Nooched Tofu

So I have been trying to sneak a bit more soy products into our diet. To reduce the amount of meat we eat, and because it is alleged to help with symptoms of perimenopause. There has been some resistance from certain family members though, who find it bland.

But this, now this is tasty tofu! Flavoured-up with soy sauce, garlic and sesame oil and coated with nutritional yeast flakes - 'nooch' for short! The coated tofu is quickly toasted in the air fryer, and it's ready to go - in a stir fry, on a salad, with pasta and tomato sauce, or just eaten by itself. And even the tofu-hesitant here are eating it up with gusto.

If you've not come across them before, nutritional yeast flakes are small savoury flakes of processed yeast, with a vaguely nutty, cheesy flavour. Like marmite, they are rich in B vitamins. You can find tubs of it in larger supermarkets and health food shops under the brand name Engevita.

To make a batch of Nooched Tofu you will need:

• One block of extra-firm tofu. 
• A couple of tsp of soy sauce
• A couple of tsp of toasted sesame oil
• A tsp of dried garlic powder
• A couple of tbsp of nutritional yeast flakes

First off, we need to get the excess water out of that block of tofu, so it will absorb flavour.

Drain the liquid from the packet containing your block of tofu and turn it out onto a sheet of kitchen paper.

Fold the kitchen paper round the tofu to wrap it, then wrap it again in another layer of kitchen paper.

Then wrap it in a clean tea towel - carefully folding the towel around the block so it is evenly wrapped.

Sandwich the wrapped block between two chopping boards or dinner plates, and balance a weight (tin of beans) on top. Leave to press for at least half an hour.

Once the tofu has pressed, unwrap it from its now-damp wrappers, and cut it into bite size pieces.

Put the tofu pieces in a large bowl and sprinkle the soy sauce over it. Toss/turn the tofu pieces so they pick up the soy sauce all over.

Now sprinkle over the sesame oil and toss/turn to coat again.

Now sprinkle over the dried garlic powder and toss/turn yet again.

And finally the nooch. Sprinkle this over a spoonful or so at a time, tossing to coat between sprinklings.

Tip the coated tofu pieces into the airfryer basket, and cook for about 10 minutes at 190C, tossing every 5 minutes.

And you're done. Enjoy.

Categories: Tofu, Vegetarian, Vegan