Eggplant And Tofu Stack Recipes

CRISPY SZECHUAN-STYLE EGGPLANT AND TOFU

Steps:

• In a shallow dish, combine 2/3 cup of the cornstarch, the salt and pepper. Toss the eggplant pieces in the cornstarch mixture to coat, shaking off the excess; set aside. Repeat the process with the tofu.
• Heat 1/2 inch of the peanut oil in a large, deep, straight-sided skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Working in batches, cook the eggplant first, tossing gently until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with the remaining eggplant and the tofu.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken stock, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, lime juice and remaining 2 teaspoons cornstarch.
• Carefully drain the oil from the skillet, and wipe out any residue using paper towels held with tongs. Add 1 tablespoon of peanut oil to the skillet and heat it over medium heat. Add the ginger, about 1 teaspoon of the minced chiles (or to taste) and the garlic. Cook, stirring, until just fragrant, about 30 seconds; pour in the chicken stock mixture and bring it to a simmer. Simmer until slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the cooked eggplant and tofu to the skillet and toss gently to combine. Stir in the sesame oil and remove from the heat. Serve immediately over rice and garnished with the remaining minced chiles if desired and chopped cilantro.

EGGPLANT AND TOFU CURRY

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, puree the garlic, ginger, jalapeno and 1 to 2 tablespoons water in a mini food processor until a paste forms. Drain the tomatoes, reserving the juice; coarsely crush the tomatoes in a separate bowl.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and the eggplant to the pot; cook 2 minutes. Add the garlic-ginger paste and cook, stirring, 2 more minutes. Add the curry powder and tomatoes (but not the juice) and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the tomato juice and 1 cup water and cook until slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Add the coconut milk and tofu; simmer until the eggplant is very tender, about 5 minutes. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with rice, if desired.

EGGPLANT AND TOFU STACK

Steps:

• Using a fork, poke holes in eggplant and rub with 1/2 tsp oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast in oven at 350°F until eggplant collapses (40 minutes to an hour). Remove and cool; scrape out insides and discard skin. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a 10" sauté pan on low heat. Add onion, red pepper, shallots, and garlic; cover and sauté until tender. Add eggplant, season with salt and pepper and cook, uncovered, 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until all liquid evaporates. Transfer to a bowl and cool. Add chives and parsley.
• Slice tofu lengthwise so each block is an inch thick. Cut the blocks into six 2-inch squares. Spread a 12-inch-wide piece of plastic wrap on the counter. Place 1 slice tofu on the plastic wrap. Season with salt and pepper and spread about 1/4 eggplant mixture across the top. Add another layer of tofu, season it and repeat until you have 2 layers of eggplant and 3 layers of tofu. Cover stack with plastic wrap. Repeat to make second stack. Place both stacks on a plate, chill 2 hours, remove and unwrap. Place flour in a medium-sized bowl. Beat eggs in another medium-sized bowl. Dip each stack in flour, then egg, then flour again, coating all sides each time. Heat remaining 2 tsp oil (or more if necessary) in a pan on medium-high heat. Sauté stacks on all sides (2 or 3 minutes per side) until golden brown. Serve immediately.

ROASTED EGGPLANT AND TOFU ROUND

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Dice the eggplant into medium-sized pieces. Mix together 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1/2 a teaspoon of sea salt in a roasting pan. Put the eggplant into the pan and roast for 35 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let cool.
• Increase the oven heat to 400 degrees F.
• In a small pan combine the tofu, garlic cloves, cherries, 1 1/2 cups of water, sugar and cinnamon. Put the pan in the oven for 35 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let cool.
• Next, pit the cherries and drop them into a blender with 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/8 cup of water. Add the garlic and the remaining liquid from the roasting pan. Blend to combine. This will be your roasted garlic and cherry aioli sauce.
• In a medium bowl, whisk 1 large egg. Add the bread crumbs, roasted eggplant, coconut milk, 1 teaspoon sea salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Combine well and form the mixture into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Coat each round with cornmeal.
• Heat 1 cup of canola oil in a shallow frying pan. Put the rounds into the pan and fry until golden brown. Put each round on a serving plate and drizzle with the garlic and cherry aioli sauce. Serve.

TOFU-VEGETABLE STACK

Steps:

• Line a plate with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Place tofu on towels and top with another plate; weigh down with canned goods or a heavy skillet. Refrigerate 2 hours (or up to 8 hours). Cut crosswise into 8 slices.
• Whisk together oil, lemon juice, and parsley; season with salt and pepper. Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Clean and lightly oil hot grill. Brush both sides of tofu, zucchini, and eggplant with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until cooked through, about 3 minutes per side, working in batches if necessary.
• To assemble, lay an eggplant slice on each plate, then top with tofu and zucchini; repeat. Drizzle each stack with dressing and serve with lemon wedges.

EGGPLANT TOFU CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Layer eggplant, tomatoes, tofu, onion, and garlic in a square glass baking pan. Drizzle with chile sauce and olive oil. Salt lightly; sprinkle on Cheddar cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is bubbly, about 30 minutes.

STIR-FRIED EGGPLANT AND TOFU

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large nonstick frying pan over high heat, add tofu, and gently cook, turning tofu occasionally, until browned slightly, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer tofu to a plate.
• Cook garlic, eggplant, and bell pepper in pan until softened, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add soy sauce, sugar, and oyster sauce and cook until heated through, another 2 minutes.
• Return tofu to pan and gently stir to coat.
• Remove from heat and stir in basil leaves.
• Serve over rice.

THAI EGGPLANT CURRY WITH TOFU

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok or skillet and saute eggplant in batches on both sides until browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side, adding more oil as needed.
• Combine cilantro roots, onion, chile peppers, garlic, sugar, lime juice, and fish sauce in a mortar; crush with a pestle into a soft paste.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok or skillet over high heat, add curry paste and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add eggplant, cover, and cook for 3 minutes. Mix in tofu and Thai basil.