These baked curried tofu cubes are seasoned with a marinade of garlic powder, curry powder, and a beneficiant quantity of freshly squeezed lemon juice. They’re properly spiced and surprisingly tangy! I like to make use of tremendous agency tofu for its density and substance.
There’s actually no extra helpful recipe to meal prep than an excellent, versatile protein. These savory, tangy baked curried tofu cubes have grow to be considered one of my favorites.
In my meal prep cookbook The Vegan Week, there’s a complete chapter dedicated to proteins. I wrote within the intro to that chapter that “I’ve realized to make plant proteins the spine of my meals.”
This wasn’t at all times the case. I’ve at all times been capable of embody the opposite two macronutrients—carbohydrates and fat—into my meals effortlessly.
Deciding on and making ready a plant protein supply, nevertheless, was much less intuitive. That is in all probability as a result of I’d grown up consuming carbohydrates and fat (grains, olive oil, nuts, and so on.), whereas I hadn’t grown up consuming tofu, tempeh, seitan, and even many beans.
The RD in me understood that each one three macronutrients are key gamers in balanced meals. Over time, I skilled myself to be sure that every do-it-yourself breakfast, lunch, and dinner plate would come with a top quality protein. That is nonetheless a guideline once I menu plan.
Throughout the world of plant proteins, tofu is a favourite; I like its capability to absorb taste, its vary of form and texture.
Balsamic tofu cubes and teriyaki tofu cubes are already staples in my house. Not too long ago, I puzzled if I’d combine issues up a bit of, with a brand new marinade or spice mix.
These baked curried tofu cubes had been what I got here up with. There are a number of dishes that I imagined including them to from the beginning: tandoori cauliflower bowls, creamy curried quinoa, or spiced potatoes, lentils and peas.
However I’ve discovered that the cubes are helpful in lots of different methods; I like placing them into pita pockets together with sautéed spinach or roasted broccoli. They usually can provide a full of life enhance to an in any other case easy bowl of rice and beans.
The cubes even make an excellent savory snack.
A gently spiced—and really tangy—marinade
The flavour profile of those curried tofu cubes is an effective instance of a cheerful culinary accident.
Whereas I supposed for the recipe to be seasoned with curry powder, I didn’t intend for it to be as citrus-forward as it’s.
Considering again to the paneer-inspired baked tofu that I included in my guide Energy Plates, I added lemon for acidity. When my first batch emerged from the oven, they had been much more tangy than I believed they’d be, and I fearful that I’d overdone it.
I made a decision that I actually appreciated the lemony taste, though it hadn’t deliberate on it. It retains the tofu cubes lifted and introduced, with a pleasant distinction to the earthiness of their spices.
For those who don’t love tangy flavors, you’ll be able to scale back the 4 tablespoons of lemon juice to 3.
As for the spices, most spice blends labeled “curry powder” within the US are much like the curry powder that had been concocted by British colonizers within the 18th and nineteenth centuries. Sometimes, such a curry powder incorporates some mixture of turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, cumin, fenugreek, black pepper, and cardamom.
Curry powder can have warmth, however it’s normally much less sizzling than madras curry or vindaloo curry powders. (For extra clarification and historical past, this text is useful.)
In my kitchen, I like to make use of the Burlap and Barrel “curry,” and I additionally like Merely Natural’s curry powder. You’ll be able to select a mix with extra warmth, for those who like.
If in case you have garam masala at house, somewhat than a curry powder, that mix will work nicely within the recipe.
Baking tofu
There are in fact so some ways to organize tofu: sautéing, scrambling, frying, and extra. However my favourite preparation technique has at all times been baking.
Until I’m making a pudding, sauce, or soup, I like for my tofu to be good and agency. I’m not an enormous fan of the crispy-style tofu that entails dredging in cornstarch; I discover that texture to be unpleasantly tough and sponge-like.
Over time I’ve discovered that oven-baking can protect tofu’s firmness and density, give its edges a touch of crispness, and assist to lock in taste. That is the form of tofu that I like to eat.
Baked tofu could be ready in slabs, slices, or cubes. So far as forms of tofu go, agency, additional agency, and tremendous agency tofu are all applicable for oven baking.
Tremendous agency is simply what it feels like: an particularly strong and dense sort of tofu. This number of tofu has grow to be common comparatively just lately. Its compressed texture quantities to excessive protein content material.
Tremendous agency is now one of many tofu varieties that I cook dinner with most frequently. It’s at all times what I attain for once I make smoky tofu or my lemon marinated baked tofu, and I believe that it really works particularly nicely for these baked curried tofu cubes.
