Great Recipes for Delicious Tofu

When was the last time you thought about cooking with tofu? Unless you're vegetarian or vegan, or grew up eating it, it's probably been awhile. We're a pretty open-minded bunch when it comes to food (as you would hope), but we must admit that the general reaction around our office when this theme was announced was a volley of groans and "oh no's" peppered with the occasional "I don't know what to do with it." So, if you've always felt that way about tofu, don't feel bad. You're not alone.

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Hiyayakko (Cold Tofu) Recipe

In the summertime, I like to keep things simple: Chop, assemble, and serve. This Japanese cold tofu recipe could literally take you five minutes, requiring no cooking and few ingredients.

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INGREDIENTS

2 blocks silken tofu, cut into smaller 2- to 3-inch blocks
1/2 scallion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
Pinch of bonito flakes
Soy sauce, to taste

DIRECTIONS

Top the tofu with the scallions, ginger, and bonito flakes. Pour over a little soy sauce at a time. (With tofu, it can easily go from perfectly seasoned to too salty.)

Related: 5 Unusual Ways to Use Tofu

Recipe Details

Servings: 2
Cuisine: Japanese
Special Designations: Healthy

The Poor Man's Crabcake

OK, the name of this recipe is a little offensive to shrimp, but the real reason we call this a "cheaper" crabcake is because of the tofu. When puréed, it becomes a less-expensive filler for the cake batter of any type you want to make, and hey, shrimp is definitely cheaper when crabs are out of season. Don't be turned off if you don't like tofu - you can't even tell it's there, trust me - and for tofu lovers, it adds the perfect, velvety texture that only a tofu-eater would recognize.

Click Here to see the Poor Man's Crabcake Recipe

Grilled Tofu Sandwich with Peanut Dressing

There's a trendy, Cambodian-inspired sandwich shop in Manhattan called Num Pang that makes a pretty mean tofu sandwich. Such was the inspiration behind my very own version. Mine traces its roots back to Indonesian cuisine, though, with a peanut dressing that's common on dishes like Gado Gado.

Click here to see the Grilled Tofu Sandwich with Peanut Dressing Recipe

-Will Budiaman, The Daily Meal

Click Here to see more delicious Tofu Recipes to try at home