Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Tofu

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Gettyimages.com/Tofu Served crispy with sesame seeds and panko, topped with pickled ginger, radish and carrot and drizzled with a ginger-wasabi aioli, served on fresh baguette.

If you’re cutting meat out of your life, you probably have a lot of tofu coming your way. Sure, you can have beans, tempeh, and quinoa to get some animal-free protein. But those all have rather distinct flavors and tend to dominate a dish. Tofu, however, has a very mild taste, meaning you can easily manipulate it, play with it, alter it, and use it in all sorts of cuisines and recipes. If you’re wondering how you can possibly still pull off that otherwise dairy and meat-laden recipe that you love, I bet you can pull it off with tofu. Don’t let this jiggly, bland-looking food fool you; it’s capable of a lot. It can be whipped into something fluffy like whipped cream and blended into soups and smoothies. So keep some in your fridge for your meat-less journey. Here are things you didn’t know you could do with tofu.

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Make fake ricotta cheese

Making lasagna? Blend up some soft tofu with dried oregano, basil, and a little bit of lemon juice to get a faux ricotta cheese. Lather it onto your noodles as you would the real stuff.

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Treat it as a burger

Take a large, firm square—about the size of a meat patty—and sear it in burger seasoning. Put it in a burger bun with all of your favorite toppings.

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Make it into a cheesecake

Swap out the cheese and swap in the tofu for a dairy-free cheesecake that’s not only easier on your digestive system, but boasts plenty of protein, and a lower calorie count.

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Put orange chicken sauce on it

Try your favorite orange chicken sauce on fried tofu. It’s almost better than orange chicken. If orange sauce isn’t your thing, try it with sweet and sour sauce.

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Treat it as a steak

Bread a large, firm block of tofu with panko crumbs, soak it in soy sauce or teriyaki sauce, and sear it like a steak. Pair it with a baked potato for the full steak dinner experience.

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Add it to skewers

Not sure what to throw on the grill at the barbecue? Make skewers, and in place of the meat, add chunks of firm tofu between the veggies. Add poultry or steak seasoning and grill up your skewers.

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Make it into a scramble

Soft tofu can crumble into a similar texture as scrambled eggs. Add it to a pan with chopped up bell peppers, onions, and faux bacon bits.

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Blend it into smoothies

If you’re trying to cut dairy, instead of yogurt, add soft tofu to your smoothie to get a nice, creamy texture and protein points.

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Put it in a banh mi

Try adding slices of tofu to your banh mi slices. Their mild flavor takes up the marinade really nicely, and isn’t as tough to bite into through the baguette as chicken can be.

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Make spinach artichoke dip with it

Take out the cheese and use soft tofu in your spinach artichoke dip. It instantly reduces the guilt from this traditionally fatty appetizer and adds protein.

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Make lettuce wraps with it

Sofritas—a unique crumbled form of tofu—tastes just as good (if not better) than ground chicken in lettuce wraps. Season with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, green onions, sesame oil, and rice vinegar.

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Make mousse with it

Soft tofu makes a great base for mousse and turns this calorie-heavy dish into a light, protein-heavy dessert.

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Use them in a frittata

Use soft tofu in your frittata instead of eggs, using the same ratios. Add in your favorite ingredients like mushrooms as usual, and try adding tofu ricotta cheese.