Baked Tofu

Tofu is made of soy beans. It is very common for vegetarians to opt for tofu instead of meat as tofu contains enough protein for our daily diet. I personally love tofu very much because it is easy to cook compared to meat. However, tofu can taste very bland. In order to spice things up, Try to use more flavour enhancing ingredients and you'll be amazed with the result.

• 2 tablespoons dark sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons tamari soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice wine or 1 tablespoon sake or 1 tablespoon dry sherry
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tablespoons finely minced onions
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh gingerroot
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1/2 teaspoon hot chili paste

Directions:

1. For best results, tofu should be "pressed" in order to remove excess liquid and absorb the flavors of the marinade.
2. Press tofu block between two plates, weighted down with a cast iron pan, large bowl of water, or heavy cans, for about 30 minutes.
3. Halfway through, you may dump the plate of water and flip the tofu block.
4. To make marinade, simply whisk together the ingredients in a bowl.
5. After tofu is pressed, cut the block into small cubes or triangles.
6. Place pieces of tofu into baking dish, and cover with the marinade.
7. The tofu can sit overnight in the marinade, or can be prepared right away.
8. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
9. Bake tofu about 35-45 minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed.
10. Tofu can be eaten by itself, or added to stir-frys, salads, soups or sandwiches.