (to taste)

-Dashi (konbu/seawed dashi): 100 ml
-Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
-Mirin/sweet sake:2 tablepoons

-You may add spices of your choice, especially grated ginger and hot chili powder!

RECIPE:

1. Press as much water out the tofu as possible. Cut the tofu into large pieces. Take as much as humidity off their surface by wrapping inside a clean cloth for a while. Mix the flour and cornstarch.
Roll the tofu pieces into the flour and cornstarch so as to cover all sides. If you don’t have enough flour/cornstarch, prepare more.

Drop in deep-frying oil at 170 degrees.

2. Prepare the dashi soup by heating the konbu dashi with the soy sauce and mirin (and extra spices if wanted).

3. Pour the dashi in individaul dishes. Place fried tofu in the middle. Top tofu with freshly grated daikon and chopped leek.

SUGGESTION:

Boil some cut mushrooms in the dashi before serving them together with the tofu!

Easy and healthy, isn’t it?
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TOFU CHOCOLATE CAKE

As I said before, tofu has the great quality that it makes all things lighter, especially cakes.
have you ever thought of combining it with Chocolate?

Tofu Chocolate Cake!

INGREDIENTS:

-Light flour: 80 g
-Baking powder: 10 g
-Cooking chocolate or normal chocolate (the higher percentage in cocoa, the better!): 1 standard tablet/bar
-Eggs: 2
-Margarine or butter: 1 tablespoon
-Cocoa powder: 20 g
-Rum: to taste
-Tofu (light/kinu tofu): 300 g
-Sugar: to taste (depends on people!)

-Fresh cream: 100 ml
-Jam: 1 tablespoon

RECIPE:

-Whip the tofu until smooth. Pass it through a fine mesh sieve.

In a separate bowl pass the flour and baking powder through a fine mesh sieve.

-Melt margarine/butter and chocolate on a bain-marie (put the bowl inside a larger one over a fire. Add 50 ml of hot water and the coca powder. Keep mixing until misture thickens.

-Separate egg yolks and whites. Beat the whites in to solid meringue.

-Add flour and baking powder, egg yolks, rum and sugar to chocolate mixture. Mix well. Fold in the egg whites in.

-Check taste. Add flour and cocoa powder if necessary. mix in quickly.

-Line your rice-cooker with a little oil. Pour in the whole mix and switch on the rice-cooker. If you do not have a rice cooker, pour the mixture inside a mold and bake for about 20~25 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius (check from time to time).

-Wait until cooled down completely before taking out.Serve with whiiped cream mixed wit a little jam of your choice. Plenty of variations possible!
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VEGAN SMOKED TOFU

It is sometimes a hard world for vegans when it comes to find new ideas and recipes, even you love tofu!
Here is a simple way to prepare and enjoy tofu as it was a big piece of cheese!

Vegan Smoked Tofu!

INGREDIENTS: for ? People

-Tofu: a large piece 300~400g or more
-Miso of your liking, as much as you wish
-Soy sauce, not too much (beware the salt)
-Sake or mirin, a little just for the taste
-Spices, if you wish!

RECIPE:

-As the tofu shouldn’t be too soft, choose “momendofu”, or slightly solid.

-Place the tofu on a clean cloth.
-Top it with a clean plate or board.
-Put a heavy weight on top.
-Leave it like this for half a day. The tofu will reduce to half.

-Smear the whole tofu on every face with plenty of a mixture of miso, soy sauce and other ingredients of your choice. The more, the better.

-Wrap it carefully in cellophane paper and leave it in the fridge overnight.

-Take it out of the fridge and take off the cellophane paper.
-Let it dry for 2 hours at room temperature over a piece of kitchen paper.

-Smoke inside a Chinese smoking set for 1 hour.

-Very practical for smoking small quantities!

-Here you are! Enjoy!
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TOFU POUND CAKE

Tofu has the great quality that it makes all things lighter, especially cakes.
Have you ever thought of making a pound cake with it (with a twist added!)?

