Current Events > Making a veggie chili with some tofu in my crock pot. First time question

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It's been cooking for about 4 hours now and plan on cooking it for another 2 or 3. I haven't put the tofu in yet, I was told to fry it up and then throw it in at the end. I've never fried, cooked, and even eaten tofu before. This is mostly for the people I work with, who are mostly all vegetarians, and they like tofu. It's a surprise, so I can't ask their suggestions. So here I am, asking yours -

What's a good way to fry up tofu and when should I throw it into the crock pot to cook in there for a bit?

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Just panfry it.
Also add some shredded jackfruit next time.

toss it in some cornstarch, fry it, then put it in with like 15-20 minutes to go just so it can absorb some flavor. Unless you're making it the night before, then you can probably just put it in after it's done cooking.

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Questionmarktarius posted...

Just panfry it.
Also add some shredded jackfruit next time.

Into the chili? Tbh, I never even heard of jackfruit, lol

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Assuming you bought a regular cube of tofu, you need to take it out and squeeze as much liquid out as possible. Usually I wrap it in a paper towel and then put it between two plates and squish it. There is a ton of liquid in tofu, and when frying you want to get it out first.

Cut it into little cubes or strips, cover it in corn starch, then just fry it on the stove with some oil until it looks brown.

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Bad_Mojo posted...

Into the chili? Tbh, I never even heard of jackfruit, lol

It's suppose to have a texture similar to meat, but half the time it has the texture of styrofoam to me. I also don't like the taste, it's too close to mango which is weird in dishes where you are using it as a meat substitute.

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Tofu is so damn good.

Irony posted...

It's suppose to have a texture similar to meat, but half the time it has the texture of styrofoam to me. I also don't like the taste, it's too close to mango which is weird in dishes where you are using it as a meat substitute.

I don't like jackfruit either. As far as meat substitute goes, I've been into TVP lately. It's really quick and easy to cook, and it comes out like a hamburg. It won't fit every meal, but for chili or tacos it works great.

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Cube it up and fry it until lightly browned on each side. Wont take long at all to do. Adding it to the pot will just keep it warm. No flavor to it unless they want you to season it.

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Irony posted...

I also don't like the taste, it's too close to mango which is weird in dishes where you are using it as a meat substitute.

Chili seasoning will overpower it, especially if cumin is involved.

Jackfruit has great texture. Only downfall? It has almost no protein.

Compare it to something like tofu, seitan, tempeh, and more which all contain satiating protein.

Questionmarktarius posted...

Chili seasoning will overpower it, especially if cumin is involved.

This is never the case for me. I've eaten it in curry before.

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Irony posted...

This is never the case for me. I've eaten it in curry before.

Try tacos.

Here is what it looks like. I just added corn because I forgot >_<

https://i.imgur.com/Vr4j8bl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/orBKCZZ.jpg

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Tofu is easy.

Step 1: Drain. This can be done by freezing the tofu, pressing the tofu between plates with a heavy object on top, or if you are in a real hurry microwaving the tofu for a few minutes.
Step 2: Marinate. Cut the tofu into the size you want and put it in some sort of brine. For a chili, I would consider garlic salt, some sort of pepper (cayenne, chili, etc), and maybe a little honey. I would let it marinate as long as you can afford to, but at least 15 minutes. I try to do it for a few hours if not over night.
Step 3: Fry. Take tofu out of marinate, squeeze out water with plates or a quick microwave. I then mix up some cornstartch, nutritional yeast, and course salt and coat each piece of tofu. Put a little oil of your choice into a pan, set it to high. When hot throw the tofu in, let it cook on each side until it releases from the pan.

If one was in a hurry and wanted tofu less for flavor and more for texture/protein you can make the whole process like 15 minutes by just nuking your block of tofu for like 4 minutes, coating and frying though. Which I have definitely done when I just wanted something fried late at night to dip into condiments.

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Thank you, everyone! I'll let you know how it turns out

BTW, I did get the Firm one. I can't remember if I said that or not

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Buy the seitan cubes next time if you get the chance. Theyre so much better tasting without seasoned and cook pretty fast. They taste really close to meat too.

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--Zero- posted...

Buy the seitan cubes next time if you get the chance. Theyre so much better tasting without seasoned and cook pretty fast. They taste really close to meat too.

The tofu is because the people at work like tofu. Is that tofu as well? I dont know, lol

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Needs salt, but its good for my first attempt

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