Spicy Braised Tofu Tostadas from Minimalist Baker's Everyday Cooking

You know how parents tell their kids "I love you, but I don't like you right now." That's how I feel about cooking sometimes. Cooking! I love you, but right now I can't with you. Most of our meals are either things I can make ahead of time or recipes that take 30 minutes or less. But you know what? I think it's more challenging to develop a recipe that can be on the table in a short amount of time or that requires a minimal amount of ingredients than a recipe with eleventy-billion steps and ingredients, so I'm always appreciative of cookbooks where I can find recipes that are practical for my family.

These tostadas from Minimalist Baker's Everyday Cooking are doubly awesome in my book because 1) the tofu can be made in advance for a 5-minute weeknight meal, and 2) even if you don't make the tofu in advance, the recipe is still a 30-minute meal. And it's versatile—the tofu, inspired by Chipotle's sofritas, can be used as a taco or burrito filling, nacho topping, bowl component, or whatever else you can dream up. Yes!

I adore this cookbook because it has 101 vegan recipes and all of them are 10 ingredients or less, require 1 bowl or pot, or are only 30 minutes to prepare. So basically, thumbing through this book, I want to weep tears of joy because it's full of recipes made for people like me. People with babies who go to bed at 6pm! People who love to eat but don't have time to assemble complicated meals every night! It also demonstrates perfectly that vegan food doesn't have to be fussy or bland.

Purchase Minimalist Baker's Everyday Cooking: 101 Entirely Plant-Based, Mostly Gluten-Free, Easy and Delicious Recipes on Amazon.com

Recipe

Spicy Braised Tofu Tostadas

Reprinted from Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking by arrangement with Avery Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © 2016, Dana Shultz

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Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Diet: Vegetarian

Keyword: Spicy Braised Tofu Tostadas, tofu tostadas, vegetarian tostadas

Servings: 3 servings

Calories: 299kcal

Author: Oh My Veggies

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp 30ml grape seed oil or avocado oil
• 5 cloves garlic 3½ Tbsp or 15g, minced
• ½ white or yellow onion 55g, diced
• ½ green or red bell pepper 60g, diced
• ¼ tsp each sea salt and black pepper plus more to taste
• 10 ounces 283g extra firm tofu, patted dry and crumbled with a fork
• 1½ tsp chili powder
• 1½ tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce chopped, plus 1 tsp adobo sauce (optional)
• 1 cup 240ml vegetable broth
• ½ cup ~128g red salsa

TOSTADAS

• 6 white or yellow corn tortillas
• 1 –2 Tbsp 15–30ml grape seed oil or avocado oil (for brushing)

TOPPINGS

• Avocado or guacamole
• Salsa of choice
• Hot sauce
• Red onion diced
• Cilantro chopped

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the grape seed oil, garlic, onion, and bell pepper. Season with a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring frequently until the onion is translucent and the bell peppers are lightly browned.
• Raise the heat to high and add the crumbled tofu. Cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring frequently, to begin browning. Then add the chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder. Stir to coat.
• Add the chipotle pepper, adobo sauce (optional), broth, and salsa. Stir to combine, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 15 minutes. The longer it simmers, the more flavor the tofu will absorb. Stir occasionally.
• Prep any desired toppings at this time.
• Just before serving, preheat the oven to low broil and position the oven rack at the top of the oven.
• Brush the corn tortillas with the grape seed oil and arrange on 1 or 2 baking sheets, making sure they aren’t crowded. Broil for 2–3 minutes on each side, or until light brown and crispy. Watch closely so they do not burn. Set aside.
• To serve, top the tostadas with braised tofu and desired toppings. I love avocado, lime juice, hot sauce, cilantro, and red onion.
• Braised tofu will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, though best when fresh.

Notes

You can also enjoy the tofu in burritos, in tacos, or atop salads.

Nutrition

Serving: 2gCalories: 299kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 12gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 980mgPotassium: 497mgFiber: 6gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1009IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 113mgIron: 3mg

Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!