Tofu Pound Cake!

INGREDIENTS: For a cake 16.5 cm long and a square cut of 7 cm sides

-Egg whites: 2
-Egg yolks: 2
-Sugar: 30 g
-Tofu (after taking some of its water off): 120 g
-Honey (liquid): 2 tablespoons
-All-purpose flour: 50 g
-Baking powder: half a teaspoon
-Soy sauce: 1 teaspoon
-Mirin/sweet sake: 1 tablespoon
-Milk: 2 tablespoons

RECIPE:

-Mix flour and baking powder well.
-Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius

-In a bowl drop the egg whites with half of the sugar. Beat until solid. Beat 30 more times with a whisk.

-In a separate bowl drop in the tofu, rest of the sugar and egg yolks. Beat with a whisker until smooth. Do not mix too much!

-Add honey, soy sauce, mirin and milk in that order to the egg yols mixture and mix in one each at a time.

-Add and mix in the flour and baking powder mixture little by little with a spatula.

-Add the meringue (beaten egg whites) by folding them in with a spatula in 2 or three sessions.

-Line the mold with baking paper and pour in the whole mixture.
Bake for 40 minutes (the picture above shows the cake baked after 10 minutes)

-Leave the cake inside the oven for 10 more minutes after the oven has switched off after the 40 minutes of cooking. Open the oven, but leave the cake inside for an extra 10 minutes before taking it out.

-Let cool down completely.
Leave inside the fridge for half a day before serving.

NOTE:

You can replace the soy sauce and mirin with cocoa powder (1 tablespoon)!
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TOFU YOGHURT CAKE

Tofu and yoghurt are two very healthy ingredients that can be easily magicked into a cake for the delight o children and calories conscious adults:

Tofu Yoghurt Cake!

INGREDIENTS: For an 18cm-diameter mold

-Plain yoghurst:500g
-Tofu (kinu tofu or soft tofu): 300 g
-Eggs: 2
-Sugar: 80 g
-Flour: 30 g
-Lemon juice: 1 tablespoon

RECIPE:

-Place a sieve over a bowl. Pour the yoghurt in. Let it drain naturally in the refrigerator for a day.

-Place the tofu in a bowl (no need to cover it). Leave it in a microwave oven (500 W) for 3 minutes.
Place a sieve over a bowl. Pour the tofu inside the sieve. Let it drain naturally in the refrigerator for a day.

-Next day, pre-heat oven to to 180 degrees Ceslius.
Throw the yoghurt and tofu water away.
Drop all the ingredients inside a food processor.

-Blend until smooth. Switch off halfway and stir with a spatula to even up the mixture.

-Pour the mixture inside a mold lined upwith cooking paper. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes.

-Take mold and cake out. Let it cool completely. Chill it inside the refrigerator together.

-Take the cake out of of its mold only when it has chilled well.

-Cut, serve and enjoy!
You can of course serve it with jam and other toppings.
You can also add liqueurs, fruits and so on to the recipe!
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TOFU LEMON CUPCAKES

Here is another simple Japanese style cupcake recipe made with tofu!

Tofu lemon Cupcakes!

INGREDIENTS: For about 16

-Tofu (kinu tofu or soft tofu): 100 g
-Sugar: 70 g
-Egg: 1
-Grated lemon pel: 1 lemon
-Flour: 160 g
-Baking powder: 1 and a half teaspoons
-Milk (or soy milk): 3 tablespoons
-Lemon juice: 1 tablespoon
-Olive oil: 2 tablespoons

RECIPE:

-Mix flour with baking powder. Mix grated lemon juice and milk in a separate bowl.

-In another bowl drop tofu and sugar. Mix thoroughly into a smooth paste. Add egg and mix well with a wisker.

-Add lemon juice and milk and mix well until smooth. But don’t mix too long!

-Mix in flour and baking powder with a spatula until the floury look has disappeared but don’t overmix.

