Monday, February 23, 2009

Prepare Scrumptious Dishes with Simple Tofu Recipes!

By Doug Schlette

Tofus versatility is what makes it a popular food item. It can be added to any dish of your choice or prepare a new one with it. Tofu can be used in soups, desserts, main dishes, side dishes, salads, breakfast and many more. There are a number of simple tofu recipes for each of these categories. Not only because its versatile and helps in preparation of delicious dishes, tofu is healthy as well. It is made from soy food which itself offers numerous health benefits. Soy food is known to reduce high blood pressure, helps breast cancer patients, improves the cardiovascular system and many more.

Tofu offers almost zero calories, zero amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol but at the same time it is rich in iron. It might also contain high amount of magnesium and calcium depending on the type of coagulant used when it is manufactured.

One can successfully purchase tofu from the market or alternatively, prepare it at home. It is not very difficult to prepare tofu. Also, tofu is easily available in the market. Two types of tofu are available in the market: firm tofu and soft tofu. Firm tofu is generally said to be used for deep-frying, soups and stews while soft tofu is used in making desserts, creamed soup and other variety of dishes.

Getting simple tofu recipes is not very difficult. Tofu recipes are easily available over the internet. All you have to do is search the internet and get simple tofu recipes. Alternatively, one can also get a cookbook containing simple tofu recipes from a nearby bookstore. Just follow the directions given in the recipe and prepare a delicious tofu dish. Ensure perfection by following useful tips along with the recipe.

Here are some tips for you so that you can also make perfect tofu dishes. These tips are given below: a. For firming tofu, place it in freezer for one night and next day thaw it out before squeezing water out of it completely. b. When you are cooking tofu, move it from time to time in the oil or else it will stick to the bottom. For moving tofu around use a long spoon so as to avoid burning your hand if oil drops splash out. c. Generally, a cooked tofu rises to the top of the oil d. Always make sure that the tofu is fully cooked or else it will become hard from the outside while uncooked from the inside. The outside will look as if about to burst. e. When the tofu is cooked, get rid of excess oil by placing it on paper towel.

Given below is a simple tofu recipe. The ingredients required are 4 pieces of firm tofu, salt (as per requirement), oil for deep frying, 1 cup of finely shredded cucumber, 1 cup of sprout beans.

Cut the tofu in triangular shape and then dry them with paper towel. After this rub the surface with salt. Now deep fry the tofu in hot oil till tofu are deep brown and edges crispy. Dry them on a paper towel. Now cut tofu horizontally to insert filling.

For filling, first blanch bean sprouts. Using cold water rinse the beans. Then mix with cucumber and fill the tofu. Your dish is ready. Serve tofu with chili sauce.

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