Vegetarian Tofu Loaf
A Tasty Japanese-Inspired Dish for Thanksgiving
I've always been a fan of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner and although I no longer live in America, I still like to make myself something that resembles a Thanksgiving feast. I don't make turkey and stuffing simply because they aren't readily available here in Japan. It's also not so easy to get things such as canned pumpkin and cranberry sauce unless you go to one of the few grocery stores that cater to Americans, which is not always convenient. Instead, I make a pretty tasty tofu loaf and serve it with a side of sweet potatoes and some green vegetables. For dessert, I make a pumpkin pie out of pancake mix which is easy to make with fresh or frozen pumpkin.
Delicious Tofu Loaf Even Meat Eaters Will Love
Although I am far from being a strict vegetarian, I do enjoy vegetarian dishes on a regular basis. For the past few years, I've been serving a delicious tofu loaf that's easy to make, delicous and healthy. Although it contains no meat, it's a hearty dish and should satisfy any meat lover. It's basically a tofu loaf that's filled with the stuffing of your choice and with the right gravy, it makes a perfect alternative to the traditional turkey.
You can make your own stuffing using bread or even rice. Today I made my loaf with a rice stuffing that is super easy to make. I simply mix all ingredients ( 2 cups cooked rice, 1/2 cup minced vegetables, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce, 2 teaspoon cornstarch, fine bread crumbs )in a bowl and make sure they are well combined. The vegetables add some texture to the loaf while the ginger gives it a little kick. I usually serve it with a Japanese sauce made of equal parts soy sauce and lemon over a mound of grated daikon radish. For a more traditional holiday taste, serve with your favorite gravy sauce.
Ingredients
- 2 blocks firm tofu
- 2 medium onions finely chopped
- 1 medium carrot finely chopped
- 2/3 cups panko(fine bread crumbs)
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
- 2 cups of your favorite stuffing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Oil and flour a loaf pan.
- Place the tofu in a bowl lined with a couple of paper towels and microwave for 5 minutes.
- Take the tofu out and drain it of excess water.
- Saute onions and carrots for about 5 minutes or until onions are golden brown and translucent.
- Put the tofu, sauteed vegetables and the remaining ingredients into a bowl and mix with hands until well combined.
- Spread a layer of the tofu mixture on all sides of the pan setting aside 1 cup for the top.
- Gently add stuffing inside the pan. Cover with the remaining tofu mixture.
- Bake in the oven for 50 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before unmolding.
- Slice and serve with your favorite sauce.
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