PREP TIME 10 mins | READY IN 25 mins | SERVES 3 - 4

I LOVE TOFU and I’m always on the hunt for new ways to enjoy it. This method of crumbling and frying it gives it the look of ground meat, and since I adore saucy ground meat stir-fries, it made sense to try the same method for tofu.

Tofu’s only trouble is that every brand has a slightly different moisture content and consistency. One brand’s medium could be drier than another brand’s extra-firm, and that makes my job difficult: What should I call for in this recipe? The ideal tofu here is dry enough so it crumbles with some effort. Too soft and it will smush and lose its structure; too firm and you’ll need a grater or knife to break it down. Instead, you want a tofu that crumbles into little irregular bits that look as though it has been ground.

This recipe is vegan and can easily be made gluten-free by using tamari instead of soy sauce. Click here for a full list of ordinary pantry ingredients that also happen to be vegan!

I made this recipe on Nov 1, 2021 on Cityline. This recipe is from my bestselling book, Dinner, Uncomplicated: Fixing a Delicious Meal Every Night of the Week.

Saucy Sesame Tofu with Mushrooms

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup water

• 3 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

• 1 to 3 teaspoons sriracha (optional)

• 350-g package firm tofu

• 1 tablespoon canola oil

• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

• 250 g white mushrooms, thinly sliced

• 2 stalks celery, sliced

• 2 green onions, minced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine water, soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar and sriracha in a small bowl or measuring cup and stir until the sugar dissolves. Using your hands, crumble the tofu into small pieces into a bowl.

2. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium high. Add the canola and sesame oils. Add the mushrooms and cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until they start to turn golden. Add the crumbled tofu and cook 5 to 8 minutes, or until the tofu gets browned in places.

3. Add the celery, onions and garlic and cook another 1 to 2 minutes, then stir the sauce and add it all at once. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 30 seconds. Serve immediately in lettuce cups or with rice.

Click below for a printable version of this recipe.
Sesame Tofu