-Fill cups (previously oiled) and bake at 190 degrees Celsius for 16 minutes. If the cups are really small 12 minutes should be enough.
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TOFU TERRINE

Tofu does have to be food exclusively for vegans, vegetarians and people with special priorities.
I can assure you that monivores like I are very fond of any any combination including tofu!

Here is a simple recipe that will impress your friends:
Tofu Terrine!

INGREDIENTS: For 4 servings

-Tofu (momen tofu, a bit mopre solid than kinu tofu): 300 g
-Wakame seaweed (salted preserves): 15 g
-Carrots: 30 g
-Sugar peas in their pods (or their equivalent. They are called pois gourmands in French, or kinu saya ingen in Japanese): 8
-Salt: a pinch (for boiling the veg)
-Mushrooms (white agarics): 3
-Broad beans (boiled or steamed) for decoration: 4

-Eggs: 2
-Soup stock: 2 tablespoons
-White wine: One and half tablespoons
-Salt: 1/3 teaspoon
-Pepper: to taste
-Salad oil for brushing

RECIPE:

-Break the tofu in large pieces. Boil lightly. Transfer into a large clean cloth and press as much water out as possible.

-Wash the wakame in clear cold water. Boil for a little while. Take out and press water out. Put it inside a clean cloth and press out as much water as possible.

-Chop the carrot fine. Boil a little and take water off as above.

-Take the “thread” off the sugar peas, boil in salted water. Let cool completely. Take off water and chop finely.

-Cut the mushrooms very fine (you may fry or boil them a bit if you wish to).

-Work the tofu in a suribachi (mortar and pestle) to obtain a smooth paste. Add eggs and mix with the pestle (food processing is fine, too). Add wakame seaweed, carrot, sugar peas, mushrooms, soup stock, slat and pepper, and mix.

-Coat the insides of 4 ramequins/oven cups with a very thin layer of salad oil and pour 1/4 of the mixture in each. Flatten the surface with a spatula.

-Place ramequins inside a steamer. Steam on a medium fire for 5 minutes, then 10 more minutes over a low fire.
Let cool down completely.
Wrap them in cellophane and keep in refrigerator until you serve them
Decorate with broad beans.

NOTE:

This is the basic recipe. It is open to all inds of variations!
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VEGAN TOFU LEMON CUPCAKES

This is a slightly different version of the Japanese style vegan tofu cupcake I introduced a couple of days ago. It will give you an idea of how to play on that idea!

INGREDIENTS: For about 16 cakes

-Tofu (kinu tofu): 180 g
-Sugar (of your choice): 0 g
-Soy milk: 3 tablespoons
-Lemon juice: 1 tablespoon
-Olive oil: 2 tablespoons

-Flour (use chestnut flour if you are wheat allergic): 160 g
-Baking powder: 2 teaspoons

-Grated lemon skin: 1 whole lemon
-Dried English tea leaves, finely chopped ( the contents of 1 tea bag is adequate)

RECIPE:

-Mix flour and baking powder well.
Mix soy milk and lemon juice separately and and set apart.

-In a large bowl drop in the tofu and sugar. Mix well until you obtain a smooth paste. Add the soy milk, lemon juice and olive oil. Mix the lot thoroughly with a whisker.

-Add the all flour and baking powder mixture and mix in with a spatula until floury lumps have disappeared, but don’t mix too much!

-Pour mixture into cups and sprinkle them with grated lemon skin and dried tea.

-Bake inside oven for 16 minutes at 190 degrees Celsius.
If you make mini cupcakes, 12 minutes should sufficient.
keep looking at the colour of your cupcakes!
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VEGAN TOFU CUPCAKES

Cupcakes are the norm all over the world when it comes to bakery and tofu is a must for vegans.
Now, it is possible to make very simple cupcakes for vegans!
Wheat flour allergics can replace the wheat flour with chestnut flour like the Corsicans and Portguese do in their traditional food!
This is only the basic recipe to which you can add fruits and vegetables!

