Pizza With Pizzazz

Everybody loves pizza, but it is definitely not the healthiest of foods. However, with a few creative tofu substitutes in your favorite pizza recipe, you can make a pizza dish that is both tasty and healthy. The ingredients that are needed to create such a dish include: 160 ml unsweetened soy milk, 250 g bread flour, 20g oil, 10g yeast, 10 g sugar, a pinch of salt, ½ package extra firm tofu, 5 pieces dried Chinese mushrooms, 50g snow peas, 50 g baby corn, 30 g red pepper, 30 g green pepper, 30 g water chestnut, and 60 ml hoison sauce.

The first step when making a healthy version of pizza with a tofu recipe is to create the dough. First, sift the flour into a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the sugar, yeast, and 50 ml of the soy milk. After the yeast ferments, create a dent in the center of the flour and add the yeast mixture, as well as the remainder of the soy milk and oil. Knead the dough firmly until no longer sticky. Cover it with a cloth until it rises and has approximately doubled in size. Once ready, shape it in a pan.

Take the hoisin sauce and spread it over the pizza dough. Place all of the vegetable toppings on top of the sauce, and sprinkle the top with crumbled, extra firm tofu. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. You might consider using other toppings if you so desire.

Not-So-Ordinary

While tofu might have a reputation for being boring and monotonous, it can be used in a variety of tofu recipes and create healthier versions of your favorite dishes. Pizza, pie, pudding, chicken nuggets—all of these recipes can be made more nutritious with tofu, without losing any of their delicious flavors. Tofu recipes can certainly be very creative concoctions, if only you just gave them a try.

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The Facts Of The Matter

Firm tofu is dense and solid compared to soft tofu. It will maintain its shape no matter how you cook it, whether you use it in a tofu stir fry, a baked dish, or on the grill. That said, firm tofu is ideal as a meat substitute. However, it also works well as a cheese substitute in desserts. When compared to other types of tofu, firm tofu is higher in fat, calcium, and protein; however, like most tofu, firm tofu is low in sodium.

The Perfect Understudy

Many firm tofu recipes are used when taking the place of meat dishes. One creative firm tofu recipes is tofu nuggets. They are a great alternative to chicken nuggets for vegans and vegetarians. Children especially love this recipe. To make tofu nuggets, you will need: 16 ounces extra firm tofu, 1/3 cup soymilk, 2 tbsp. mustard, 1 tsp. onion powder, 1 tsp. garlic powder, ¾ cup breadcrumbs, ½ tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. pepper.

First whisk together the soymilk, spices, and mustard until smooth. Place the breadcrumbs in a separate bowl. Dip each piece of tofu in the soymilk mixture, coating completely. Then, coat the tofu with bread crumbs. Fry in oil until the nuggets are browned. If you wish to bake the nuggets instead, place them on a covered baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Turn them once midway through. Serve with dipping sauce if you prefer.

A Dietary Staple

For vegans and vegetarians, firm tofu recipes are a dietary staple. The way that firm tofu can be used as a substitute in virtually any dinner dish is a clear advantage of the ingredient, and allows those who ban meat and dairy from their diets to eat versions of meat and dairy dishes. Firm tofu recipes are a fixed favorite of vegetarians, and a soon-to-be favorite of those who have yet to try tofu at all.

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For those who aren’t as interested in the traditional flavors, there are many other options when it comes to preparing tofu soup recipes. Some of them have an Asian flair and are reminiscent of the origins of tofu, whereas others are about as Americanized as you can get! Either way, tofu soup recipes are diverse and delicious.

A Homemade Chinese Classic

Have you ever had hot and sour soup at a Chinese restaurant? You can prepare it yourself, as it is an easy tofu soup recipe. Veggie hot and sour soup can be prepared using: 1 package medium firm tofu, 8 cups vegetable stock, 1 finely sliced celery stalk, 1 medium carrot, 2 stocks lemon grass, 2 small hot chili peppers, juice of 3 limes, 1 finely chopped fresh red chili, 20 fresh coriander leaves, 3 sliced green onions, salt, and pepper.

Begin by blanching the tofu in hot water. After the tofu cools, slice it thinly into strips. In a separate pot, add the vegetable stock, lemongrass, and chilies. Bring this mixture to a boil on the stove, then reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for about 15 minutes. Strain the contents and return them to the pot, now adding celery and carrots. Once again, bring the mixture to a boil. Add the tofu and the mushrooms. Cook for approximately one minute before adding the lime juice, green onion, chili pepper, and coriander leaves. Sprinkle on the salt and pepper and serve.

A Classic Dish From Home—With A Twist

Corn chowder is easy to prepare using tofu. Unlike other soup dishes, silken soft tofu is required for this tofu soup recipe (other recipes require firm tofu). The necessary ingredients are: 1.5 tablespoons light oil, l large diced celery stalk, 1 medium chopped onion, 2 medium-large diced potatoes, 2 medium thinly sliced carrots, 2 cubes vegetable bullion, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, 3 cups cooked fresh corn kernels, 12.3 ounce package silken tofu, low fat or soy milk as needed, salt, and pepper.

Begin by heating the oil in the soup pot and adding the celery and onion. Sauté until brown, and then add the carrots, cullion cubes, cumin, potatoes, and enough water to cover. Simmer for about 25 to 30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. Then, add the corn kernels and the tofu. Add enough milk to give the soup a slightly thick consistency. Season with salt and pepper and then simmer for a final 10 minutes on low heat.

