Some day you'll thank me for this recipe. It's sauteed bell peppers and onions (or what the French call "Piperade"), plus a crispy topping of sesame seed-coated tofu. For such a humble dish, I think it's delicious. It's vegan, too, and thus ideal for anyone who can't eat meat, wheat, or dairy.
Warning! Tofu isn't everyone's idea of haute cuisine. It has a neutral taste, and, when poorly prepared, a texture that resembles a wet kitchen sponge. Pressing the moisture out of the tofu will dramatically improve its texture.
For the veggies, you'll need 1 medium onion, 1 large green bell pepper, and 1 large red bell pepper.
Slice the onion, and julienne the peppers. Not sure how to julienne a bell pepper? See my recipe for Piperade.
Next, run to your supermarket and buy a package of extra firm organic tofu. Open the package and pour off the water.
Then place the block of tofu on your cutting board, and slice it lengthwise into 4 equal pieces.
Slice the segments crosswise to make 8 squares. Or, for easier eating with chopsticks, slice crosswise into thirds.
Arrange the squares on a baking sheet lined with 3 layers of paper towels (or, use a tea towel). Cover with more towels.
Place another baking sheet and a weight (I used cans of beans) on top. Set aside until the moisture is pressed out of the tofu -- about 5 minutes.
At this point, I imagine the carnivores among us are contemplating other things to eat. Like this Thyme and Wine Beef Stew. Or these Eggs in Bacon Baskets. Or this Irish Stew with Beer and Chocolate.
Honestly, it won't hurt you to eat a vegan meal every once in a while. If I can do it, you can do it!
Tip some sesame seeds onto a plate...
And press each side of the tofu into the seeds.
Now pour a glug of olive oil into a non-stick skillet, and heat it over a medium flame.
Tip the veggies into the pan...
Add some salt and freshly-ground pepper...
And stir to coat. Then cover the skillet, and let the veggies steam until crisp-tender -- about 5 minutes.
Transfer the veggies to a plate or platter.
Then quickly wipe out the pan, add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, and fry the tofu until golden - about 5 minutes.
Then flip 'em over, and brown the other side.
To finish, tip some Tamari sauce (it's gluten-free) or soy sauce into the pan, and continue cooking, turning the tofu, until all the liquid has been absorbed -- about 1 minute.
Arrange the tofu on the veggie bed, and serve.
Or, for an extra-nice presentation, prepare each serving this-a-way:
Put some cooked brown rice or quinoa in a small Japanese bowl...
Add a handful of veggies...
And top with 3 or 4 pieces of the sesame-coated tofu.
In the comments field below, let me know if you might try this tofu-and-veggies preparation. Also, let me know if vegetarian meals are important to you. Although I'm a hopeless omnivore, I do try to limit my meat consumption to just once or twice a week. And I never, ever, eat chocolate cake more than 3 times per day.
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Here's the printable:
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