Contrary to popular belief, you can make friends with salad, especially if it’s as tasty as this one. This vegetarian take on a salt and pepper calamari uses the goodness of tofu as it’s star ingredient, with fresh herbs, cucumber, fennel and lime to add a little zing. It makes the perfect lunch or dinner side and you can get as creative as you like with it. Want the recipe? Keep scrolling for this ‘too good not to try’ version by food blogger and recipe developer, Georgia McDermott (better knowns as @georgeats).
Salt & Pepper Tofu Salad With Lime, Cucumber & Fennel
GF: DF: V
For the tofu:
500g firm tofu
2 tablespoons vodka (make sure it’s gluten free if you’re cooking for a coeliac)
1 tablespoon water, plus extra if necessary
3 tablespoons gluten free cornflour
2 teaspoons sea salt flakes
2 teaspoons freshly ground white pepper (I buy this in whole form from my Asian grocer but I think you can get it at the supermarket too)
For the salad:
Juice of 1 lime
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon sea salt flakes
1 large fennel, mandolined or finely chopped
2 small Lebanese cucumbers, mandolined or finely chopped
1 bunch of Thai Basil
Handful of greens of your choice
For the satay:
1 cup natural peanut butter
1 1/2 cups boiling water
4 teaspoons gluten free kecap manis
4 teaspoons tamari
Generous micrograting of fresh ginger
Generous micrograting of kaffir lime flesh
Optional toppings:
1/4 cup coconut flakes, toasted
1/4 cup cashews, toasted
Chilli flakes, fresh chilli, or fancy angel hair chilli
Additional herbs
Method:
1. Remove your tofu from the packet and slice it lengthways down the middle. Put down some paper towel (I normally do a folded couple of layers on the bottom and one on the top) and lay the tofu on top. It should take less time to drain now that it’s halved. Lay the next piece of paper towel on top, and place something heavy on top of that. I use a big saucepan with cans in it. Allow this to drain for 30 odd minutes, remove the paper, and repeat. Once the tofu is dry, take the paper off and cut the tofu into bite sized chunks on a dry board.
2. To make the salad, mix the lime juice, sea salt and sugar in a large bowl, and add in the remaining ingredients. I like to do this before cooking the tofu to allow some of the firmer veg to soften with the lime juice.
3. Mix together the cornflour, sea salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix and add the tofu chunks, tossing them evenly to coat. Gently shake individual pieces of tofu off and transfer them to a plate. Mix the vodka and water into the flour and salt mixture that is leftover, and stir thoroughly to combine. Sometimes a whisk helps with cornflour
4. Heat a saucepan over a high heat with a high smoke point oil. Peanut oil is my preference.
5. Throw the tofu pieces back into the wet vodka flour mixture, gently and thoroughly coating each piece in the batter. Transfer each piece (I use my hands, it makes it easier to coat and transfer) gently into the hot oil. Make sure not to overcrowd the pan – batch cooking is your best m8 in the search for crispiness. I cook about 8 pieces at a time, but that will depend on your pan.
6. Adjusting the heat as you go, turn the tofu as you start the see the sides going golden at the bottom. This won’t take long. I like to create a system where I turn them all the same way so I don’t miss a side. It makes me feel very organised and very enamoured with tofu. Make sure all 4 sides of the tofu are cooked, before transferring them to a paper towel to blot dry.
7. While the tofu is cooking, place the peanut butter in a pan over a low medium heat. Add the boiling water, and stir until the mixture becomes a saucy consistency (it will happen, I promise!) add the flavourings – kecap manis, tamari, ginger and kaffir (you can add in a bunch of kaffir lime leaves if that’s all you can find, just make sure you fish them out before eating) and continue stirring over a low heat for a few minutes to let the flavours infuse. Set aside.
8. If it has taken you a while to cook the tofu, you can finish it off in the oven for a few minutes (legend has it that this also assists in crispiness, although I can’t be sure yet) to serve warm when you are ready.
9. To serve, layer the bottom of the plate with satay (you’ll have lots leftover for blobbing on top and for lunch tomorrow) and follow this with the salad and the crispy tofu.
