Fried Spiced Tofu

Fried Spiced Tofu
Recipe from Diet for a Small Planet
(10th Anniversary Edition)

Today's tofu recipe is going OLD SCHOOL from my battered and well-used copy of Frances Moore Lappe's classic Diet for a Small Planet. This early primer on vegetarian diet and cooking was originally published in 1971, the year after I was born, and the 10th Anniversary Edition came out when I was only 11 years old and not even thinking about anything vegetarian. I received my copy around 1996 when it was handed down to me from a roommate. The pages are now brown, stained, and torn. This week I decided to try a tofu recipe with FANTASTIC results. I made this fried spiced tofu recipe for my friend Catherine, served on brown rice with a sorrel & radish salad (recipe in another post). We devoured it all. The spice combination in the recipe seems a bit crazy, but wow does it taste delicious once done. So, grab some tofu and go OLD SCHOOL!

In Health,
Miss Jolie Ann

1 pound tofu
1 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp each sweet basil, thyme, ground cumin, and curry powder
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp soy sauce (I used Bragg's Liquid Aminos)
1/8 cup nutritional yeast

Drain tofu, pat dry, and cut into 1/2 inch cubes. Heat oil (in a wok, if you have one) and saute tofu over high heat for 5 minutes. Pour out excess water, reduce heat, and add turmeric; stir until tofu is uniformly yellow and add basil, thyme, cumin, and curry powder. Add garlic (and perhaps a little more oil to prevent sticking) and increase the heat; then add soy sauce and yeast. Saute until golden brown. Taste and add more soy sauce, if desired. Good hot or cold in sandwiches or tacos, or as a side dish.