It is actually quite crazy what flavour combinations you can make with new ingredients. Take hoisin sauce, for example. I think hoisin is a really delicious invention that really gives tofu a new taste! And it is absolutely crazy in combination with smoked paprika, because then I have the feeling that I am actually eating bacon. Maybe it’s just me, but I really found a new way to make tofu taste even better!
I have a great love for Brussels sprouts. I’ve always liked them, especially with bacon and nutmeg. I could actually eat pounds of them. Brussels sprouts fit in every dish! It is a pity that they are not always available here in Spain, but when I see them in the store, of course I immediately buy a large quantity!
A while ago I already said that I would cook with hoisin sauce more often, and that is exactly what I have done now! I made a marinade with very simple ingredients and two things that go very well together, hoisin and paprika powder. I diced the tofu without pressing it, put it in a bowl and covered it with the marinade. 15 minutes later I cooked that tofu along with the sprouts and I found out it really went very well! It was tasty, and I wanted to eat more, but unfortunately it was finished.
It’s a shame that Mike doesn’t live around the corner from me as I’m sure he would have liked this dish even though he doesn’t like Brussels sprouts at all! Who knows, I might be able to cook it for him when I’m back in the Netherlands.
Grab your tofu and let’s get cooking!
Ingredients
With these quantities you can cook about two or three medium sized bowls, and they are quite filling.
- 250 gr of sprouts
- 250 gr tofu
- salt
- pepper
- sunflower oil, or oil of your choice
- 500 gr of gnocchi
Marinade
- 2 tablespoons of hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 10 gr fresh chopped ginger or two tablespoons ginger paste
- sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon of chili flakes
- grinded pepper
- 2 spring onions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons of smoked paprika powder
Preparation
Remove the tofu from the packaging and cut it into cubes about 1.5 cm wide. In a bowl, add all the ingredients for the sauce to these cubes. Stir well but gently with a spoon so that the tofu cubes are completely covered with the marinade. Let the tofu marinate in this bowl for at least 15 minutes.
Put a large pot of water on the fire. Clean the sprouts and cut them in half lengthwise. Rinse the sprouts under cold water. When the water is boiling, add the Brussels sprouts to the pan. Let them cook for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how hard you want your sprouts to be. Rinse the cooked sprouts with cold water and let them dry for a while.
Put a grill pan on the fire with a little bit of sunflower oil in it. Layer the halved sprouts on the bottom of the pan and grill well for a few minutes. Meanwhile, put a pan of water on the stove and take your gnocchi out of the fridge.
Add the tofu cubes to the grill pan and turn the heat up a bit so that it grills well. Add the gnocchi to the boiling water. While the gnocchi is cooking, shake the grill pan slightly so that the tofu and sprouts turn. I did this myself for 5 to 7 minutes, so that they were nice and crispy.
Drain the gnocchi, add them to the tofu and Brussels sprouts mix, sprinkle a little fresh pepper on top and voilà, a delicious and healthy snack!
The result
A delicious snack that makes enough openings for new ideas for cooking with tofu, sauces and spices! Luis also liked it a lot, and that for someone who didn’t even like tofu before I started cooking. I keep repeating it, but this really makes me very happy!
Meanwhile, Healthy January is long gone. But I’m still a fan of tofu cooking and eating it, so I’m not going to quit. There are still hundreds of recipes that I can make with it!
So be sure that I will come up with many new recipes, and cook with me in a healthy and environmentally friendly way! See you Friday, my friends, and everyone stay safe!
Is there a vegetable that you really like with everything? Then I advise you to grill it in the same way with tofu and enjoy it! Tell me your recipe and it might end up on my blog or instagram if you can!
