Fast Nut Burgers MAKES: 4 to 6 servings TIME: 20 minutes If you have a food processor, these take almost no time, making them perfect for lunch or a fast dinner. And you can make a batch of twelve, then shape and freeze them (see Forming Veggie Burgers), almost as...
Deep-Fried Tofu MAKES: 4 or more servings TIME: 20 minutes Deep frying is a standard precooking preparation for tofu, used throughout Asia to produce a nice crust and tender interior. It's faster than baked tofu, but needless to say a little bit messier. Fried tofu...
Crunchy Crumbled Tempeh MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 10 minutes My favorite way to use tempeh is crumbling it into other foods, which distributes delicious bits throughout the dish and makes the most of tempehs unique flavor. Think of how you might use grated cheese, only...
Crispy Panfried Tofu MAKES: 4 or more servings TIME: 20 minutes Panfrying tofu gives you crisp, almost baconlike slices without a lot of extra oil. For super-crunchy, chiplike wafers, slice the tofu as thinly as you can. If you want a crisp-tender texture, cut thicker...
Braised Tofu with Eggplant and Shiitakes MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 30 minutes A more-or-less traditional Sichuan preparation, creamy and delicious with soft-cooked eggplant, made crisp by the addition of sauted shiitakes. Substitute green beans for the eggplant if you...
Braised Tofu in Caramel Sauce MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 30 minutes There were two things I couldn't get enough of in Vietnam: crunchy lemongrass dishes and caramel sauce dishes. Here's one of the latter, in which the caramel sauce essentially melted sugar, which becomes...
Braised Tofu and Peas in Curried Coconut Milk MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 40 minutes This recipe features a classic Indian technique for making a deep-flavored gravy Preparing the tofu in advance by frying, pressing, or freezing (see The Basics of Tofu) makes for a subtle...
Braised Tempeh, Three Ways MAKES: 4 to 6 servings TIME: 30 minutes Tempeh gives any cooking liquid even water a haunting flavor that provides a great backdrop for other, more assertive flavors like coconut milk, vinegar and chiles, or soy and tomatoes. The result is...
Baked Tofu MAKES: 4 or more servings TIME: About 1 hour Treated this way, tofu acquires a terrific, firm crust, while its interior gains the texture of a pleasant custard, almost egglike. It's basic, essential, and for some reason relatively unknown. It's also...
Lentils and Potatoes with Curry MAKES: 4 servings TIME: About 1 hour You may want to double this recipe so you have some handy in the fridge or freezer, because it reheats beautifully. Don't worry if the potatoes crumble a bit on the second go-round; they will only...
Mung Bean Dal with Apples, Coconut, and Mint MAKES: 4 to 6 servings TIME: About 1 hour, largely unattended Many dals rely on deep flavors, but here's an example of how fresh, bright ingredients can set off the natural heaviness of beans. The result is a hearty dish...
Urad Dal with Poppy Seeds and Cilantro MAKES: 4 servings TIME: About 30 minutes, largely unattended The best translation for urad dal is peeled and split black lentils, but that's not quite right either. Never mind; youв'll find them in Indian and Asian markets and...