Gluten-Free smoked tofu with saffron salt
Smoked tofu with saffron salt
Smoked tofu with saffron salt.
Smoked tofu with saffron salt
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ready in: 40 min
Yields: Serves four to six people
Smoked tofu with saffron salt
- 1 or 2 tubs Organic tofu, extra firm
- 1 to 2 teaspoons saffron salt, or any salt you have on hand.
- 1/2 cup smoked wood chips, I used applewood and Jack Daniel's Bourbon soaked chips
Smoked tofu with saffron salt
- Drain your tofu and slice it just shy of 1/2 inch thick. Lay it out on a tea towel and then cover it with another dry tea towel. Add some well distributed weight on top. I use a giant cookbook and then add one of my heavy cooking bowls.
- Start your grill and aim for a steady 400 degrees. My grill would not close if I were to leave the grill grates in place. So before I start the grill I remove the grill grates. The smoker fits just fine on top of the metal flanges that direct the gas and heat in the grill. You may need to experiment with your own grill. Also when you purchase your smoker it comes with a guide and recipe book to help you configure your grill.
- Line the bottom of the smoker with aluminum foil and add the half cup of your selected wood chips. Lay the drip tray over that. You may need to move the chips around to create a somewhat flat surface for the drip tray. You may want to line your drip tray with aluminum foil also.
- You will now want to pour a very small amount of oil on a napkin and run that over the wire rack that holds the food. This will keep the food from sticking even if you are using the barbecue sauce method.
- Take the drained tofu from the tea towels and lay it on wire racks. From this point you can add either your salt or barbecue sauce. If you are using salt you only need to salt one side. If you are using the barbecue sauce method you will need to paint both sides.
- Slide the top of the smoker lid on top of the smoker to just about 1 inch shy of closed. Place the smoker in the grill with the grill grates previously removed. You then close the lid to the grill and set a timer for 5 minutes.
- Return to your grill after the 5 minutes. You will need to check two things at this point. Did your grill go back to the 400 degree mark? If not you will have to make adjustments to the temperature. Then lift the grill lid and sniff. Can you smell the wood smoke? If so, carefully slide the smoker lid completely shut and close the grill lid. Set a timer for 30 minutes. If you can't smell smoke yet, be sure the grill is at the correct temperature and give it a few more minutes. Once everything is in place, smoke and temperature, don't wander too far from the grill. You want to make sure the temperature stays steady and you don't smell anything but a very slight, pleasant wood smoke aroma.
- Once the 30 minutes are done, turn off the grill, and very carefully slide the smoker lid back to release the smoke outside before you carry the smoker in. You can just leave it on the grill to cool and remove the food.
- Plate up your tofu with your other dinner ingredients and serve with a small warmed bowl of your favorite barbecue sauce. This recipe will change your mind about tofu forever.
Smoked tofu with saffron salt
I am sometimes asked where my ideas for recipes arrive from and this one in particular came to me on a recent trip to Paris with my daughter and husband. We were fortunate to have her with us on this trip and it will go down as one of the most amazing times of all our lives. In fact, I will someday have to write a blog about my daughter losing her losing her i-phone on the Metro. This one will leave you dumfounded.
My husband and I found an amazing restaurant in Paris. We have gone back many times over the years and are always welcomed back by Stephan, the maitre'd and restauranteur for "Le Potager". I highly recommend a reservation but if you don't have one Stephan will do his best to accomodate.
On out last vist before heading home we ordered a tofu with roasted vegetable dish. It was more than delicious. The local vegetables were roasted to perfection and the tofu had a rich smokey almost bacon flavor. I had to replicate this when I get home! I think finding the stove top or grill top smoker was just the tool my kitchen was missing. I hope you enjoy this new way to eat tofu that my husband and I both love. It's also amazing for fish!
If you are planning a trip to Paris make sure you dine at the Le Potager du Marais at 24 Rue Rambuteau, 75003 Paris, Tel: 01 57 40 98 57. Even if you are not a vegetarian it is a culinary delight!