For those who can’t discover tremendous agency tofu, that’s no drawback. Further agency tofu, which is fairly straightforward to supply, may also work nicely for the recipe.
Tips on how to make baked curried tofu cubes
Along with being lemony, salty, and spiced, these curried tofu cubes are straightforward to make.
Like most of my baked tofu recipes, this one advantages from planning. The cubes will develop extra taste with an extended marinade. For those who can bear in mind to marinate them in a single day, that’s preferrred, although a minimal of 4 hours will do the trick.
The first step: whisk collectively the marinade
The marinade is a fairly simple combination of freshly squeezed lemon (or lemon + lime) juice, avocado oil, garlic powder, curry powder, and salt.
For those who’re questioning why I take advantage of the garlic powder, somewhat than minced garlic, it’s a number of causes. For one factor, powdered garlic whisks actually simply into marinades. It’s one thing I at all times have in my pantry, whether or not I’ve a contemporary bulb of garlic or not.
And at last, the powder stands up nicely to a sizzling oven, whereas minced garlic can simply burn when it’s utilized in a marinade like this one.
Step two: marinate the tofu
The tremendous agency tofu for this recipe ought to be minimize into 3/4-inch / 2.5-cm cubes.
After this, I like to recommend arranging them in a single layer (or as near a single layer as you’ll be able to) in a bigger, flat storage container with a lid.
Pour the marinade over the cubes, cowl the container with its hermetic lid, and provides it a mild shake to disperse the marinade.
You’ll be able to marinate the tofu for as few as 4 hours or as much as in a single day. The longer the higher.
I like to recommend shaking the container gently at the very least as soon as through the marinating time, to make sure that the curried tofu cubes are absorbing seasoning evenly.
Step 3: bake
Lastly, it’s baking time.
I like to recommend lining your baking pan with parchment or foil. Switch the tofu items to the baking sheet, however don’t toss the marinade: you’ll want it for basting the cubes midway by roasting.
Switch the baking pan to a 400°F / 200°C oven. Bake the curried tofu cubes for twelve minutes, then take away the pan from the oven.
Use a basting brush to brush the cubes gently, flip them, then brush the opposite aspect.
Return the sheet to the oven. Bake the cubes for one more 7-10 minutes, or till they’re calmly browning and crisping at their edges.
That’s it! Plant protein, able to get pleasure from nevertheless you want for days to come back.
Meal prep and storage
For those who don’t use your curried tofu cubes in a recipe immediately, then you’ll be able to retailer them for as much as 5 days in an hermetic container within the fridge. The tofu can be frozen for as much as six weeks, then defrosted in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Yields: 4 servings
- 1 block tremendous agency tofu, minimize into 3/4-inch / 2.5cm cubes (1 lb / 455g)
- 4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (or 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice + 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice; 60 mL)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons delicate curry powder of alternative (substitute a sizzling selection or an equal quantity of garam masala if desired)
- 1/2 teaspoon superb salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated black pepper
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Switch the tofu to a large hermetic storage container, ideally in a single layer. Whisk the lemon (or lemon + lime) juice, oil, garlic powder, curry powder, and salt collectively, then pour this combination over the tofu. Cowl the container and shake gently to disperse the marinade. Switch the tofu to the fridge. Enable the tofu to marinate for at the very least 4 hours or as much as 24. If attainable, gently shake the tofu once more at one level throughout its marinating time, in order that the cubes marinate evenly.
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Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil. Preheat the oven to 400°F / 200°C. Switch the tofu items to the baking sheet, reserving the marinade. Switch the sheet to the oven. Bake the tofu for 12 minutes. Take away the sheet from the oven. Use a basting brush to softly brush the cubes with extra of the reserved marinade, then flip or stir the cubes, in order that they do not solely cook dinner on one aspect your complete time. Brush the opposite aspect (now the highest aspect) of the cubes. Return the sheet to the oven. Bake the cubes for one more 7-10 minutes, or till the curried tofu cubes are calmly browning and crisping at their edges.
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Serve the tofu or retailer for as much as 5 days in an hermetic container within the fridge. The tofu can be frozen for as much as 6 weeks, then defrosted in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating. Take pleasure in!
Along with being flavorful and nutrient-dense, the cubes have a sunny golden colour that may uplift many a meal.
I discover that recipes for vegan fundamentals, like this one, are those that give again probably the most over time. I hope you’ll agree!
xo
