Blackened Tofu Slabs with Succotash Salsa
Salsa:
- 5 cups water
- 1⁄2 cup fresh baby lima beans, rinsed (use frozen if fresh are unavailable)
- 1 ear sweet corn, kernels scraped
- 1 medium tomato, cored, seeded, and diced
- 3 tablespoons minced red onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped finely
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, minced
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1⁄4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 pounds extra-firm tofu (2 large cakes), frozen, thawed, pressed, patted dry, and (each cake) cut into 3 even, widthwise slices (sheets)
Instructions:
You can also slice the slabs into small pieces and toss them in lettuce salads.
For the salsa:
- In a medium-size saucepan, combine the beans with the water. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, partially cover, and simmer for about 7 minutes, or until the beans are slightly tender. Add the corn and cook for 1 minute more. Drain.
- Plunge the beans and corn into ice water to stop the cooking and set their color. Drain.
- In a medium-size bowl, combine the lima beans, corn kernels, tomato, onion, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, lemon juice, and salt and mix well. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, cumin, coriander, salt, black pepper, and white pepper and mix well to combine. Transfer to a large plate.
- Brush each side of the tofu sheets with olive oil, dredge with the blackened seasonings, and transfer to a plate. Warm a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tofu to the pan and cook, without disturbing, until starting to crisp on the bottom, about 21⁄ 2 minutes. With a spatula, gently turn the sheets over and fry until the other side is starting to crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes. Serve the salsa atop the tofu sheets with quinoa on the side.