Tofubacue with home fries and cheezy broccoli

Tofu, is that you?

You guys, this is all you need to know: barbecue, taters and cheddar.

Just kidding, there’s a whole dinner recipe a’comin, but weren’t those three words enough to make your tums go, “Um, yes please?” I thought so.

But before I get started, here’s an open letter to tofu:

What.Is.This? Seriously. Is this soylent green??

My dearest Tofu,

How I love you. Yes, to the untrained eye you may appear to be an ominously gelatinous and colorless blob of yuck. But I know better.

To begin with, you’re crazy versatile. Should I bake you, fry you, include you in pasta, or turn you into dessert!? I don’t know. I just don’t know. There are so many options!

And you’ve always got my back, tofu. I know that you Judo chop my bad cholesterol and even suit up for the fight against cancer. Plus, you give my bones a boost, help prevent premature aging and come big with the vitamin E. In short, you’re a rock star, tofu, and I’m sorry not everyone knows it.

Forever yours,
Aunt B

So, back to the recipe.

Tofubacue (or TBQ) with Home Fries and Cheezy Broccoli
Serves 4

Ingredients

• 15 ounces tofu, pressed
• 2 cups barbecue sauce (recipe below)
• 2 cups broccoli, steamed
• 1 tsp nutritional yeast (if you’re being good) or a handful of vegan cheddar cheese (if you’re being me)

Barbecue Sauce Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups ketchup
• 3 tablespoons agave nectar
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoon tamari
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 tsp liquid smoke

Bake that tofu with your bad self!

1. Make your barbecue sauce in a sandwich-sized container with a lid, then carefully squish in your block of tofu, cover it, and let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least a half an hour (flip the tofu over about halfway through). I let mine hang out over night.
2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or tin foil.
3. Cut your marinated tofu into eight slices, place them on the cookie sheet, and then smother them with the rest of the sauce.
4. Bake the tofu for 30 minutes on each side, flipping them over (carefully) halfway through. I recommend spooning some of the sauce back onto the tofu blocks after you flip them over. Waste sauce, want sauce, I always say have never said before.
5. Either sprinkle some nutritional yeast on your broccoli to give it a cheesy flavor and boost of B12, or throw on a handful of vegan cheddar (such as Daiya) if you’re feeling less responsible.

If you want some potatoes to round out the meal (of course you do), I recommend this lovely recipe for oil-free oven-fried potatoes. FYI: The second time I made these, I let the potatoes marinate overnight (Not on purpose. Some friends called from the bar around the corner, and the meal was, of course, put on hold). Anyway, they came out even more delicious.

Finally, I know I just babbled on and on about how much I love tofu (and I meant every word!), but I think I shall make this with tempeh in the near future. If you beat me to it, let me know what you think.

Bon appetite!