I think tofu is one of those foods you’d find under the category of “acquired taste.” Every now and then I’d meet people who don’t like it, saying it’s bland and has no flavour of its own — but that’s exactly the point! It absorbs the flavours it is paired with, so essentially it’s a very versatile food item.
One of the most common mistakes people make in using tofu is using it the way it’s not intended for. It’s not chicken or beef, okay — you have to season or marinate it to enjoy it.
To give you an idea, some of the ways to cook tofu include sauteing with vegetables, baking, deep-frying (for crispy texture), stir frying, marinating and broiling, or using it for omelets, custard dessert, soup, or milk shake. The bottomline being — there’s a lot of things you can do with tofu. More of that in The Huffington Post.
Those said, here’s a sample recipe for crispy tofu served with a thick sweet and sour sauce. As you can see below, there are only two things you have to do: deep-fry the tofu and then make the sauce!
Deep-Fried Tofu with Sweet and Sour Sauce
Deep-fried tofu
Ingredients:
- 450 g firm tofu
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- Vegetable oil for deep frying
- Cut the tofu into cubes and roll into cornstarch.
- Deep fry until golden on both sides. Remove from the wok and drain on paper towels.
- Place into a large bowl.
Sweet and sour sauce
Ingredients:
- 80 ml rice vinegar
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp water
- Combine rice vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, and soy sauce. Pour into a small pot and bring to a boil
- Mix cornstarch and water together. Add the mixture to the pot and stir to thicken.
- Pour sauce on top of the tofu and toss. Tofu should be completely coated.
Tips: smaller cubes means crispier tofu and add cornstarch for a thicker sauce.
As sweet and sour sauce goes, you can add various ingredients including red or green bell peppers, carrots, or pineapple chunks. You can also garnish the finished dish with sesame seeds.
See? This sweet and sour fried tofu recipe is incredibly easy. If you want to experiment with tofu, I suggest incorporating it in a recipe you already enjoy, say, a vegetable dish or soup and then go on from there.
Also, see The Daily Green’s tips on using tofu in cooking for more information.
What about you, do you like tofu? Why or why not? 
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