Tantalize your taste buds with a delectable journey into the world of Indian tofu and spinach. This vibrant dish, steeped in the rich culinary traditions of India, offers a harmonious blend of flavors, textures, and aromas. The star of this show is the humble tofu, a versatile plant-based protein that soaks up the aromatic spices and creamy spinach, transforming it into a culinary delight. Accompanying this delightful main course are three enticing recipes that elevate the tofu and spinach experience. Dive into the depths of flavor with a cooling and refreshing cucumber raita, a tangy and spicy tomato chutney, and a comforting and aromatic jeera rice. These culinary creations, when combined, create a symphony of flavors that will leave you craving for more.
Let's cook with our recipes!
SAAG TOFU (INDIAN TOFU WITH SPINACH)
This is a delicious and healthier version of saag paneer (palak paneer) that uses tofu rather than cheese. The Indian spices lend a lot of flavour to the tofu. From "EatingWell Magazine".
Provided by blucoat
Categories Stew
Time 30m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cut tofu into thirds lengthwise and eighths crosswise. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring gently every 2 to 3 minutes, until browned on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil to the pan and reduce heat to medium. Add onion, garlic, ginger and mustard seeds and cook until the onion is translucent, 4 to 6 minutes. Add spinach in batches small enough to fit in the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until all the spinach has been added and has wilted, 4 to 6 minutes more.
- Meanwhile, combine yogurt, curry powder, cumin and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Add to the pan along with the tofu and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.
INDIAN TOFU WITH SPINACH
Steps:
- 1. Drain the tofu on paper towels. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat in a wok or a large, heavy lidded skillet and add the tofu. Stir-fry until golden brown and remove from the heat. 2. Combine the shallot or onion and the ginger in a food processor or mini-chop and blend until finely minced, almost a paste. 3. Heat the remaining oil over medium-high heat in a wok or skillet and add the cumin seeds, fennel seeds and whole chilies. Cook, stirring, for about 15 seconds, or until the spices are fragrant and reddish-brown. Add the onion and ginger and stir-fry until it is lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the coriander, salt, cayenne and turmeric, stir for about 10 seconds and add the spinach in batches, adding the next batch after the first batch wilts and stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. 4. Stir in the tofu, cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes, until the spinach is uniformly wilted and the tofu is warmed through. 5. Whisk the cornstarch into the yogurt. Remove the pan from the heat, remove the chilies, and stir in the yogurt. Taste, adjust salt and serve with rice or other grains.
SAAG TOFU (TOFU WITH SPINACH, GINGER, CORIANDER AND TURMERIC)
Raghavan Iyer, author of "660 Curries," describes the Indian cheese paneer as "fresh, firm and chewy" and "not unlike a block of extra-firm tofu," which you could substitute for paneer in a pinch. Tofu takes the place of paneer in this lighter version of saag paneer, a classic Indian dish made with fresh spinach sautéed in plenty of ginger, cumin, fennel seeds, chiles, coriander and turmeric. Here, seared tofu and yogurt are stirred in at the end, making it a creamy, satisfying, almost-vegan meal that's wonderful served with naan or over rice.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, easy, quick, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Drain the tofu on paper towels. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat in a wok or a large, heavy lidded skillet and add the tofu. Stir-fry until golden brown and remove from the heat.
- Combine the shallot or onion and the ginger in a food processor or mini-chop and blend until finely minced, almost a paste.
- Heat the remaining oil over medium-high heat in a wok or skillet and add the cumin seeds, fennel seeds and whole chiles. Cook, stirring, for about 15 seconds, or until the spices are fragrant and reddish-brown. Add the onion and ginger and stir-fry until it is lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the coriander, salt, cayenne and turmeric, stir for about 10 seconds and add the spinach in batches, adding the next batch after the first batch wilts and stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze.
- Stir in the tofu, cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes, until the spinach is uniformly wilted and the tofu is warmed through.
- Whisk the cornstarch into the yogurt. Remove the pan from the heat, remove the chilies, and stir in the yogurt. Taste, adjust salt and serve with rice or other grains.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 274, UnsaturatedFat 13 grams, Carbohydrate 15 grams, Fat 17 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 22 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 751 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
INDIAN-SPICED TOFU WITH WILTED SPINACH AND YOGURT
Golden cubes of tofu, sauteed with mustard and coriander seed, replace paneer cheese in this nod to the classic Indian dish.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains Rice Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Press tofu.
- In a large cast-iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add tofu and cook, turning, until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate and season with salt.
- Heat remaining oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add ginger and spices and cook, stirring, until spices are toasted, about 1 minute. Add spinach and cook, stirring, until just wilted, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in yogurt. Season with salt and stir in golden tofu. Serve with rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 450 g, Cholesterol 5 g, Fat 15 g, Fiber 12 g, Protein 21 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Sodium 324 g
TOFU MAKHANI (INDIAN BUTTER TOFU)
This recipe is a vegetarian riff on butter chicken, or murgh makhani, a classic Indian dish in which chicken simmers in a rich, dairy-laden tomato sauce that's seasoned with heady spices like turmeric, cumin, garam masala and cardamom. This weeknight-friendly version has a toned-down ingredient list, and the tofu doesn't require hours of marinating, which means you can get everything on the table in under an hour if you start the rice as the tomatoes are cooking down. Heavy cream gives this dish a rich finish, but full-fat coconut milk makes a fine substitute. Whatever you do, don't substitute anything for the butter or ghee (sorry, vegans) - it's the signature ingredient.
Provided by Sarah Copeland
Categories dinner, lunch, weekday, curries, main course
Time 40m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a large bowl, whisk the lemon juice, cumin and 1 heaping tablespoon turmeric with 1 tablespoon water to make a thin paste. Drain and pat the tofu dry then cut it into 1-inch cubes. Add it to the turmeric marinade, gently stirring to coat. Set aside at room temperature while you prepare the remaining ingredients, or cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
- In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onions and chile powder, and cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Lower the heat, add the ginger and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are starting to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes and their juices, gently crushing the tomatoes with your hands as you go. Add the cinnamon stick, paprika and sea salt along with the remaining 1 teaspoon turmeric. Cook until the tomatoes and onions break down and the sauce is the consistency of a thick ragù, about 10 minutes. Blend with an immersion blender, or transfer to a blender and purée until smooth. Return to the pot.
- Gently stir in the cream and the tofu and its marinade. Simmer over low heat, uncovered, until the tofu has taken on the color of the sauce and is flavored all the way through, about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally but gently, so the tofu doesn't fall apart. Transfer the tofu and sauce to a deep platter or large shallow serving bowl and sprinkle with scallions and cilantro. Serve with warm naan, rice, yogurt and cucumbers.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 592, UnsaturatedFat 21 grams, Carbohydrate 20 grams, Fat 50 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 25 grams, SaturatedFat 25 grams, Sodium 783 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams, TransFat 1 gram
Tips:
- Use high-quality tofu. The better the tofu, the better your dish will be. Look for tofu that is firm and has a smooth texture.
- Press the tofu before cooking. This will help to remove excess water and make the tofu more firm.
- Marinate the tofu before cooking. This will help to add flavor to the tofu.
- Cook the tofu over medium heat. This will help to prevent the tofu from sticking to the pan and burning.
- Add the spinach to the pan last. This will help to prevent the spinach from overcooking.
- Serve the tofu with rice or your favorite side dish.
Conclusion:
Indian tofu with spinach is a delicious and healthy dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With its high protein content and low calories, this dish is a great addition to any healthy diet.
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