SWEET AND TANGY TOFU

You would probably be more familiar with this recipe if I called it sweet and sour tofu. Sweet and tangy fits this version a little better and it makes it sound like I invented it which we all know isn't true. The best thing about this recipe is that you can adapt it anyway you like. You can switch up the veggies and make it with any meat you have around. Or non meat, as the case may be. I share this with tofu because that's how I like it and tofu can be a little hard to deal with. This is a great technique that I found on Big girls, small kitchen for easily making crispy tofu. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1/2 block firm tofu
about 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small head broccoli
1 cup chopped pineapple
1/2 cup shredded red cabbage
1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 cloves garlic

Directions:
1. The best way to get your tofu crispy is to press the water out of it. This takes a good 1/2 hour. So 30 minutes before you're ready to start cooking, cut the tofu into equal slices. Put 5 paper towels on a plate, place the tofu slices on top. Place another 5 paper towels on top of the tofu and then place another plate or baking sheet on top of that. You can then put anything that is heavy on top of that plate like canned foods. Leave it alone for 30 minutes.

2. Take your pressed tofu and chop in into cubes. In a baggie or on a wide plate, toss the tofu with the whole wheat flour til all the pieces have a thin coating.

3. Heat a large frying pan and add the oil. Pan fry the tofu until crispy. You may have to do this in batches depending on how large your pan is.

4. While the tofu is frying, you can start to saute the veggies and garlic in another large pan. Once the veggies have softened a little, not too much, add the fried tofu.

5. Mix the pineapple juice, sugar and soy sauce in a small bowl. Add the sauce to your veggies and tofu. Saute until everything is soft and coated with the sauce.

6. Serve over rice.

Notes: If your sauce is too thin, you can always add a slurry of flour and water or corn starch and water at the last minute to thicken it a little. Also, a little spice is nice in this dish as well, so feel free to add it in.

**Photo by me**