Tradition And Today

While tofu soup recipes have a history in ancient China and Japan, they are also adaptable to modern soup recipes. Whichever way you like it, you can enjoy tofu soup in a wide variety of forms.

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A Twist On Mac And Cheese

Macaroni and cheese is a family favorite, but the dairy products often prevent vegans from being able to eat the dish. One baked tofu recipe that provides an adequate substitute for macaroni and cheese. To make the dish, you will need: 10 to 12 ounces of elbow macaroni, 2 tablespoons margarine, 12.3 ounce package of silken tofu, 1.5 cups firmly packed grated cheddar cheese, and salt.

Begin by cooking the macaroni in hot water, and then draining. In the meantime, puree the tofu in a blender or food processor until it is perfectly smooth. Place in a medium saucepan with cheese and margarine, and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir the mixture frequently, and then cook over low heat until the sauce has melted thoroughly. Mix the sauce and the macaroni together in a casserole dish, season, and place in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes at 400 degrees.

A Meatless Dish

An easy meat substitute is marinated tofu. The ingredients required for this baked tofu recipe are minimal; all that the chef will need is: 1.5 tablespoons oil, ½ teaspoon minced rosemary, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons tamari, 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 1 pound of firm tofu.

Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Slice the tofu into thirds, then cut crosswise so that twelve triangles are formed. In a baking dish, line the triangles in a single layer. Wisk the remaining ingredients together in a separate bowl to form a marinade. Pour the marinade on top of the tofu and bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

Just Like The Real Thing

Baked tofu recipes offer the best of both worlds. Unlike fried tofu recipes, which often focus exclusively on the tofu, baked tofu recipes are a great substitute for home cooked meals. Baked tofu can be used in pasta recipes, pizza recipes, and even in tofu soup recipes! It is its ability to be used in everyday recipes makes it a staple of vegan and vegetarian diets.

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An Asian Take On Flavor

Fried tofu recipes have always been popular in Asian countries, where tofu first originated. Like other fried tofu recipes, this recipe is fairly simple but it features an exotic sauce. For this recipe, you will need: 1 pound tofu, 3 cups olive oil for frying, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 sliced scallion, 2 tablespoons minced cilantro, 1 clove minced garlic, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon vinegar, and ½ teaspoon sugar.

First place the tofu on a plate. And then cover with a second plate and a weight on top so that the tofu can drain. The tofu will need to drain for about fifteen minutes. Next, cut the tofu into three large pieces. Stack them together and then make a diagonal cut in order to form triangles. Make a diagonal cut in the opposite direction, so that the final result is several smaller triangles.

In a separate bowl, mix together garlic, red pepper flakes, cilantro, soy, scallion, and sugar. Whisk these ingredients together and set aside. Eventually, this will serve as a sauce that you can dip your fried tofu in. With a wok or a deep fryer, heat the oil to 360 degrees and fry the tofu slices in batches, until golden brown. Serve the slices along with the dipping sauce.

Take Two!

Some fried tofu recipes call for deep frying. However, another way to fry tofu is to stir-fry it. Stir-fry is becoming more and more popular, and it is even easier than deep frying. Simply cut tofu into chunks, mix with some vegetables, and place in a frying pan with some cooking spray.

A Great First Experience

More flavorful than baked tofu recipes, and healthier than French fries, fried tofu recipes are the perfect compromise to the health-taste dilemma. The combination of exceptional flavor and nutrition of fried tofu recipes help to make anyone’s first experience with tofu an amazing one.

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Time-Efficient Tips

Being aware of just a few simple tips can make cooking tofu recipes extremely easy. Many tofu recipes can be made in a matter of minutes, if you only know how to go about executing them. Once you know what kinds of tofu can be substituted for what ingredients, you will be making easy tofu recipes all the time!

One tip to make an easy tofu lasagna is to puree silken tofu and then combine it with cheese. This version of lasagna is not only quicker, but healthier as well. Another quick tip is to mix tofu with bread crumbs, thinly chopped vegetables, and seasonings. Shape the mixture into a patty for your very own veggie burgers.

For an easy “meat” dish, marinate tofu “cutlets” in your favorite marinade and then cook and serve as you would meat. One of the most popular fried tofu recipes is stir fry—simply chop up firm tofu, mix with a few veggies, and fry in a wok. For a delicious sandwich spread, you might also mix in silken soft tofu with cottage cheese and seasonings. Spread on bread and serve as a sandwich.

If you want a way to lighten up some of the dishes you cook in your home, tofu recipes are an easy way to do just that! You can use soft tofu as a replacement salad dressing or as a replacement for cream in creamed soups. Tofu can also be used to replace mayonnaise. Uses chunks of tofu instead of crotons when creating a salad, and try dipping slices of French toast in silken tofu instead of in egg products.

Getting The Hang Of It

Is can be difficult to get used to a new ingredient, especially one as intimidating as tofu. However, there is really no reason to be afraid of incorporating tofu into your diet, because there are plenty of easy tofu recipes that allow you to do so. Once you are used to handling the various kinds of tofu and making substitutions with it, you will be able to whip up tofu recipes just like that.

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