Mattar Tofu

MATTAR TOFU

This is a very delicious, spice-ful dish that is low in calories and high in taste!  I added cauliflower to the mixture because I'm always looking for ways to add more veggies to a dish, and cauliflower and Indian food go hand-in-hand. 

Ingredients:

8 oz super firm tofu, drained and chopped into cubes
Vegetable oil for frying
4 tsp salt
2 ½ tsp turmeric
2 Tbsp oil and melted butter mixture
½ tsp cumin seeds
1 or 2 fresh chilies, seeded and minced
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb fresh or frozen peas
½ lb fresh or frozen cauliflower
2/3 cup water
6 tomatoes, chopped
1 ½ Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp garam masala

Directions:

1. Drop tofu into solution of 3 tsp salt, 2 tsp turmeric, 2 cups warm water, and let soak.

2. In a medium saucepan, heat the vegetable oil-butter mixture over medium heat.  Add cumin seeds, minced chilies, and grated ginger.  When cumin seeds are browned (30 – 45 seconds), toss in garlic, remaining ½ tsp turmeric, and a few seconds later, the peas.  Add the 2/3 cup water, the cauliflower, and the tomatoes, cover the pan, and cook peas until tender.

3. In another pan, heat vegetable oil.  Remove tofu from soaking liquid and fry in oil until lightly crispy and brown.  Add tofu to peas mixture.  Cook over medium heat for about 5 more minutes.

4. Just before serving, add generous squeeze of lemon, and season with remaining tsp of salt and the garam masala.  Yum!