Tofu Avocado Salad: 10 Min Recipe! - The Woks of Life (2024)

FAQs

Can I use normal tofu instead of silken? ›

Both silken and regular tofu can be found in soft, medium, firm, and extra-firm consistencies. They are made with the same ingredients, but they are processed slightly differently and are not interchangeable in a recipe.

Sauté for 5 minutes, shaking/flipping occasionally to cook on all sides, until tofu has a slight crust on each side and has begun to brown. Transfer skillet to oven to bake for about 15 minutes, or until the tofu is firm to the touch and has begun to dry out and crisp up. The longer it bakes, the firmer it gets.

Avocados can brown when exposed to the air, so let them be the last ingredient you add before serving to help keep them green for your presentation.

I gently pat its outside dry, cut it into 1/2-inch cubes. I cook the tofu in 2 tablespoons of oil (I like to use coconut, but vegetable oil or grapeseed oil also work well) over medium-high heat, and salt it. The tofu cooks in a single layer for 4-5 minutes, undisturbed (this is how it gets its lovely, crispy crust).

Tofu Nutrition

For relatively similar serving sizes, the nutrition differences between silken and firm tofu are pretty big. Silken tofu contains only about half the calories and fat, while firm tofu contains over twice the protein. The reason for this is water content.

Silken tofu is relatively flavorless but it can make baked goods dense, so it's best used in brownies and some quick breads and cakes. How much to use: Use 1/4 cup of puréed tofu for 1 egg.

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

It tastes best when marinated, just not with oil.

Using oil in your marinade will actually create an oil slick on the tofu, meaning the flavors will never absorb. So skip the oil in your marinades and opt for extra vinegar, soy sauce, citrus juice, or stock.

Here's the thing: even though tofu might be labeled firm or extra-firm, it contains a lot of water. This excess water can cause the tofu to crumble when you cook it, and it will also have a hard time crisping up. But when you press tofu, you remove the excess moisture.

The combination you want to stay away from is eating avocados (a fat) with nuts (a protein). The raw fat properties of the avocado have an inhibiting effect of the digestion of the protein in nuts.

Why are chefs not using avocados? ›

"I don't use them because of the impact they have on the countries that they are coming from -- deforestation in Chile, violence in Mexico," he said. "For me, they are akin to battery chickens. I think Irish restaurants should make a conscious effort to not use avocados or at least reduce the amount they use.

While avocado toast offers many potential health benefits, it may not be the best choice for everyone. First, avocado toast lacks a significant source of protein, which is an important part of a balanced meal. But that's easily rectified by topping it with an egg, smoked salmon, tempeh “bacon,” or beans.

Super Easy Side Dishes with Grilled or Baked Tofu

Steamed rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa. In the steamer basket, add carrot slices, cauliflower, and peppers plus lime juice, agave nectar, and tamari sauce (for a gluten-free meal).

Cornstarch: This is the magic ingredient that helps make tofu (as well as many other foods) extra-crispy in the oven. Seasonings: I typically just use a mixture of garlic powder, sea salt and black pepper to season my tofu. (This mixture goes well with just about any recipe.)

Similarly, the American Cancer Society sees no dangers from eating soy. "For the vast majority of people, it should be reasonable to incorporate tofu in their daily diet without any issues," Sun said.

To make an egg replacement out of silken tofu, just take 1/4 cup of tofu per 1 whole egg and pulse it in a blender or food processor until it's broken up. Then, substitute as you please! Just make sure you use *silken* tofu, not firm tofu, as it won't yield the same result.

Regular tofu is pressed and has a somewhat spongy texture, and comes in several varieties distinguished by how much water is pressed out. Soft tofu has the least amount of water pressed out, while super-firm has a low moisture content and a dense texture.

Silken tofu reveals its elegant creaminess when eaten slightly chilled with a few simple garnishes, such as for hiya yakko, a Japanese classic. The trick to making silken tofu is to prevent curds and whey from forming, which happens if the soy milk gets too hot.

Silken tofu is commonly used to make vegan pudding, mousse, and other creamy desserts. Instead, you can use creamed banana (like in this banana pudding recipe from Fab Haute Mama), coconut cream (in this peanut butter mousse recipe from Minimalist Baker), chickpeas (yes, seriously!