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Fried Tofu Salad Recipe

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The commercial tofu we buy in grocery stores is made by coagulating soybean milk and pressing the material into blocks. This type of tofu has a great deal of moisture and before using this moisture has to be removed.

Firm and extra-firm tofu are already pressed tofu, but still have moisture left inside.

On the other hand, silken tofu has a lot of moisture content, and this type of tofu is usually used in recipes where tofu is blended with other ingredients, like mousses and/or smoothies. 

In recipes that call for cubed tofu or sliced tofu, it is important to drain the tofu properly so it holds its shape. If you squeeze the tofu with your hands or press too tightly, it may be ruined and just crumble apart.

The easiest and also correct way to press tofu is with the things you have in your kitchen.

You will need:

  • Cutting board
  • Paper towels
  • Second cutting board
  • Large bowl or a large can of food

How To Press Tofu

With these simple steps, you will have perfectly pressed tofu that holds its shape even after pressing.

  • Place one cutting board on a kitchen surface. Place a few folded paper towels on a cutting board and place the tofu on a layer of paper towels. If the papers become too wet after absorbing initial moisture, you may want to place tofu on a second, fresh layer of paper.
  • Place the second layer of folded paper towels on the tofu, followed by the second cutting board. 
  • Place the large can with food or bowl filled with water on a cutting board. Be careful not to apply too much weight on the tofu because it may get crushed. 
  • Let the tofu sit for 30 minutes. The weight will gradually squeeze the moisture out of the block of tofu, where it will be absorbed by the paper towels. 
  • If the paper towels become too saturated, you may need to replace them with fresh paper towels and continue pressing until the paper towels stop absorbing moisture. 

At this point, you can cut or slice the tofu and prepare something delicious. 

Types Of Tofu

As mentioned, there are different types of tofu: silken, firm, and extra firm. Here is a bit more about these types and how to use them.

  • Block tofu – Block tofu is the most common type of tofu you can find in stores. This tofu is sometimes referred to as cotton tofu. This tofu is best for grilling, simmering, or deep frying.
  • Soft tofu – This is a smooth type of tofu and is pressed for the least amount of time of all tofu blocks. It has a delicate body like Jell-O and a mild, milky, flavor. Because it has high water content, soft tofu is not great for shallow-frying because of all the sputtering it can cause. It is not recommended to press this tofu. It is best to use raw, blended, or pureed.
  • Medium block tofu – This tofu is an ideal choice for dishes that do not require too much manipulation. This type of tofu can be pressed. It can be used in stir-fried dishes.
  • Firm block tofu – This is the workhorse of the tofu family. It has a slightly rubbery texture which means you can work with this one without fear. This tofu can be pressed and used in dishes where baked tofu is required, in deep-fried dishes, and in stir-fried dishes.
  • Extra-firm tofu – This is the most compact of all tofu blocks. Its texture has the most chew, making this tofu ideal for heartier dishes. It is great to use for a dairy-free substitution in paneer recipes. This tofu can be battered, crusted, baked, boiled, deep-fried, and glazed.
  • Silken tofu – This tofu is not suitable for pressing and should be used for blending.

How To Use Tofu

Once you have pressed tofu, you can use it as you want. I used my block of tofu to make delicious tofu salad.

It is made with fried tofu, lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and delicious tahini dressing.

You can use it in other dishes too.

Fried Tofu Salad Recipe

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

Tofu:

  • 1 block tofu
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp tamari
  • 1 tbsp oil

Salad:

  • 1 head lettuce
  • 4 radishes, sliced
  • 4 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cucumber, sliced

For the dressing:

  • 3 tbsp tahini
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1-2 tbsp hot water

Instructions

1. Press and drain your tofu.

2. If you do not have a tofu press, use two flat boards and place bowl of water on top.

3. To prepare the tofu, cut it into 1-inch cubes.

4. Place the tofu in a bowl, and combine with oil, garlic powder, and tamari. Let the tofu marinate for 15 minutes. 

5. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Transfer the marinated tofu into the skillet.

6. Cook the tofu without moving for 4 minutes. Flip the tofu and cook for another minute.

7. Make the dressing by combining all the ingredients. 

8. To assemble the salad, in a bowl, combine lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes. 

9. Add cooked tofu.

10. Drizzle all with prepared dressing and serve.

Fried Tofu Salad Recipe

Fried Tofu Salad Recipe

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

This recipe will show you how to press and fry tofu for a savory meal and make the perfect salad to compliment it.

Ingredients

Tofu:

  • 1 block tofu
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp tamari
  • 1 tbsp oil

Salad:

  • 1 head lettuce
  • 4 radishes, sliced
  • 4 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cucumber, sliced

For the dressing:

  • 3 tbsp tahini
  • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1-2 tbsp hot water

Instructions

Press and drain your tofu. If you do not have a tofu press, use two flat boards and place bowl of water on top.

To prepare the tofu, cut it into 1-inch cubes.

Place the tofu in a bowl, and combine with oil, garlic powder, and tamari. Let the tofu marinate for 15 minutes. 

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Transfer the marinated tofu into the skillet. 

Cook the tofu without moving for 4 minutes. Flip the tofu and cook for another minute.

Make the dressing by combining all the ingredients. 

To assemble the salad, in a bowl, combine lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes. 

Add cooked tofu.

Drizzle all with prepared dressing and serve.

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