Balsamic Agave Tofu With Beet Infused Couscous Recipes

BALSAMIC-AGAVE TOFU WITH BEET INFUSED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Using your circular ring mold, carefully cut out circles in the four pieces of pressed tofu. Set aside. In a large pyrex dish, combine all of the ingredients for the marinade. Place the tofu into the marinade, flipping over once to ensure its well coated. Place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, flipping again halfway through the marinade time.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Boil 1 1/4 cups water in a small saucepan. Place the cubed beets in the boiling water for about 5 minutes. Transfer the beets with a slotted spoon to a well-greased baking pan, adding 2 TB of the oil to coat. Bake for 25 minutes. Add the diced red onion to the beet mixture with the remaining 1 TB oil and place back into the oven for 25 minutes more, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
• Once you've added the red onion to the beets, make your couscous by placing the couscous into the beet infused water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cover. Simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes.
• Once your beets and couscous are done, remove the tofu from the refrigerator and saute over medium high heat in a large skillet until well-browned, about 5-7 minutes on each side. Remove from the heat and add the asparagus to the pan. Saute until bright green, about 6 minutes.
• Place the remainder of the marinade into a small saucepan over medium high heat until it slightly thickens and reduces. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly while you plate.
• To assemble the tower, place a ring mold onto a plate and add a slice of the tofu. Spoon some of the beet mixture over than, lightly but firmly packing it into place. Add another slice of tofu and then add a layer of the couscous on that, packing it lightly but firmly. Top with another slice of tofu and carefully remove the ring.
• Serve with the sauteed asparagus and spoon some of the reduced balsamic marinade over the top.

TOASTED ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH VEGETABLES AND LEMON-BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Heat large saute pan on grates of the grill over medium heat. Add couscous and toast until lightly golden brown.
• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil over high heat, add 1 tablespoon salt and toasted couscous and cook until al dente. Drain well and place in a large bowl. Add grilled vegetables, olives, basil, and vinaigrette and toss until combined; season with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving or cover and refrigerate.
• Whisk shallot, juice, zest, vinegars, and salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in oil until emulsified.

MOROCCAN TOFU WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Set aside the herbs from the soup greens; peel the vegetables as needed, then chop. Heat the olive oil in a medium pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped vegetables; cook, stirring, until softened, 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato juices, 1/2 teaspoon each cumin, ras el hanout and salt, and a few grinds of pepper. Cook until the liquid is thickened, 2 minutes. Add 2 cups water and the tomatoes. Cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the couscous as the label directs; set aside.
• Add 1/2 cup water, the tofu, dried apricots, olives, harissa and the remaining 1 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon ras el hanout to the pot; gently stir to combine. Cover and warm through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Chop the soup green herbs and add to the pot along with half of the cilantro. Season with salt and more harissa. Serve with the couscous and top with the remaining cilantro.

CRISPY TOFU WITH BALSAMIC TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Arrange tofu slices on a clean kitchen towel or on paper towels. Cover with another kitchen towel (or paper towels) and place a flat cutting board or baking pan on top. If your cutting board or pan is lightweight, stack a few cans or a skillet on top to weigh it down. Let tofu drain for at least 15 minutes, and up to 45 minutes.
• Transfer tofu to a cutting board and cut slabs into 1-inch cubes. Pat them dry with paper towels and season both sides of the tofu with 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon oil, cornstarch, garlic powder (if using) and 1/2 teaspoon of the oregano. Add tofu to cornstarch mixture and gently toss until tofu is evenly coated. Dump tofu onto one side of the prepared sheet pan.
• In a large bowl, toss together tomatoes, onion, garlic, balsamic vinegar, remaining 1/2 teaspoon oregano, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Drizzle in the remaining 2 tablespoons of the oil, tossing to combine.
• Arrange vegetables on other side of the prepared sheet pan. Bake until tofu is crisp and golden brown, and tomatoes are condensed, 25 to 35 minutes. Halfway through baking, flip tofu and toss vegetables while keeping the tofu and veggies separate.
• To serve, sprinkle cilantro on top and drizzle with balsamic and oil, if you'd like.

CURRIED VEGETABLE AND TOFU COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Following package directions, prepare curried couscous. Add currants while couscous steams.
• Heat olive oil in very large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add tofu in single layer and cook without stirring until just golden, about 4 minutes. Turn tofu over and cook 2 minutes longer. Transfer tofu to couscous. Add broccoli, onion, and bell pepper to skillet; cook over medium-high heat 2 minutes without stirring. Continue to cook vegetables until crisp-tender, stirring constantly, about 4 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water; increase heat to high and bring to boil, stirring to scrape up browned bits. Mix in 1/2 cup cilantro. Season vegetables to taste with salt and pepper. Mix couscous, vegetables, and cooking liquid in large serving bowl. Garnish with remaining 1/4 cup cilantro and serve.

TOFU AND VEGETABLES STIR-FRY WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Mix tofu, 1 tablespoon oil, curry powder, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Let stand for 30 minutes.
• While tofu is marinating, place broccoli and carrot in a microwave-safe bowl with 1 tablespoon water and 1 pinch salt. Cover and cook in the microwave for 2 1/2 minutes.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok over high heat. Saute spinach, onion, cucumber, radish, nutmeg, and 1 pinch salt until spinach is wilted, about 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon soy sauce, honey, peanut butter, ginger, and black pepper. Add cooked broccoli and carrot. Reduce heat to low and cover the wok.
• Place marinated tofu in a pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon soy sauce. Cook until heated through, about 3 minutes. Add to vegetable mixture in the wok.
• Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Add couscous, margarine, and garlic. Mix well, cover the saucepan, and let rest until water is absorbed, about 10 minutes.
• Serve couscous in a bowl topped with tofu mixture and pistachios.

VEGETABLE COUSCOUS, GOAT CHEESE, AND BEETS

Steps:

• Stir together dill, chives, and pepper on a plate, then roll cheese in herb mixture to coat sides (not ends). Wrap cheese in plastic wrap and chill.
• Bring water, salt, and 1 tablespoon oil to a boil in a 1-quart heavy saucepan. Stir in couscous, then cover pan and remove from heat. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook onion, stirring, 1 minute. Add zucchini, bell pepper, and corn and cook, stirring, until zucchini is bright green, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a bowl.
• Fluff couscous with a fork and stir into vegetables, then season with salt and pepper.
• Peel beet and cut half of beet into very thin slices (less than 1/8 inch thick) with slicer (discard remainder), then stack slices and cut into thin matchsticks. Rinse beets and pat dry, then transfer to a bowl.
• Whisk together vinegar, remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Add 1/2 tablespoon dressing to beets and toss to coat.
• Fill ramekin with couscous, pressing it firmly into mold with a rubber spatula. Invert ramekin onto a salad plate and carefully unmold couscous, then make 3 more couscous mounds on 3 more plates.
• Drape each couscous mound with 1 prosciutto slice (if using), then top with some of beets.
• Unwrap cheese and cut crosswise into 4 equal slices with a lightly oiled knife, then arrange 1 cheese slice alongside each couscous mound and spoon remaining dressing around mounds.

BALSAMIC COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over low heat. Saute onion and garlic slowly until tender, approximately 15 minutes.
• Stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
• Add couscous, cover pan, remove from heat, and let stand for 5 - 10 minutes.
• Pour couscous into a bowl and top with vinegar, salt and pepper. Stir until combined. You may wish to add less or more vinegar depending on what you like. 3T works for us.