Speak of tofu and the carnivores in the family start to wrinkle their noses.
My first five attempts at a tofu dish were rejected. Finally, when I experimented with a combination of lemon, tofu, and Indians spices, I knew I had struck gold with these tangy spiced tofu bites. The fact they take such little effort to prepare was definitely an added bonus. I love how versatile tofu is. There are endless possibilities, especially with the firmer variety. I will keep coming back to this one for sure.
Are You Tofu Ready?
Tofus can be confusing. There are different consistencies and when you go grocery shopping, it may get difficult to make the right choice. What is the right type of tofu? Well, it depends on the dish you want to make. Here are a few pointers to help you pick up the right consistency tofu.
- Silken tofu is the softest version of the tofu. This is usually blended and used in salad dressings, sauces, and desserts. Unless the recipe specifies it, you will mostly not use this variety.
- Next is the regular tofu. This comes in different consistencies – regular, firm, extra-firm, and super-firm.
- Regular tofu is most commonly used in Asian dishes. It is great in noodles and stew as this type of tofu easily absorbs flavors.
- Most supermarkets sell you the firm tofu. This is usually packaged with a liquid. Before using this tofu in any dish, you have to drain off this liquid. Ensure your tofu is dry before you cook. It can be used in noodles and stews as well as pan-fried. Therefore, this is the most versatile tofu.
- The extra-firm tofu is largely used in pan-fried and deep-fried dishes. It does not absorb flavors like the previous tofu and hence is not recommended to be used on noodles or stews.
- Lastly, we have the super-firm tofu which acts as a great meat substitute.
To know which tofu is the best for your dish, visit tofupedia.
How To Spice The Tofu Bites?
Many supermarkets sell seasoned tofu and smoked tofu, but I did not get those. I wanted to use Indian spices to make these spiced tofu bites. The spice mix includes coriander powder, amchoor, gram masala, red chili powder, and garlic powder.
Scroll down to read the full detailed recipe. For another Tofu recipe with Indian spices, try the Spinach and Tofu Stir Fry With Panchforan. Let me know which one you liked more.
Ingredients
- Tofu (the extra firm variety)- 250 gms
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice- 4 tablespoons
- Coriander powder-1 teaspoon
- Amchoor (raw mango powder)-1 teaspoon or to taste
- Garam masala powder (or Cajun spice)-1.5 teaspoons
- Red chili powder (optional)-1/2 teaspoon
- Garlic powder-1/2 teaspoon
- Oil for shallow frying- 2 tablespoons
- Smoked Paprika (optional) for garnish
Instructions
- Cut the tofu into small rectangular or square pieces
- Mix all the powdered spices in one bowl and place the freshly squeezed lemon juice into another
- Place a flat non-stick pan on medium-high heat and smear it with half a teaspoon oil
- Dip the tofu squares one by one in lemon juice followed by the spice powder mixture making sure they are coated evenly
- Pan fry on medium heat till spices change color and fragrant, approximately 5-7 minutes on each side
- Serve hot as a snack or cold with salad
Notes
Calories (for 4 squares)- 125 Nutrition- Protein/Magnesium/Copper/Zinc/Vitamin B1 It does wonders for your- Memory/Nerves/Energy level/Gut/Quality of Sleep This is “My 1 pm/3 pm Meal”
[kkstarratings]
