Short of eating it raw, how do you use up half a block of tofu?
We all have our own regular refrigerator and pantry dregs—the things that linger and linger while we cook everything else. And about once a week, I find myself in the position of having purchased and drained a block of tofu, used half, and then been left with the other half—and while I have a standard rotation of go-to recipes, I asked the Hotline: Short of just eating it raw (c'mon, tofu lovers, we've all done it), what should I do with half a block of tofu?
- HalfPint recommended crumbling and scrambling firm tofu with some onions, garlic, curry powder, and salt. For silken tofu, warm it by covering with hot water for 5 minutes, then drain it gently, splash on some soy sauce, and top with thinly sliced green onions and bonito flakes.
- Many suggested cubing tofu and adding it to soups—like miso, hot and sour, or kimchi soup.
- Someone suggested I layer it onto banh mi-inspired sandwiches.
- Nancy shared that she purées silken tofu to use in smoothies or as an egg replacement.
- Marinate and stir-fry tofu to add protein to fried rice or tacos.
- "Tofu salad with rice wine vinegar or miso dressing, scallions, and bonito flakes!" advised Ali. She says sesame seeds make a good addition.
- Puréed silk tofu makes for a creamy vegan Caesar salad dressing, according to matthewcarberry.
- Micki isn't vegan, but said that silken tofu, when puréed, can make a rich, mousse-like chocolate pudding.
- And if you can't get to it for a couple of days, just store it submerged in water, said cv.
Photo by James Ransom
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Tofu is versatile, nutritious, and so handy to have around. But what about those days you find yourself in a “tofu rut,” or are stuck with half a block left over from a stir-fry?
Here are five unexpected ways to quickly use up leftover tofu, whether it’s just a few slices or a whole block.
Tofu is one of those foods that I always find handy to have in the fridge. It’s super versatile, can take on a wide variety of flavors and always comes to the rescue when I need to bulk up dinner.
Unfortunately it’s also easy to fall into the “tofu rut”. You know, when your tofu consumption becomes limited to stir-fries, rice bowls, curries and tossing a few cubes on top of your salad.
Don’t let that happen to you! Tofu is capable of so much more. Here are five ways to put it to work.
(Image credit: Megan Gordon)1. In Dessert
That’s right, tofu in dessert! Smooth and creamy silken tofu works like a charm in cheesecakes, chocolate mousse, pudding and even ice cream.
2. As an Egg Substitute
No eggs, no problem! Whether you’re vegan or not, consider swapping out eggs for tofu the next time you make a scramble, frittata or quiche.
3. To Thicken Smoothies
Hot summer morning or not, there’s a lot to love about starting your day with a cool smoothie! Blend in a few ounces of protein-packed silken tofu is to make your smoothie thicker, creamier and even more filling.
4. As a Creamy Dip
Silken tofu is the perfect addition to make your dip even creamier, without the heaviness of some dairy-based dips.
5. Grill It!
Summer is prime time grilling season, and there’s no reason why tofu shouldn’t get some grill time, too. Extra-firm tofu is your best bet. Grill the whole block or cut it into cubes and cook it on skewers.
What’s the most interesting way you’ve cooked with tofu?
There's no food that strikes fear into the hearts of new vegetarians like tofu does. Tofu! It comes swimming in a plastic container full of water, it's strange and springy and white and incredibly bland out of the package. So many of the questions we get at Oh My Veggies involve tofu cooking and preparation, so I've rounded up some of our favorite ways to use tofu—both from Oh My Veggies and from other food blogs.
