VeganMoFo 2011 #19: 'Tofu 1-2-3'

Tofu 1-2-3
Maribeth Abrams, John Wiley and Sons, 2006




I love tofu. I didn't always. Back when I was vegetarian I hated tofu. However, I had never had tofu done properly. I would often ask for vegan meals when I went to events because I only ate cheese with non-animal rennet, and a few times was presented with a pile of over steamed vegetables and unseasoned, steamed tofu. Poor tofu never stood a chance. A lot of people thing they don't like tofu, but really they just don't know what to do with tofu. Numerous people I have spoken too have used silken tofu where they should have used firm. Now, of course, I am a tofu convert! I found the docket inside this book, so I know I bought it from Borders on 30th of May 2008 at 2.23pm!

Tofu 1-2-3 is packed full of 125 recipes, all using tofu! Yum, yum! It is a paperback. The book is square (ugh) (if you aren't on the PPK, that is a joke) and has a middle insert of colour photos. Obviously not all of them. Chapters include a Preface (taking the mystery out of the big white blob), Tofu: It's Not Just for Vegetarians, Everything You Need To Know About Tofu But Didn't Know Who To Ask, Glossary of Ingredients, Breakfasts, Appetizers, Entrees, Stews and Soups, Salads and Sandwiches, Smoothies and Other Concoctions, and Happy Endings. I don't think the book ever actually says the word vegan, but all the recipes are.

I've made a fair amount from this book. Below I will share some photos of my five star favourites, as well as some photos of recipes I haven't uploaded yet. I will also list other recipes I have made with thoughts and ratings below. As always, you can click on the Tofu 123 tag to see posts that show what else I've made from here. You can also click on the photos to go to my Flickr page and click on the Tofu 123 tag there, which will bring up all the photos I have uploaded from things I have made from this book (you can do this for all the cookbook posts for MoFo if you want to see more).

Hot Apples with Cashew Cream


The cashew cream here is just fantastic! It goes well with the hot apples. I needed to cook the apples longer than the recipe said to get them hot enough. I served it over waffles (the waffles from Easy Vegan Cooking). 4 out of 5 (5 out of 5 for the cashew cream).

Spicy Peanut Noodles


I love peanutty sauces, and this is a great one. 5 stars.

Sweet and Sour Tofu


I like this sauce because the sweet and sour is not too sweet. 4 stars.

Chef Rory Macaroni


This is quick and easy to make - pasta I used shells) with a cheezy tomato sauce. Silken tofu is blended into the sauce here. I added more nooch, of course. 4 stars.

Pan-Fried Tofu Filets with Crimini Mushroom Sauce


Yummy stuff! I love mushrooms, and this is delicious. I love how thin the tofu slices are here.They are lightly seasoned and pan-fried, and then I kept them warm in the oven while I was making my sauce. 4 stars.

Baked Stuffed Eggplant



Eggplants are stuffed with firm tofu, peas, tomatoes and lots of seasoning. 5 stars.

Orange Jubilee


There are several drinks in this book, but this is the only one I have made so far. They are a good way of using up small amounts of leftover silken tofu. This one blends OJ, tofu, maple and vanilla together. 4 stars.

Fudge Brownies


These are super rich and fudgey! The batter includes melted chocolate. 4 stars.

The other things I have made from here:

Tofu Parmesan - 4 stars (I used the garlic marinara sauce from Veganomicon here)
Shepherd's Pie - 4 stars
Captain Tofu - Tofu is coated n a flour/nooch mix here before cooking. 4 stars
Baked Penne Florentine - A bit bland, even with extra nooch added to the sauce. 3 stars.
Thai Style Tofu with Butternut Squash - 4 stars
Szechuan Tofu - Nice and spicy and very quick and easy to make. 4 stars.
Glazed Apricot Stir-Fry - Stir-fry to tofu first in some peanut oil first for nice texture. This sauce is fairly sweet, so I added a bit more soy sauce. 4 stars.
Orange-Scented Campanelle with Plum Tomatoes and Zucchini - The orange taste here is nice, but the flavours don't quite meld. The tofu seems more like an afterthought here. 3 stars.
Farfalle with Mixed Sauteed Mushrooms and White Wine Stroganoff - Silken tofu is blended into the sauce. I found the sauce here far too runny for the pasta, I think it would be better with noodles.
Ilyse's Crispy Cutlets with Creamy Dijon Sauce - So yummy! 4 stars.

What is your favourite way or ways to enjoy tofu? Did you always like it?

Cute Kitty Photo of the Post


My lady Gizmo, in repose.