Tofu Parmesan

I’m not sure I buy into the idea that eating less meat is going to reverse global warming. After all, overly processed foods (fake meats) use up a lot of energy in their manufacturing process and often have to travel really far to reach their final destination. I eat a lot of meat, trying to source as much of it as I can locally (for environmental, health, and humane reasons) but I also eat a ton of vegetables. I think eating a variety of foods in *moderation* and wasting less is the overall best option for my health and planet earth. Sometimes, I just crave something different and light and when I saw the package of tofu at the grocery store ($2.00 to serve the entire family...!?!?) I thought it would be a nice change of pace.

This meal is super easy and was on the dinner table in under 20 minutes. I used extra firm tofu so it didn’t take much to squeeze out the excess water (placed between paper towel and then under a stack of dinner plates for 10 minutes) and sliced it into 4 portions. Next time I think I will try and squeeze it into 5-6 slices because the thinner slices will probably get crispier and we all agreed the crispy edges were the tastiest. A light dusting of corn starch, Italian herbs, salt and pepper and then pan fry for 5 minutes per side. Another 5 minutes under the broiler. So simple!

What you need:

1 lb of extra firm tofu

corn starch

salt and peper

Italian herbs

1 cup marinara sauce (always Rao’s in this house)

1/2 lb mozzarella cheese ( I prefer fresh but shredded would be ok)

Fresh basil and/or parsley to garnish

I mixed about 3 tbsp corn starch with 2 tsp Italian herbs (oregano, basil, parsley, rosemary mix) and 1 tsp salt/pepper. Very lightly coat each slice of tofu in the mixture on all sides. Place in a skillet (medium-high heat) with about 2 tbsp canola oil and fry 5 minutes per side or until tofu is nicely browned and crispy (the tofu doesn’t need to reach a certain temp, its all about the crispness we are trying to achieve). Do not over crowd your pan or it will slow down the cooking time. Meanwhile, place half of your marinara sauce in the bottom of a glass baking dish. When the tofu is finished frying, arrange evenly on top of your marinara. Pour the remaining marinara over the top and next add your mozzarella on the top. Place under the broiler in your oven until the cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown. Top with fresh herbs and serve.