Vegan Tofu Cupcakes!

INGREDIENTS: For 5~6 cupcakes

-Tofu (kinu toufu): 300 g
-All-purpose flour (for substitutes, read above): 100 g
-Sugar (white, cane, or even honey): 30 g

RECIPE:

-Get ingrediens ready and pre-heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

-Mix tofu and sugar. Mix well.

-Sprinkle flour over tofu and mix roughly so as to leave a little flour on the surface.

-Bake for 25~30 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius or until desired colour.

-Dead simple, aren’t they?
Now your skills will reside in what you add!
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Tofu & Chicken stuffed Green Peppers

Tofu when mixed with other ingredients opens a door on an infinite number of easy recipes!

Here is a very simple Japanes-style snack:
Tofu & Chicken stuffed Green Peppers!

INGREDIENTS: For 4 people

-Green peppers: 6
-Kinu tofu: 400 g
-Minced chicken: 175 g
-Japanese Sake: 1 tablespoon
-Soy sauce: 2 teaspoons
-Cheese powder: 1 tablespoon
-Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
-Black or white pepper: to taste
-Cornstarch: a small amount according to preferences

RECIPE:

-Leave a weight on top of the tofu to drain water and reduce it about two thirds of its volume.
-Wash the green peppers, cut in halves and wipe off humidity.
-In a bowl drop the tofu and minced chicken. Mix well by hand until you obtain a soft smooth paste.
-Add Japanese sake, cheese powder, salt and pepper and mix well.
Sprinkle insides of peppers with cornstach and fill each pepper half with tofu/chicken mixture.
-Place on oven plate and cook at 200 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes.
Serve with a little salt or soy sauce.
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VEGAN TOFU CARPACCIO

I’ve been in tofu recipe search mode for quite a while, and I finally found one to please my vegan friends who can’t boast a carpaccio of their own!
It is ridiculously easy, but it makes for great impression!
Choose the best ingredients!

Vegan Tofu Carpaccio!

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu (kinu tofu/silk tofu): as much as you like?
-Salt (Guerande for example): to taste
-Black pepper (freshly ground only, please!): to taste
-Lemon juice (organic lemon, please!): to taste
-Olive oil (EVO): to taste
-Pink pepper/baies roses: to taste

As you can see, it is basically up to you!

Look for some great organic green leaf vegetables to make a “bed” for the tofu.

RECIPE:

-Wrap tofu inside a large piece of kitchen paper.
Put the wrapped tofu inside a tupperware box (no lid, please) and top the tofu with a light weight.
Leave overnight (a full day, if you can) inside the refrigerator.

-Take out the tofu (discard the water).
-Cut it slices and plave it on a bed of leaf vegetables.
-Sprinkle in that order with salt, pepper, lemon juice and olive oil.
-Srop a few pink pepper grains for decoration and taste.

Simple, ain’t it?
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VEGAN ITALIAN TOFU SALAD

The Japanese come with some simple and tasty new ideas for Vegans and Vegetarians!
I just discovered this recipe. It is basically a Cabrese-style salad.
The twist is that the cheese is replaced by tofu!

Vegan Italian Tofu Salad:

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu (kinu dofu): half/200g
-Tomato: 1 large
-Sweet basil: 10 leaves

-Dressing:
Wine vinegar (white): 1/4 cup
White wine: 1/4 cup
Salt: 1/3 teaspoon
Whole black pepper: 3 grains, crushed
Garlic: 1/2 clove
Fresh red chili: 1/2

Olive oil (EVO): 1．1/4～ tablespoon
Onion: 15 g, grated

RECIPE:

-Cut tofu into 1 cm thick slices.
-After taking out the stem part, cut tomatoes into half moons.
-Leave tofu tomatoes in a bowl full of iced water.
-Crush and mince garlic. Mix it with the wine vinefar, white wine, salt, pepper and chili. Cook in a pan until the lot has reduced to half. Let cool.
-Take tomatoes and tofu out the iced water (drain as much water as possible) and drop them in a large bowl. Add onion and olive oil. Mix well.
-Place tomatoes, tofu and basil alternately as shown in picture on a srving dish. Pour dressing all over.

