BBQ Tofu

So the title of this one might be a biiiiiit misleading. I live in the city and I don't own a grill (nor am I allowed to.) But, I did what all of us city dwellers must do- compromise and find the next best fit! A few weeks ago I was wandering and stumbled across one of the many farmer's markets in Harvard Square. Lucky for one local seller, I was in a shopping mood. (Although, unbeknownst to her, it's not all that challenging to persuade me to buy things- food or clothes!) What I bought that day was a locally made bottle of BBQ sauce. Although there were many varieties I bought the variety entitled "Sassy Mo'Lassy." (I'm not sure I'm ready to admit I bought this less for the delicious taste and more for the name of the product. Plus, you can't go wrong when buying local anyway!!!) (Find out more about the product here!)

BBQ Tofu Recipe:

Prep time: 0-24 hours (see below)

Cook time: on average 15 minutes (see below)

Ingredients:

Sassy Mo'Lassy BBQ sauce

1 block firm tofu

canola oil

Directions:

1. Open tofu and drain liquid.

2. Place tofu between two plates. Place a heavy object on-top to help squeeze out extra fluid. Let sit for at least 20 minutes.

3. Slice and dice tofu into approx one inch blocks

4. Place half of the diced tofu in one container and the other half in another container. Add 2 tbsp of BBQ to each container. Close lid. Shake. And let sit for 1-24* hours.

5. After tofu has had time to soak up the yummy sauce, it's time to cook it! Heat 1 tsp canola oil on medium-low in a cast iron pan.

6. Place tofu in pan and turn frequently. Cook time depends. If you want to just warm the tofu, time is usually <10 minutes. If you want the tofu to be a little crispy, I would cook approx 20 minutes or until you see the tofu browning.

*The longer you let the tofu soak in a sauce, the stronger flavor it will have. One hour works, but I've really begun to enjoy the 24 hour soak!!

Make It a Complete Meal:

What's a complete meal you ask? A complete meal = starch + protein + vegetables. We've got the protein covered here. I happened to have a box of lentils and frozen green beans. I followed the instructions on the box and boiled my frozen green beans. Here's your chance to be creative! Fix and prepare you're favorite starch and summer time vegetable!! Enjoy!!