Tempeh with Rice and Spinach MAKES: 4 servings TIME: About 40 minutes, largely unattended Lemon zest and juice makes this a brightly flavored onepot dish. It’s also great for picnics and patio parties because you can serve it at room temperature. 2 lemons 3…
Tempeh Hash MAKES: 4 servings TIME: About 1 hour You’ll be amazed at how close this is to real hash. The soy and sesame seasoning enhances the richness of the tempeh and adds an interesting twist to an old favorite. Some patience is required here to cook each of…
Stir-Fried Tofu with Scallions MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 20 minutes The most basic stir-fry you can make and one you can build on indefinitely. Master this and you master the world, at least the world of stir-frying tofu, which is not insignificant. 11/2 to 2 pounds…
Stir-Fried Tofu with Bell Peppers or Other Vegetables MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 30 minutes As with any stir-fry, this one is infinitely variable: You pull what you have out of the refrigerator, and not long afterward you’re ready to eat. If you make the main…
Spicy Ketchup-Braised Tofu MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 20 minutes Vaguely Chinese, more honestly American, this is delicious stuff. It can be served on bread or on top of rice or noodles. Given the ease of preparation, it’s amazing. 1/2 cup peanut oil or neutral…
Scrambled Tofu with Mushrooms MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 20 minutes Scrambled tofu is surprisingly similar to the texture of eggs scrambled until they are dry, and if you use turmeric they’ll even be a familiar golden color. The trick is to smooth the tofu out in a…
Pressed Tofu Salad MAKES: 4 to 6 appetizer servings TIME: 20 minutes, plus 2 hours to marinate There are two keys to this salad. The first is to buy dry, pressed tofu, which is sold in most Asian food markets and some natural food stores. It’s much firmer than…
Poached Tofu MAKES: 4 or more servings TIME: 20 minutes The easiest precooking method and one that gives the tofu a swollen but firm texture that is entirely pleasant. And more than baking, grilling, or frying it does not mess with the tofu’s subtleties. (In…
Pan-Seared Seitan MAKES: 4 to 6 servings TIME: 10 minutes with prepared seitan The simplest way to cook seitan is to cut it in slices and fry it in a little oil. For more elaborate dishes, substitute seitan for tofu in any of the stir-fry recipes in The Basics of…
Oven-Roasted Seitan MAKES: 4 to 6 servings TIME: About 1 hour with prepared seitan, largely unattended With a crunchy crust and a tender interior, this is one of my favorite ways to cook seitan. When it’s done, you just slice it thinly and eat, either as you…
Marinated Tofu MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 30 minutes, plus time to marinate You can grill, broil, or pan-cook marinated tofu, and you can use pretty much any marinade you can think of as a base, from Japanese style to Italian style to barbecue sauce. 1/4 cup extra virgin…
Homemade Tofu MAKES: 4 to 6 servings TIME: About 2 hours, largely unattended Tofu kits typically come with good equipment for making tofu at home: coagulant, liner, press, and often a soy milk maker. But the old way is simple enough: You make a tofu press out of any…