NOTE:

-For calorie conscious vegetarians, tofu has almost none while chesse has loads of them!
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Tofu and Egg Dumplings in Sweet and Sour sauce

Here is another very easy tofu recipe for the “Tofu Tribe” (Terecita, Elin, Jenn and Jennifer and all tofu lovers!

INGREDIENTS: For 4 people
-Tofu: 350~400 g
-Eggs: 2
-Soy sauce: 1 large tablespoon
-Dashi/Japanese stock soup. Add a little sy sauce and mirin/sweet sake for taste
-Cornstarch: 1 large Tablespoon
-Trefoil (mitsuba) or available leaves: enough for decoration and taste

RECIPE:

-Drain water from tofu. Put in a bowl and break it up. Break eggs in and add soy sauce. Mix well.

-Divide into 4 bowls. Cob\ver ach bowl with kitchen cellophane paper (30 cm wide square).

-Turn over bowl and wrap tofu inside cellophane paper. Secure with a rubber band.

-Bring water to boil inside a lare dep pan. Drop tofu dumplings in boiling water and cook for 15 minutes to make sure they properly coked inside.

-Place each dumpling inside its cellophan paper in a serving dish. Cut top of the cellophane paper and carefully pull out the cellophane paper or turn over (whatever way you feel comfortable with.

-In a separate pan prpare the sweet and sour sauce.
Pour in dashi to which you would have added soy sauce and mirin (Taste varies with individuals. Need for a lttle experimentation!).
Heat sauce.
Mix cornstarch in some water and then add to sauce.
Once ready pour over dumpling and serve it decorated with trefoil cut to size.

NOTE:
Take care that cellphane paper does not get in contact with bare parts of the pan as the cellophane paper might melt on contact!
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TOFU AND WAKAME SALAD

Here is another very easy recipe to help you and the “Tofu Tribe” (Terecita, Elin, Jenn and Jennifer modify and preserve tofu for all kinds of usages!
I’d like to take the opportunity to apologize to Tinako for my past mistake!
Tofu and Wakame Salad!

INGREDIENTS: For 2~3 people
-Tofu: 300 g
-Salt-preserved wakame: 20 g
If bought dried, let it “come back” in lukewarm water first.
If you are worried about the salt, let them rest in water for a while first and drain.
-Kawaire daikon, or any fresh sprouts available: To taste.
-Ponzu: 2 large tablespoons
-Sesame oil: half a large tablespoon
-White sesame seeds: to taste

RECIPE:

Leave tofu in clean cold water for 30 minutes. Wash and clean wakame seaweed and cut in bite-sized pieces. Cut sprouts in thirds.

In bowl mix seaweed, sprouts, ponzu and sesame oil.

Drain tofu and cut in bite-sized pieces. Mix in.
Place salad in serving bowls and sprinkle white sesame seeds.

Note: You can use either kinu tofu or momen tofu.
You may use green shiso/perilla leaves vinaigrette instead of ponzu.
In summer add cut plum tomatoes.
I personally like to add a little sweet umeboshi/pickled Japanese plums!
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TOFU SHIOZUKE/SALT-PRESERVED TOFU

Here is an easy recipe to help you and the “Tofu Tribe” (Terecita, Elin, Jenn and Jennifer modify and preserve tofu for all kind of usages!
Tofu Shiozuke/Salt-preserved Tofu!

INGREDIENTS:
-Tofu: 1 “cho”/200 g (Kinu or Momen type)
-Salt: 2g

RECIPE:

Take tofu block out of its package and put it kitchen working plank. Sprinkle it with 1 g of salt.

Cover with a sheet of kitchen paper.

