Palak Tofu / Spinach Tofu

I have come up with many ways of using tofu like Pasta with Marinated, Grilled Tofu, Mattar Tofu (Green Peas tofu subzi), and I have even used in place of eggs in Eggless Brioche. Do I love Tofu, not really. I like its health benefits for sure. Most of the vegetarians do not get the required amount of protein if we don't include legume. But, if you eat a bowl full of chick peas, you are consuming 500 calories there itself. Whereas Tofu gives you more protein and not too many calories.
One of the easiest way of incorporating tofu into diet is adding soft or silken tofu into wheat flour while making roti/chapathi dough. I had big bag of spinach waiting to be used and I did have lot of tofu. I made Palak Paneer but used tofu instead. Result was a delicious side dish with not too much of a guilt consciousness.  

Ingredients:

• Spinach - a big bunch washed and cleaned. No need to chop it
• Red Onions - 3 medium or two large chopped very finely
• Tomatoes - 2 large or 3 medium or tomato paste about 1 cup
• Oil - 3 TBSP divided use
• Cumin - 1 tsp
• Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp or to taste
• Garam masala - 3/4 tsp or to taste
• Salt - to taste
• Ginger - 1/2 inch piece shredded
• Garlic - 2 pods minced 
• Tofu - 1 pound extra firm variety 
• Cream - 1/2 cup or more depending on your liking (I used milk you could use soy milk to make it vegan)

Method:
Drain the tofu and place between many layers of paper towel or clean kitchen towel. Place some weight on the top so they get dry. Leave it for 30 minutes. In a saucepan, add the spinach and add about 1/2 cup of water and let it cook. When it is cooked, blend it in a blender / mixie and set aside. Reserve the water you cooked spinach in for later use. Heat a pan and add 2 TBSP of oil. When hot, add cumin seeds. When they are done, add ginger, garlic, stir for couple of seconds and add chopped onion. Add some salt and let it cook. Blanch the tomatoes in hot water and remove the skin. Blend them in a blender/mixie or food processor and pour into the pan after onions are cooked. Let it come to a boil. Meanwhile, cut the dried tofu into cubes and heat a flat skillet / dosa tawa. When hot, add 1 TBSP of oil. Place the tofu cubes on the tawa and let them get brown evenly all around. Do this on medium heat so that they get nice and golden. 

When the tomatoes are cooked add chilli powder, garam masala and the pureed spinach. Let it come to a rolling boil and add cream or milk. If you want to thin the dish, use the reserved water from cooking spinach. Add the roasted tofu cubes and let it simmer for a minute or two and turn off the heat. Serve hot with roti, chapathi, naan or rice.
It tasted really good and I didn't miss the taste of paneer at all.

Happy Cooking!!



Pin It