Use Tofu in Asian (and Asian-Inspired) Dishes
Korean Barbecue Tofu Bowls with Stir-Fried Veggies and Quinoa
Grilled Teriyaki Tofu Lettuce Wraps with Creamy Sesame Dressing
Thai Red Curry with Asparagus and Tofu
Veggie Pad Thai
Crispy Sweet and Sour Tofu [Running to the Kitchen]
Sesame-Crusted Tofu [An Edible Mosaic]
Miso Mustard Tofu Over Asian Greens [Borrowed Salt]
Vietnamese Noodle Salad [Simple Healthy Kitchen]
Sesame Tofu Noodle Bowl with Peanut Sauce [Aggie's Kitchen]
Whip Tofu into Smoothies and Desserts
Green Apple Pie Smoothie
Orange Cardamom Chocolate Mousse
Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Mousse
Vegan Mango Lassi [Connoisseurus Veg]
Strawberry Pudding [Tia's Kitchen]
Mango Pineapple Mousse [Healthy Nibbles and Bits]
Little Lemon Pots [Coconut and Berries]
Replace Meat with Tofu
Tofu Vindaloo
Smoked Cheddar Mac & Cheese with Baked BBQ Tofu
Pineapple Jerk Tofu
Sweet Potato and Tofu Enchiladas
Cauliflower and Tofu Lasagna with Butternut Squash Sauce
Buffalo Tofu Wings with Creamy Ranch Dip
Tofu Taco Filling [Apron Strings]
Tofu Tostadas [Two Peas and Their Pod]
Barbecue Tofu Pizza [Kitchen Treaty]
Make Tofu Scrambles and Quiches
Freezer-Friendly Greens and Tofu Scramble Wraps
Edamame "Egg" Salad [Spabettie]
Spinach Artichoke Tofu Quiche [Yup, It's Vegan]
Tofu Scramble with Cauliflower Rice [Food Faith Fitness]
Tofu Scramble Masala [Connoisseurus Veg]
Turmeric Tofu Scramble [The Muffin Myth]
Curried Tofu Scramble Tacos [Eats Well With Others]
Southwestern Tofu Scramble [The Garden Grazer]
Vegan Asparagus Fennel Quiche with Quinoa Crust [Coconut and
Berries]
Use Tofu to Make Creamy Sauces
Fettuccine Kalefredo
Roasted Vegetable Sandwiches with Creamy Chimichurri Spread
Sweet Potato Tacos with Spicy Cream Sauce [The Tomato Tart]
Silken Tofu Ranch Dressing [Connoisseurus Veg]
Penne with Chard and Lemon Bechamel [Yummy Beet]
Vegan Mayo [Dear Kitchen]
Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip [Taste Space]
Make Sandwiches With Tofu
Crispy Tofu Sandwiches with
Ginger Peanut Sauce
Balsamic Tofu Sandwiches with Sun-Dried Tomato [Connoisseurus Veg]
Smoky Baked Tofu Sandwiches with Wasabi Mayo [Connoisseurus Veg]
Korean BBQ Tofu Sliders [Eats Well With Others]
Asian Tofu Salad Sandwiches [She Likes Food]
Sesame Tofu Sandwiches with Spicy Basil Tahini [The Kitchen Paper]
Baked Tofu Banh Mi [The Pancake Princess]
Pineapple Teriyaki Tofu Sandwiches [Connoisseurus Veg]
Bake Tofu in the Oven
Peanutty Quinoa Bowls with Baked Tofu
Baked Barbecue Tofu
Baked Italian Herb Tofu
Crispy Baked Tofu Fingers [Hummusapien]
Sweet Chili Baked Tofu [Clean Eating Veggie Girl]
Tequila Lime Baked Tofu with Chipotle Crema [Yup, It's Vegan]
Baked Sesame Tofu Sticks [Kalyn's Kitchen]
Roasted Broccoli Crispy Tofu Bowls [With Food and Love]
Add Protein to Soups and Salads with Tofu
Vegetarian Chicken Noodle Soup
Coconut Lime Tofu Soup
Thai Tofu and Noodle Salad
Thai Red Curry Soup
Chopped Power Salad with Baked Tofu and Almond-Miso Dressing
Kale Caesar Salad with Tofu Croutons [Kitchen Treaty]
Tofu, Kale and Shiitake Mushroom Ramen Noodle Soup [The Little Kitchen]
Vegan Greek Salad [Simple Vegan Blog]
More About Tofu
Need some more Tofu 101 resources? We've got you covered! Our Guide to Tofu goes over all the different types of tofu and how to use them and our Baked Barbecue Tofu post includes common reasons why people don't like tofu and how to overcome them. Do you see recipes that call for pressing tofu and wonder what that means? This post explains it. And if you're feeling bold, you can try your hand at making your own tofu too.