Sometimes I like to relax by trying out new recipes. I know it’s weird but if I have the time to relax, then I usually have the time to try cooking something new.
I’ve been eyeing the Zesty Orange Mojo Baked Tofu recipe from the Viva Vegan! cookbook. Since I’m staying at a resort with a full kitchen, it’s an ideal time to give it a go (I don’t have to clean the oven if it makes a big mess. Not that I’m going to make a mess on purpose or anything.)
It came out great, a bit differently than the actual recipe, seeing as I totally forgot about zesting the orange. I just squeezed it for the juice and threw the rest away. I only realize this as I’m staring at the remains of the orange in the trash, thinking I was suppose to zest that first.
And I had only bought one orange specifically for the recipe. Oops. So it’s just Mojo Baked Tofu. No zesty orange. Next time I try the recipe, I’ll be sure to have all of the ingredients plus extras.
On a side note, since I was traveling, I was only able to find super-firm tofu (all the other tofu was sold out). Super-firm is like the next step up from extra-firm. It’s very firm. When they say super-firm, they mean super-firm.
Stick to extra-firm to achieve that chewy outside, creamy inside kind of baked tofu. Super-firm makes it chewy all the way through.
Zesty Orange Mojo Baked Tofu
Serves 3 to 4
Time: About 55 minutes
1 pound extra-firm tofu
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Mojo Marinade
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
Grated zest of 1 orange
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
1. Slice the tofu into eight 1/2-inch-thick slices and dab the slices dry with a paper towel or clean kitchen towel. Press the tofu if desired. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a shallow glass 9 by 12-inch baking dish, combine the olive oil and soy sauce. Lay a tofu slice in the baking dish, pressing it into the sauce mixture. Flip and press again to coat with the mixture. Bake for 20 minutes; remove from the oven but don’t turn the oven off. The tofu will be bubbling and juicy.
2. Combine all the marinade ingredients in a small bowl and stir well.
3. Flip each piece of tofu and pour the marinade over tofu; the marinade will nearly cover the top of the tofu. Bake for another 30 minutes until the tofu is firm and any remaining marinade has thickened up a little bit. Bake longer if an even chewier texture is desired. Serve the tofu hot and topped with any remaining marinade juices from the baking pan.
From the book Viva Vegan! by Terry Hope Romero. Excerpted by arrangement with Da Capo Lifelong, a member of the Perseus Books Group. Copyright © 2010. www.dacapopresscookbooks.com
Disclosure: This post contains an Amazon link, I get a few coins tossed my way if you click on the link and make a purchase of anything.
Related Post
Corn Crusted Tempeh Pot Pie From Viva Vegan!
YUUUUM! I love to have new ways of making tofu! Thanks for sharing!
I think I will fall in love with this :) So beautiful.
This recipe looks wonderful and I am going to try it this morning .Thank you.
YUM! I loved testing for Terry’s book.
I don’t eat tofu much, but this recipe does sound exceptionally wonderful. And look at those crispy, golden areas… yum!
The tofu sounds fantastic — with or without the zest — and the cookbook is sounding more and more interesting all the time.
Mm, sounds like a nice change of pace from my typical tamari marinade approach to baked tofu. I’ll have to remember this one!
Morgan – Me too!
crystal – Thanks!
Laura – I’m going to try it again soon.
Melisser – It must have been fun to test the cookbook. There’s so many great recipes in it.
jodye @ ‘scend food – The crispy, golden areas were the best parts.
Andrea – If you get a chance, browse thru the cookbook. I think you’ll like it.
Hannah – Change is good. :-)
I was just wondering what to do for dinner and I believe I actually have all of the ingredients!! This sounds wonderful!!!! :D
My sister and I made this for dinner last night….AMAZING!
I’ve been experimenting with lots of different tofu recipes lately. My boyfriend and I had bought some baked tofu from trader joe’s a while back and he LOVED it, but so far I hadn’t convinced him we could make it at home as well. This one won him over; it was so delicious! Thank you for sharing!
I found this recipe about a week ago when I was just googling for baked tofu.
I am in the process of making it for the THIRD time!
I like this tofu warm as a meal but I think it is even better cold!
Great for sandwiches and wraps but I even love it straight out of the fridge for something quick to munch on!
Thanks so much for this FANTASTIC recipe to jazz up tofu!
It’s one of my favorite tofu recipe too. I thought I was the only one to eat it straight out of the fridge. :-)