SHOUT OUT TO MY MOTHERS BIRTHDAY!! And my mothers mother – my Nonna’s birthday!! AND my Mother-in-law’s birthday!!
All 3 of them were born the same day, isn’t that incredible?
BTW If you have NOT seen my Moms AMAZING cake business, PLEASE do check it out! Head on over to her Gallery page to see the amazing work she has been doing lately, all self-taught. I am so proud of her. And hehe I hope you like her website too, I made it for her a few months ago:)
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Back to this, Yumm!! Fried veggies and tofu. A simple recipe, but very very flavorful. And also super customizable, if you want to add carrots, or different colored peppers to decorate this dish even more, that would work. You could even add mushrooms, zucchini, and other types of vegetables too. But for this dish, I chose to follow what my husband’s dad made from scratch that we loved, tofu with celery, green peppers, tomatoes, garlic and onions!
Originally I breaded the tofu with Panko Gluten Free bread crumbs, but they really didn’t stick well to the tofu, so for this recipe I’m not adding that because I think it tastes fine without it. Although the bread crumbs did help give it a little more of a crunch, it is totally optional if you choose to incorporate it into your meal.
I just love how colorful this dish is. Tofu often gets a bad rep, but I believe if you are using organic wholesome tofu (not processed veggie meat with a million other ingredients inside), than you are following the ways of the eastern culture. Japan for example, has a lot of tofu and white rice in their traditional diet, and yet they are some of the longest living people on the planet. Is it because of the tofu and rice? Maybe not or maybe so, but I would think as long as you do not consume tofu every week as a man, or have a hormone related illnesses like breast cancer, than I believe it is not harmful for you. In contrary, it is an excellent source of protein that contains all eight essential amino acids. It also is a great source of calcium, iron, manganese, selenium and phosphorus. There is a lot of good in it. But do your research as always, and see if it would be beneficial to add to your diet.
Thanks to Mr.Girod for this recipe!
Ingredients
- 2-4 Tbsp - Coconut Oil
- 1 16oz package - Extra Firm Tofu
- -
- 1 Tbsp - Coconut Oil
- 1 - Onion
- 3 Cloves - Garlic
- 2 Sticks - Celery
- 1 Large - Green Pepper
- 2-3 - Roma Tomatoes
- 3 - Green Chives
- 3 Tbsp - Soy Sauce (non GMO/organic)
- 1/2 Tbsp - Cumin
- 1 tsp - Seasoning Salt
- 1/2 tsp - Cayenne Pepper
- Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste
- 1/2 Handful - Cilantro
Instructions
- Start off by rinsing and slicing your tofu into 1cm thin slices length wise. Drain onto a paper towel, gently squeezing to remove excess liquid (be sure not to crumble them though!).
- Add coconut oil to a large frying pan and heat over medium flame. Add your tofu slices once the oil is hot (test by adding a drop of water and see if you hear a sizzle). Cook until slightly golden or firmer on each side (this might take some time). Be sure to check on it every few minutes to make sure it is not sticking to the bottom of the pan though. Continue this in batches and place into a paper towel lined bowl when finished.
- Next chop your onions, garlic, celery, green pepper, tomatoes and chives relatively finely.
- Grab another large frying pan, and add your coconut oil, onions and garlic over medium flame . Cook for a few minutes, and then add in celery, green pepper and tomatoes. Stir well and cook for a few more minutes, then add your chives.
- Cook until veggies soften, and add soy sauce, and your spices. Mix well.
- Once vegetables are cooked to your liking, add your fried tofu slices and give one more good mix.
- Turn heat off, garnish with finely chopped cilantro, and serve over rice!