Back in the day, tofu was always a weird food to me. My image of tofu was a product with a bland taste, which could be transformed to have the consistency of meat. What was the purpose of trying to make something taste like meat if you were trying to avoid meat? Over the years, however, I have learned to appreciate tofu as one of the great healthy foods, and have learned the right ways to prepare tofu with amazing flavors.
My inspiration for trying tofu in my cooking was my friend Silas, who always bragged about how good his tofu tacos were. I was curious – how good could tofu be? By the time I was finally invited over to try his tofu tacos, which were amazing, I had already developed my own little recipe. His version of tofu tacos is actually not too far from my own, but mine are perhaps a bit spicier. Silas also introduced me to a taco topping that I now can’t live without, kalamata olives. That amazing salty taste perfectly complements the other flavors in the right way – give it a try even if you think it sounds a bit strange.
Today it is rare that we eat meat tacos at home, both because we try to keep a healthier lifestyle and because the tofu tacos are really good.
Here is the recipe for “Natural homemade taco seasoning”
- • 1 package of extra firm tofu
- • 2 tablespoons olive oil
- • 1 small onion, cut into small cubes
- • 2 garlic cloves
- • Juice from ½ lime
- • 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- • About 2 ½ tablespoon homemade taco seasoning (see DiepLicious natural homemade taco seasoning)
- • 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- 1. Press the liquid from the tofu for about 20 min. To press the tofu, you can place it on a plate, with another plate on top, and then add some weight on top (for example, a couple of heavy books).
- 2. Heat olive oil in a pan, and sauté the onions and garlic until translucent and slightly browned.
- 3. Crumble the tofu with your hands and add it to the pan with the onions and garlic.
- 4. Mix in the taco seasoning (you can add more or less of the taco seasoning depending on how flavorful and spicy you like it) and stir until well mixed. Add the squeezed lime juice and tomato paste, and stir until combined. If the tofu is too dry, you can add a tablespoon or two of water to dilute the tomato paste and create a sauce.
- 4. Transfer the tofu to a serving bowl, and garnish with cilantro.
- 5. Serve the tofu with you favorite toppings such as sliced cherry tomatoes, lettuce, chopped kalamata olives, lime wedges, fresh corn, sour cream, salsa, shredded mozzarella cheese, avocado (guacamole) and black beans.
