Tofu is a super tasty and versatile ingredient that you can use in all kinds of dishes. However, it can also be quite a ‘complicated’ ingredient if you have never cooked with it before. These are our top tips for preparing tofu.
Make it crispy
One of the reasons people don’t seem to like tofu is because of its texture. Tofu can be quite soft, especially if you don’t prepare it correctly. Tofu can have a spongy texture if you don’t drain the water first. So do this first. Remove your tofu from the package and drain the water. Now place your tofu on a cutting board and place something heavy on it. This could be, for example, a pan or a thick book. Leave this for at least ten minutes to allow as much water to drain out. The more water is removed, the crispier your tofu can be. For an extra crispy result, you can also cut the tofu a little thinner. Sprinkling some cornstarch over your tofu is also a good way to make it a little crispier.
Let your tofu marinate
Tofu itself has little taste. This makes it a very easy addition to meals because you can completely decide what flavor you give it. To make your tofu flavorful, we recommend making a marinade. This can consist of all kinds of different herbs that you like and that go well with the dish. Make sure you prepare your marinade with a liquid base so it can really soak into the tofu. Let your tofu marinate for a nice long time for an extra deep flavor.
Make it tofu scramble
Tofu is seen as a meat substitute, but it can also serve as an egg substitute. You can prepare a dish from tofu that is very similar to scrambled eggs. You can do this by crumbling your tofu with your hands and adding turmeric and kala namak. Turmeric gives your tofu the yellow color that scrambled eggs also have. Kala namak is a spice that gives your tofu the taste of egg. You can find this at Asian supermarkets. You only need a little of both herbs, they have a great effect even with a small amount. You can then stir-fry your tofu as you would scrambled eggs for a delicious, protein-rich breakfast.
Prepare it in the air fryer or in the oven
Preparing tofu can be very simple. You can bake it in a pan, but it might be just as easy in the air fryer or oven. Spread your pieces of tofu evenly over your air fryer or baking sheet and let it fry until it is golden brown and crispy on all sides. This takes about 20 minutes. Don’t forget to turn your tofu in between.