Cover the tofu and its kitchen paper with a plastic Tupperware-type box.

Turn box and plank over holding them together.

Take off plank and sprinkle the tofu bottom face with 1 g of salt.

Close paper kitchen over tofu.

Close the box and leave inside refrigerator in the evening.

Next morning there should be about 20cc of water having seeped through the kitchen paper. Discard water.

Wrap again in new clean kitchen paper. Put back into dry Tupperware-type plastic box and close. Put back into fridge until the next morning.
The tofu will have reduced size by half by then.

That’s how it would look. Smaller and firmer. More water should have seeped out. Discard it.

USE SAMPLES:

On a bowl of freshly steamed rice serve with with thinly sliced raw okra, preserved chrysanthemum leaves. Then pour hot tea on top!

Pickle it with fresh miso for one night and eat it as a snack!

Beautiful in salad with avocado slices!

Served with chopped vegetables and garlic chips!

Stuffed inside Aburaage with boiled beans then grilled and seasoned with seaweed dashi/stock and ponzu!
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TIPS FOR EASY SNACKS

I was thinking of the “Tofu Tribe” (Terecita, Elin, Jenn and Jennifer) when riding the bu to work this morning. No bicycle these days as we are in the midlle of the rainy season!

The day before the Missus had served a quick snack (see pic above) consisting of tofu on which she poured extra virgin olive oil, coarsely ground black pepper and a little salt.
Very simple. Not very artistic, I admit, but the idea was there.

Now, many vegans and vegetarians like their tofu, but are running out of ideas…

How about, for example, creating a plate (use a large one with “compartments” for better effect!) with an assortment of tofu pieces seasoned with different varieties of oils, ground peppers and other spices, finely chopped vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers for good colouring. I love my tofu mounted with chopped shiso/perilla leaves, umeboshi/Japanese pickled plums meat and a dash of ponzu!
And what about natto/fermented beans with chopped shiso leaves and grated fresh ginger?

You could do the same thing with fried tofu, deep-fried tofu and aburaage.
How about a piece of fsh tofu mounted with freshly cut and fried aburaage, wasabi, grated fresh ginger and ponzu?

Endless bliss!

Will be introducing oils in my next posting!
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Tofu recipe: Tofu Manju with Ankake Sauce/Tofu Dumplings in Sweet and Sour Sauce

Here is another simple tofu recipe dedicated to Elin, all tofu lovers, vegans and vegetarians:
Tofu Manju with Ankake Sauce/Tofu Dumplings in Sweet and Sour Sauce!

INGREDIENTS:
-Tofu (momen tofu style9: 1 “Cho”/200 g
-Carrot: one fifth
-String beans: 2~3
cornstarch: 1 large tablespoon
-salt: a pinch

For sweet and sour sauce:
-Dashi (Konbu dashi/seaweeed stock): half a cup/100 ml
-Soy sauce: half a large tablespoon
-Sugar:2 large tablespoons
-Rice vinegar: 1 large tablespoon
-Cornstarch dissolved in water: to one’s personal liking

RECIPE: For 2 people

Press water out of tofu. Sift it completely. Boil finely cut carrots and string beans until soft enough. Drain all water.

drop tofu and vegetables in a mixing bowl. Mix in cornstarch and salt. Divisde in 4 and make balls. Wrap each individually in cellophane paper. Twist cellophane warap and secure with rubber band or string.
Steam for at least 4 minutes.

Sweet and sour sauce:
Heat dashi stock, soy sauce, rice vinegar and sugar, stirring all the time. Mix in cornstarch dissolved in water.
The sauce is ready.

Serve dumplings on plate and cover them with the sauce!
Enjoy!
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ABURAAGE RECIPE

(Aburarage Soup)

Aburaage is basically a deep-fried thin slice of tofu.
It does offer a very versatile option as it can be used as it is, or open as a pouch it becomes the base for inari sushi and many other variations!

