Tofu is, at best (a word difficult to use with tofu) a vector for sauces and flavors. Just as, I am told, escargot is snails used as a vector for butter and garlic.

On the other hand, jellied cardboard could be used to much the same end.

Ah-hah! Yet another person who made the same mistake as I. May I inquire what type of tofu, and how it was prepared?

The first time I had tofu I had the "soft" type, and it remained soft, and it tasted like... Well. Let's say "Yuck".

The next time I had tofu (some time later) it was "firm", and it was pan-fried with some oil and soy sauce to the point of being seared. Not only was the texture completely different, but it tasted GOOD. And when it cooled down, it tasted like a combination of cold fried chicken and bacon.

The trick is to add lots of flavor, and to choose a type of tofu that works with the meal you're preparing. Soft tofu is great for breaking up into tiny little chunks, mixing in some tomato and basil--it comes out tasting like a cheese sauce. Wonderful texture, wonderful flavor. If you want to use "firm" or "extra firm" tofu, prepare it like chicken or even steak (just don't cook as long!) Tofu's also really good on the grill with some BBQ sauce.

The trick is to slice it thinly, give it enough flavor to mask the bland tofu-like taste, and for god's sake, WASH it under cold water before you cook it in any way. The water it comes in, if you don't wash it out, leaves it with a bitter yucky taste.

Oo. And "tofu pudding" is fabulous. Blend some "soft" tofu with vanilla and sweetener, and maybe a touch of almond, and it's great. (If prepared right. If prepared wrong, it's one of the most disgusting things you could possibly taste.)

-Sara

Jodi's gonna get you!

Thanks for the belly laugh. I still a Tofu virgin.. I think I'll keep it like that.

Eat me!!!

xoxo,
tofuju

P.S. That's fine. If you ever visit NYC, you can eat at Olive Garden with the poorly dressed LOSERS and I'll be in a swanky tofu palace dining with the beautiful people.

She'll get over it, Tess. I recall Jodi's sheer horror when she learned that I'm allergic to soy. But look how she loves me still!

To hell with tofu. Eat cheese! (And don't forget the red wine.)

Try tofu in miso soup. It's delicious that way. I don't like tofu by itself either. It's like eating a loogie.

Eat beef! God invented beef for two reasons: steak and Ponderosa Steak Houses.

Hmm! I think I'll have a side tonighht!

Tess, how do you ever expect to look as good as I do if you don't eat tofu? Come on.

I eat tofu right out of the packet. Yes. You can keep your fake eggplant parmagiana!

:-*

Ponderosa = Olive Garden of the steak world.

You beefy types. NO taste at all.

Hehe who says someone has to join sides? I'll eat anywhere that serves anything edible (including Ponderosa, Outback, and queer healthfood places.) But then again, I'm a typical New York food-whore.

If you're ever in NYC, though, for God's sake, don't go to the Olive Garden. There are plenty of good Italian restaurants that don't serve tofu. :p So ignore Jodi. (Although I'd probably end up wanting to go Jodi's way. Good Health Restaurant up in the 80's has Seitan Curried Stew to die for. And the tofu cheesecake? HEAVEN.)

Peach-mango tofu dessert is not bad. I also use the extra firm tofu in stir-fries: Marinate it for awhile in soy sauce, then cook it at a high heat in the wok. That and lots of vegetables and you might not miss the meat. But you're right - it is a weird texture.

I would not give up on that line of thinking all together quite yet, however. You have to understand how much I love meat. Hamburgers, steaks, hot dogs, I love it all. And medium rare, to boot, so it is nice and bloody juicy.

But I do have to say there is a joint around here that serves vegan hot dogs. I get mine with (vegan) chili and ketchup. They are $2.00 each and damn good. They do not taste like hot dogs, but when I am in the mood for a vegan hot dog, I really enjoy having one.

To hell with tofu, but maybe there is something else more to your liking out there.

Or not, say "fuck it" and strap a bib on because you are on your way to meat-eat town!

Just keep on eatin' spaghetti, my friend. With mushrooms. It'll all be okay.

Sara, the Olive Garden thing is a joke between me and Tess, so ... yeah. That's all.

Sara,

But just imagine what I could tell all my friends here in Kansas... "I ate at Olive Garden in New York City!!" ;)

Yes, Jodi likes to tease me about my love of Olive Garden, but when you live in Kansas, the choices are rather... limited.

Nancy, I had no idea you were such a tofu guru!

David, even though I despise tofu, I'll not be succumbing to red meat to fill the void. I'm a conscientious objector of the beef industry and their treatment of animals. :(

Kelly, in fact I had spaghetti tonight... with mushrooms. :) My favorite meal.

