I have been making this well-loved tofu dish for years, however due to my hypothyroid issues (click HERE for more details) I have avoided soy for a while now. If it weren’t for my thyroid issues, I would include tofu, tempeh, and edamame in my diet…I don’t think there is any harm (actually there are benefits) to including unprocessed soy items in your diet rotation. Having said that, I would avoid the processed soy foods that are über plentiful in the market today.
The creator of the EZ Tofu Press ($26.99) recently contacted me and offered to send me a free sample of his product to test and review. I own the TofuXpress which retails for $39.95 now, but I paid nearly $50 for it when I purchased it…ouch!!!
I was curious to see how the two tofu presses compared. While I like the fact that the TofuXpress I already own and use is a completely self-contained unit, it takes a hours for the tofu to drain completely which is a drag and means that you absolutely have to plan ahead. The new EZ Tofu Press seriously drained completely within 7 minutes! I put the tofu in the press, prepared the rest of the ingredients for my meal, and the tofu was ready to go. Major bonus.
The EZ Tofu Press was also easy to clean…all I needed to do was rinse it off. Make sure you go to the bottom of the post and learn how you can enter to win your very own EZ Tofu Press.
The traditional way to prepare this tofu dish is to fry it in a bit of oil. I thought I would try “frying” the tofu in a dry pan (I used my ceramic pan) and I was happy with the results.
The sauce I always served this dish with is Black Bean Garlic Sauce, which is NOT gluten-free. If you would like to serve the tofu with a gluten-free sauce, SAN J has some really tasty ones (their Szechuan sauce rocks). Keep in mind that you want the sauce to be a bit overflavored, oversalty, etc. since you are serving it with absolutely plain tofu.
INGREDIENTS
block of tofu, pressed 1 Tbs. black bean garlic sauce (or sauce of your choosing) 1 tsp. fresh ginger, finely minced chilies, finely minced (optional) green onions, minced .Slice the tofu into 1/4″ thick slices. Now slice the slices into thirds (See image above).
If using black bean garlic sauce, mix the sauce, the ginger, chilies if using, and 1-2 Tbs. water (depending on your personal taste) to a bowl and mix to incorporate.
Heat your pan on HI. Place the tofu slices in the pan and dry-fry them for 2-3 minutes per side until browned. If you insist on using oil, use it sparingly.
Serve immediately topped with a drizzle of sauce and garnished with the minced green onions.
For a printable version of this recipe click here.
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GIVEAWAY *** GIVEAWAY *** GIVEAWAY
We have a winner…
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Jessica
I emailed my best friend!!
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I “like” you on FB! =) Terrific giveaway, thank you!
Subscribed to email list also! =)
Have a lovely day.
Love to subscribe to Veggie Grettie !!!
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Def emailed some of my girls about this blog !!!
Subscribed to newsletter, liked on FB and GREAT read. Just diagnosed with thyroid (hypo).
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I’m an email subscriber. I would love to have a tofu press, thanks for hosting this giveaway!
But I already ‘like’ you on Facebook and get this email… I’d really like to win that press!
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Subscribed via email. This post is quite literally making me hungry! I will have to try out the recipe asap. 🙂
I LOVE tofu.
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Fun giveaway! This press definitely looks like it would work better than my current methods.
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I like you, subcribed to you and emailed …Would love a tofu press.. never had one before,,, though my thyroid is questionable..
Just wondering why you are avoiding soy because of your hypothyroid issues. I have been taking medication for hypothyroidism for years but was never told to avoid soy. Can you let me know? Thanks.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I avoid consuming soy because it has naturally occurring compounds called Goitrogens that inhibit the function of the thyroid gland. To read more, see this post… http://veggiegrettie.com/2012/05/16/thyroid-natural-remedies-vegan-diet/
HI Gretchen!
I am a blog follower and facebook liker and would LOVE to get my hands on this Tofu Press!
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Reblogged this on I Eat Veg and commented:
One of MY favorite blogs is posting a giveaway for a tofu press. I love my TofuXPress…now I’m curious about this one. Maybe I need to do a comparison! Anyway, here’s the post if you want a recipe or want to throw your hat in the ring for the giveaway.
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I subscribe to your blog–that is how I found out about this giveaway 🙂
Courtney
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Courtney
Pingback: Giveaway: EZ Tofu Press via Veggie Grettie « Vegan Perks
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i just signed up for your emails. looking forward to making the unfried tofu for dinner tomorrow night:)
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I just want to say this is an amazing find! I have been a vegan for almost 2 years now and have been buying these expensive packages of tofu and have been looking for a cheap tofu press because I am currently out of work. The only income I have is from my own personal craft business so any help I can get I welcome it gladly!!!
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I too bought a TofuXpress for about $50.00 including s & h. It does take a lot of pre-planning, which I am not very good at. Would love to try the EZ Tofu Press! I liked you on FBI, and will sign up for your emails. Thanks!
Oh, did not follow directions.. I like you on FB ( not FBI – darn auto correct!!).
Hi again.. Signed up for your email 🙂
Hi friend! I just retread your old post about the two tofu presses, do you find one to be better than the other? Thinking of getting one and wanted to get your opinion. I find that when I manually press the tofu, it breaks apart, I like the idea of it staying intact.