Here is a simple recipe:

INGREDIENTS:
Tofu (firm Momen tofu type): 1 large piece/block (Icho in Japanese)
Thick Towel
Cellophane paper
Long wooden disposable chopsticks (wari-bashi)
“Piano string”, or the equivalent
Water drainer
Oil
Oil thermometer (up to 200 degrees Celsius)

RECIPE:

Make identations or marks on the chopsticks every 5 mm up to the height of the tofu block.

Tie “piano string” around chopsticks as shown on pic first at 10 mm height (or higher up to 15 mm if you wish), and cut tofu by sliding chopsticks along the cutting table (it should easy, but make sure you cut tofu evenly!)

Tofu being soft, it is not easy to manipulate.
Later, when you will manipulate it, the best way is to first turn over the whole onto your open palm and have each slice slide away.

Before manipulating the tofu, first put a 500g weight (anything over a thin wodden plank if you don’t have asushi weight) on top of the tofu for 2 hours to get as much water off as possible.
Transfer slices onto thick towel and leave them there for an hour.

First frying step: fry tofu slice at 130 degrees Celsius (make sure to keep the temperature constant!) for 6 minutes. This will allow for a uniform heating.

Second frying step: bring oil temperature to 160 degrees Celsius.
If tofu contains too much water or if you fry in a single step, it will fail to achieve the right shape and quality.

Aburaage will usually be a bit hard upon frying.

To make it soft, wrap it in xellophane paper and and heat inside electric oven. As soon as water comes out of aburaage inside the cellopahne paper, take the whole out and unwrap aburaage.

The aburaage should be soft by then.

Check if the aburaage needs a second frying (according to your liking).
if you fry it at 130 degrees, it will reduce as the one on the right in the picture.
If you fry it at 160 degrees you will obtain an aburaage like the left one on the picture (longer one).

To properly open it, cut in half, and then cut inside to form a pouch!
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Vegetarian Japanese Cuisine: Fried Tofu and Vegetables

The other night, the Missus thought that some healthy food was in order, that is as much for herself as for me, what with her drinking wine and me savouring my Japanese sake!

She used already deep-fried tofu cubes called “nama-age” bought at the nearby supermarket, cut them to bite-size, saute them on a non-stick frypan as they were (no need for oil) with a liberal amount of pizza cheese and served them with a good measure of freshly chopped thin leeks. All the while on another pan she fried slightly boiled renkon/lotus roots slices with eringi mushrooms cut lengthwise and half-cut Brussels sprouts with some olive oil, a litle salt, pepper and a spicy seasoning mix.
Once ready she added themhot on the same plate.

So simple and tasty!
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1): Fried Namaage with Cheese and Ponzu

This is I hope the first installment of a long series of simple recipes with tofu. Some will be vegan and vegetarian, some vegetarian like this one, others for omnivores!

This particular one is one one of the Missus’ favorites.
She uses on full “namaage tofu”, tofu that was deep-fried whole and that you can buy either fresh at a Japanese market or packaged.

She cuts the tofu in equal-sized bite pieces about 1 cm thick and fry them in a non-stick pan. No real need for any oil as what is contained in the surface of the tofu will be sufficient.
The point is that she fries them only on side. While they cook she lay a thin piece of mild/processed cheese over each tofu piece, add some black pepper, and cover with a glass lid. When the cheese has nicely melted over the tofu, she takes off the lid, sprinkles the whole with ponzu and fries for another minute. She serves on a dish with the sauce and liberally sprinkles the lot with chopped thin leeks!

Great snack with Japanese sake or beer!
———————
Koyadofu/Pressed Tofu Recipe

As promised here is the basic recipe to make Koyadofu/高野豆腐 or pressed tofu.

Koyadofu is extensively used in veganand vegetarian food in Japan.

It can also be deep-fried into great crunchy morsels!

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu: 1 block/400 g (actually it is up to you!)

