June 1, 2023

FIVE SPICE TOFU TACO

Name: FIVE SPICE TOFU TACO
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 12 corn tortillas (can substitute any small tortilla); 1 avocado; 2 sprigs of green onion; 1 cup kimchi (optional, but delicious ); 1 block of tofu; 1/4 onion; 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (can substitute Marsala wine); 3 tbsp ketchup; 2 1/2 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tsp chili oil; 1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil; 1 tsp rice vinegar; 1/4 tsp five spice; 1/2 tbsp nori flakes; 2 red peppers; 1/4 red onion; 1/2 bundle of Napa cabbage; 1 green onion; 1/4 cup cilantro; 1 clove of garlic, grated; 1/4 inch fresh ginger, grated; 2 tbsp vegan mayo; 2 tbsp rice vinegar; 2 tsp sriracha; 2 tsp toasted sesame oil; 2 tsp sugar

Vegan taco stuffed with spicy five spice tofu crumble, Asian red pepper slaw, fresh sliced avocado, and green onion.

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Vegan taco stuffed with spicy five spice tofu crumble, Asian red pepper slaw, fresh sliced avocado, green onion.

It is rare that a week will pass without some type of taco hitting the dinner table. Some weeks, especially during those hot summer months, tacos make their appearance on almost a daily basis in our household. And for good reason! Tacos are, in my opinion, one of the most perfect foods. They are simple to make, cheap, and can be loaded with nutrients if you play your cards right. Most importantly they are incredibly versatile so I never get sick of them and, oh yeah, tacos are absolutely delicious! This five spice tofu taco will not disappoint.

Made with a spicy tofu crumble, seasoned with five spice seasoning, fresh slices of avocado, and an Asian red pepper slaw, this taco is a delicious fusion of flavors. This dish is also a great source of protein and nutrients, so it’s a taco dinner you can feel good about.

SPICY FIVE SPICE TOFU CRUMBLE

First of all, tofu is a wonderful staple in anyone’s kitchen. It’s light, a great source of protein, and an excellent blank canvas that can take on an abundance of flavor. Amongst many benefits, tofu can help protect against cancer, can help maintain bone health, and can aid in weightloss, to name a few. Tofu has been consumed for over 2,000 years for a reason!

Along with its nutritional benefits, I love tofu because it is an excellent vehicle for flavor and can really add substance to any dish. To allow tofu to absorb more flavor, you don’t usually want to cook it right out of the package. You want to press your tofu first.

tofu crumble for Vegan taco stuffed with spicy five spice tofu crumble, Asian red pepper slaw, fresh sliced avocado, green onion.

PRESS YOUR TOFU

You can heat up and eat tofu right out of the container. But pressing it is highly recommended.

By pressing the tofu, a lot of the extra liquid is released. This improves the texture by making it firmer. It also allows the tofu to have room to absorb the flavors it’s being cooked or marinated in. Plus it browns and crisps more easily when pressed.

You can press your tofu by placing a heavy object on top of it, such as an iron skillet. But if you consume tofu frequently I recommend buying a tofu press. They are cheap, simple and get the job done effectively.

You should press your tofu for a minimum of 10 minutes. But 30-60 minutes is ideal.

pressed tofu for Vegan taco stuffed with spicy five spice tofu crumble, Asian red pepper slaw, fresh sliced avocado, green onion.

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MAKING THE TOFU CRUMBLE

For this Five Spice Tofu Taco, the tofu is not only pressed, it’s also shredded. After pressing the tofu, using a large grater, shred your tofu into small pieces. This makes tofu an excellent size and consistency for stuffing tacos. These small pieces of tofu also crisp up nicely when cooked in a bit of oil and are amazing at taking on flavor.

tofu for Vegan taco stuffed with spicy five spice tofu crumble, Asian red pepper slaw, fresh sliced avocado, green onion.

FLAVORING THE TOFU

Once the tofu has been pressed and shredded, it’s flavor time! To give this tofu crumble its Asian-inspired flavor, I combined soy sauce, for that salty, umami kick, ketchup, for a touch of sweet and tangy, and toasted sesame oil. I also added nori flakes, which bring a bit of an ocean flavor to the table. Rice Vinegar, chili oil, and Chinese cooking wine balance out the flavor. And of course, five spice! Chinese five spice is a wonderful addition to any spice cabinet. It’s made up of a combo of Chinese cinnamon, fennel seed, star anise, and cloves. The fifth spice of Five Spice seems to rotate between ginger, white pepper, and Sichuan pepper corns. The combo of these spices is delicious, warm, and can really help round out a dish.

ASIAN RED PEPPER SLAW

A raw veggie slaw is one of the best things to add to tacos. This addition bulks up a taco, adds nutrients, and can really make it super refreshing! Cabbage is often a usual suspect for a slaw, but I wanted to mix things up, so I added red pepper. Like cabbage, red pepper has a nice crisp crunch to it, making it an excellent candidate for slaw. Ginger, green onion, red onion, and garlic were also invited to the party to bring more complexity to the dish. And the flavor was completed with as spicy mayo sauce.

Don’t like spice? Go easy on the sriracha or leave it out completely.

This slaw was made to go on the tacos, but it can also stand on its own and makes an excellent side dish.

Asian red pepper slaw for Vegan taco stuffed with spicy five spice tofu crumble, Asian red pepper slaw, fresh sliced avocado, green onion.

SOAK YOUR RED ONION

A trick to taking the sharp bite out of red onion is to soak it in cold water for a couple of minutes. This simple step makes raw onion much more palatable, so don’t skip it!