Grilled Tofu with Sesame Seeds
I would like to wish a Very Happy New Year to everyone who happens to read this post. I sincerely hope all your dreams come true in 2011 and, since everyone has New Year’s resolutions, I hope you’ll stick to every single of them.
Talking about the resolutions, one of mine is – like every year – to start eating healthier and lighter. Even though I was rather wise this year (oysters overdose was the only exaggeration of recent weeks…), I start being obsessed with attempts to change some of my meal habits. Since it’s still cold, the most difficult part of the day is the morning, since my organism cries for omelets, scrambled eggs and sandwiches. This is the moment miso soup (click here to see the recipe) becomes one of the regular guests on my table, but even though I add different ingredients every day it might become boring.
Since practically all the nutritionists seem to agree the high-protein and low-carb breakfast is the healthiest option, I try to find the recipes or make up the dishes entering this category and not calling for huge amounts of bread. This is very difficult, especially given the fact I don’t become hungry until 10 a.m. when one hard boiled egg without bread wouldn’t simply be enough. Trying to follow the above nutritional advice and listening to my late morning needs I realised grilled firm tofu with sesame seeds lives up to all my expectations. It is packed with (good) protein, it is low- fat and low-carb, it calms the hunger for several hours and most of all it is delicious!
I have made up this recipe for breakfast, but it is also a great between-the-meals snack, a first course or even a main course if you combine it with a salad or some other vegetables. The vinegar adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the grilled tofu, makes the dish lively and more complex. I said “grilled”, but I actually simply fry the tofu in a tiny amount of oil. It looks and tastes almost like grilled.
Preparation: 10 minutes
Ingredients (serves one hungry late breakfaster):
150 g firm tofu cut into cubes
1 teaspoon oil
1 tablespoon light soy sauce (the Japanese is the best here)
1 tablespoon rice vinegar (or less)
1 tablespoon white sesame seeds (maybe grilled or not, see below)
Put the tofu cubes on paper towels and dry them well.
Heat the oil in a non-stick pan.
Fry the tofu until light golden at least on two sides.
If your sesame seeds are not grilled, add them to the tofu when turning the cubes to the other side. Thus it’ll become slightly golden.
Transfer it into a small plate or bowl.
Combine the vinegar with the soy sauce and pour over the tofu.
Sprinkle with grilled sesame seeds (if you haven’t grilled them with the tofu) and enjoy this yummy and completely guilt-free meal!