RECIPE:

-Place the tofu in a plate/bowl and let rest there for 10 minutes. 　Throw away the water that comes out naturally. Cut the tofu into 3 “slices” across the width. You may skip that step and proceed with whole block.

-Wrap the tofu into cellophane paper and freeze the tofu inside the freezer of your refrigerator.

-Will be ready once completely frozen.
The trick is to press water out of the tofu once you have thawn it.
The tofu will have taken its colour and consistency naturally.

Recipe suggestion:

Prepare a stock soup with 1 cup of seaweed dashi/soup stock, 2 tablespoons of sugar, a little salt, 1 and a half teaspoons of mirin/sweet sake, and 1 and a half teaspoons of soy sauce.
Cook the koyadofu in it and serve once soft enough.
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Koyadofu/Pressed Tofu Recipe

As promised here is the basic recipe to make Koyadofu/高野豆腐 or pressed tofu.

Koyadofu is extensively used in veganand vegetarian food in Japan.

It can also be deep-fried into great crunchy morsels!

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu: 1 block/400 g (actually it is up to you!)

RECIPE:

-Place the tofu in a plate/bowl and let rest there for 10 minutes. 　Throw away the water that comes out naturally. Cut the tofu into 3 “slices” across the width. You may skip that step and proceed with whole block.

-Wrap the tofu into cellophane paper and freeze the tofu inside the freezer of your refrigerator.

-Will be ready once completely frozen.
The trick is to press water out of the tofu once you have thawn it.
The tofu will have taken its colour and consistency naturally.

Recipe suggestion:

Prepare a stock soup with 1 cup of seaweed dashi/soup stock, 2 tablespoons of sugar, a little salt, 1 and a half teaspoons of mirin/sweet sake, and 1 and a half teaspoons of soy sauce.
Cook the koyadofu in it and serve once soft enough.
————————–
Koyadofu/Pressed Tofu Recipe

As promised here is the basic recipe to make Koyadofu/高野豆腐 or pressed tofu.

Koyadofu is extensively used in veganand vegetarian food in Japan.

It can also be deep-fried into great crunchy morsels!

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu: 1 block/400 g (actually it is up to you!)

RECIPE:

-Place the tofu in a plate/bowl and let rest there for 10 minutes. 　Throw away the water that comes out naturally. Cut the tofu into 3 “slices” across the width. You may skip that step and proceed with whole block.

-Wrap the tofu into cellophane paper and freeze the tofu inside the freezer of your refrigerator.

-Will be ready once completely frozen.
The trick is to press water out of the tofu once you have thawn it.
The tofu will have taken its colour and consistency naturally.

Recipe suggestion:

Prepare a stock soup with 1 cup of seaweed dashi/soup stock, 2 tablespoons of sugar, a little salt, 1 and a half teaspoons of mirin/sweet sake, and 1 and a half teaspoons of soy sauce.
Cook the koyadofu in it and serve once soft enough.
————————–

As promised here is the basic recipe to make Koyadofu/高野豆腐 or pressed tofu.

Koyadofu is extensively used in veganand vegetarian food in Japan.

It can also be deep-fried into great crunchy morsels!

INGREDIENTS:

-Tofu: 1 block/400 g (actually it is up to you!)

RECIPE:

-Place the tofu in a plate/bowl and let rest there for 10 minutes. 　Throw away the water that comes out naturally. Cut the tofu into 3 “slices” across the width. You may skip that step and proceed with whole block.

-Wrap the tofu into cellophane paper and freeze the tofu inside the freezer of your refrigerator.

-Will be ready once completely frozen.
The trick is to press water out of the tofu once you have thawn it.
The tofu will have taken its colour and consistency naturally.

Recipe suggestion:

Prepare a stock soup with 1 cup of seaweed dashi/soup stock, 2 tablespoons of sugar, a little salt, 1 and a half teaspoons of mirin/sweet sake, and 1 and a half teaspoons of soy sauce.
Cook the koyadofu in it and serve once soft enough.

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