If you'r ever in philadelphia check out Singapore Vegetarian down in China Town... Everything there is made out of tofu, and it's awesome. Trust me, if you dont change your mind about Tofu after eating there, yer a damn commie. Get there before the superbowl, it might be gone in the riots after we win in three weeks.

Sigh. I will never understand most Americans' really messed up view of tofu. Because you're not the only one, Tess. I'm Japanese, so I grew up with the stuff. I probably like a lot of things which those of you who probably grew up on tuna cassaroles/meatloaf/non-asian food would be appalled by. However, I had tofu cooked/or not cooked the *right* way, and I didn't eat it because it was "good for me" or because I was a vegetarian trying to substitute it for something it was never meant to truly substitute for (meat); I ate it because I genuinely enjoy tofu.

Tofu was not made to torture people like you, Tess. It was introduced to this country as a "health food nut" craze that unfortunately, American companies got a hold of and fucked it up completely (to make some money). For example... if you never had a hamburger and you ate a hamburger at McDonalds, you'd probably spit it out, wonder why anyone could possibly eat this swill, and write a rant on your web page. ;) However, if you had it prepared properly, you might enjoy it more. The "western" and Japanese palates are completely different (just watch the Iron Chef competitions in France, for instance). To enjoy it, your palate must also be used to soy/miso type products.

This would probably gross you out, but I enjoy cold firm tofu with soy sauce, dried fish flakes and chopped green onions. I also enjoy the soft kind in a hot stir fry with beef, soy sauce base, green onions, and spinach (my grandma's specialty) over hot rice. It's especially best paired with some type of miso. Ah, beauty. :)

I was not suggesting you take up eating red meat or changing your eating habits at all, just that there are other healthy, nature and animal friendly alternatives to tofu that you might enjoy trying. Like those tasty vegan hot dogs that contain no meat products at all.

I don't think this tofu was prepared right... at all. It was really thick and gushy. Maybe had it been firmer and not so... deathly pale and "raw" looking... maybe.

Well, I'm part Chinese and was raised in Hawai'i, so tofu was on the table all the time. I really like it. Perhaps it's an acquired taste? I love it the way Blue said, cold with soy sauce, but I add some grated ginger. Deep fried and stuffed with ground pork, garlic, green onions and spices and served with gravy on rice is my favorite, though. I think you probably got some badly prepared tofu as it can taste really, really good if prepared properly.
Peas and lima beans on the other hand are inedible no matter how they're prepared. :)

Oh, wonderful! Grated ginger! I will definitely try that sometime. I agree with the lima beans, but steamed peas (not mushy) with copious amounts of butter, S&P and a little vidalia onion and some sweet carrots are lovely as well. :)

Is this the recipe section? If so, here's mine...

1. open trash can
2. throw in tofu
3. close trash can

Oo. That reminds me- It's great cut into reaaaaaaly tiny pieces and sprinkled over the top of a salad, with adequate salad dressing. (Get the "soft" type.) It seriously tastes like fresh Mozzarella cheese.

Oh, and the hamburger thing. *GAH* I was a vegetarian for 9 years, and then started eating meat again. The first hamburger I had was a McDonalds hamburger, and I nearly screamed. I didn't eat another hamburger for a year, then finally I caved and had a bite of my SO's hamburger at this local joint (Jackson Hole) that makes unbelievable burgers of every kind. Only then could I take the hamburger seriously again. McDonalds is a pox on the earth. :p (Although, I'm now able to enjoy their burgers for what they are. An occasional fun "diversion".

Sorry about the whole posting recipes tangent. But seriously, properly prepared anything (not just tofu) should look visually appealing (not thick, gushy and deathly pale) as well.

I once worked for a place that did a lot of vegetarian meals, therefore, I had to work with tofu. Now, I wouldn't go out of my way yo get some, but it can be tasty.

However, my husband will not touch the stuff. He tried it once...I made these tofu-kebabs that were marinated and grilled. I thought they were yummie, but he couldn't stand them. I think that was the only dish I ever made that he wouldn't eat!

You see, Tess? This is what I love about the BLOGGING community. It invites -- indeed, ENCOURAGES! -- the discussion of what really matters in life.

Politics? Boring.
"Pundit" crap? Please.
Your baby's teething or your breastfeeding? Go away.

Tofu? Now you're talkin'! And all of blogland is abuzz!

Hmmm,

Personally I dig tofu quite a bit and I agree with Blue's first post. Sounds like you just had someone who doesn't know how to cook it prepare some for you. Go to a Japanese or Chinese restaurant (and I mean a REAL one, not the take-out Americanized crap) and have at their tofu dishes. Quite heavenly.

As for J's comment about Ponderosa... I'd tend to think Ponderosa is the McDonald's of the steak world... Horrible, horrible stuff.