Panang Tofu Curry Recipe (Don't Fear the Tofu!)

Don't be afraid of the tofu!  For another of Becky's Cooking Lessons, this recipe is creamy, spicy, and delicious...
If you've never eaten tofu, it doesn't really taste like anything.  It tends to take on the flavor of what it's in.  If you eat it all by itself, it tastes a little yeasty.  It's fermented soybeans after all.  The texture is like a soft cheese, and a little spongy.

Don't let that scare you! And don't think that if you eat it you'll turn into a hippie.  Tofu is an excellent source of protein and soy which supposedly has lots of health benefits.  I find my tofu in the produce section of the grocery store.

A food that takes on the flavor of what it's in opens up the realm of possibilities in cooking.

If you're still afraid of the tofu, you can absolutely substitute chicken.

Ingredients

1 T olive oil

¼ cup finely chopped onions

½ cup chopped mushrooms 

1 to ½ chopped Serrano pepper

2 T crunchy peanut butter
1 tsp turmeric
½ tsp ground cumin
1 tsp grated ginger
1 garlic clove, minced

1 can coconut milk
lime zest
juice from 1 lime

1-14-ounce package firm tofu, drained, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 sliced carrot

¼ head cabbage chopped into 2” chunks

1 ½ tsp salt

Chopped cilantro for garnish

Preparation

1. Heat oil in 3 quart pot over medium heat
2. Sauté onions, mushrooms, and Serrano
3. Cook until onions are tender, about 6 minutes
4. Add peanut butter, turmeric, cumin, ginger, and garlic
5. Stir until fragrant, ~30 seconds 
6. Stir in:

• coconut milk
• lime zest and juice
• tofu
• carrots
• cabbage
7. Add water (up to ½ cup) if too thick
8. Lower heat to medium-low and simmer 20 minutes,  and occasionally stir gently
9. Season to taste with salt
10. Serve with jasmine or basmati rice
11. Garnish with cilantro

If you're going low carb, you can even eat this dish, without the rice, as a soup with a little more water added.  Add or remove whatever vegetables you like such as cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, etc.  Just remember to adjust the salt accordingly.

Yum, enjoy!    

Of course it's 5 buttons up!