Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Popotte -Santé Club: Great Tofu recipes


Last week, we had our monthly Popotte-Santé Club get-together to share various interesting tofu recipes. To everyone's enjoyment, our popotte-santé's club is taking a new direction that is a feast to everyone's eyes and taste buds. When we first started this club, we weren't too sure on how we would run this concept. But now, for the first time, everyone brought something to taste and to savour. It was like a big family gathering where we would all be sharing our dishes, eating and talking about food! You can call it a business Pot-Luck! I don't think anyone had any objection to this new approach of sharing healthy recipes and cooking tips.

It was hard to get back to work after such a fancy feast. The best part is that we are colleagues who hardly know one another but are getting to get well acquainted over lunch during our Popotte-Santé sessions. Food has always been a good ice-breaker.

So as not to tease you any further, you can try these marvelous recipes that are incredibly easy to execute.

I'm really looking forward to our next Popotte-Santé get-together. Any ideas on our next topic of discussion?

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Tofu spread from Quynh(first picture)
Preparation time : 15 minutes
Recipe “au pif”:
300g firm tofu (plain)
3 tbsp soya sauce
3 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp dijon mustard
2 tbsp plain yogurt
1 tsp ground cajun spices
Handful of finely minced chives

Drain tofu and squeeze the water out with your hands. Pat dry with a paper towel and grind in blender.

Mix all ingredients in a salad bowl until well incorporate and you reach a smooth texture.

Serves 6-8 people.

Spread over toasts, crackers or in sandwiches.
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Warm Tomatoes and Tofu platter from Jean-Pierre
Preparation time: 20 minutes, Cooking time: 30 minutes
Recipe "au pif":12 nice ripe tomatoes, thinly sliced
200 g firm plain tofu, thinly sliced
14 olives, pitted and finely chopped
2 tbps dried Herbes de Provence
8 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt, pepper to taste

Preheat oven at 350F

In a baking dish, place the tomatoe and tofu slices alternatively to make a layer. Repeat until you run out of tomatoes and tofu.

Sprinkle the Herbes de Provence spices and chopped olives.

Drizzle evenly the olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Bake for about 30 minutes in the oven.

Serve warm.

Serves 4 people.

This dish can also be a wonderful side dish or appetizer.
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Tofu and berries smoothie from Pierre
Preparation time: 10 minutes

Recipe "au pif":
1 1/2 cups soft silk tofu
1 cup orange or pineapple juice
3 small bananas, sliced
1 cup fresh strawberries (or frozen)
1 tsp honey
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup sugar (optional)

Add all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Serves 4 people for a good breakfast or 6 people for a refreshing and nutritious dessert!
I usually use soy milk to make my smoothies, but I noticed that substituting the soy milk with silky and smooth tofu makes a difference in the texture of the smoothie. After a few minutes the berries don't rise as it would normally do when using soy milk or any other liquid.

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Decadent Tofu and Chocolate Pie from Linda
Preparation time: 15 minutes, No baking!
Recipe "au pif":1 (about 450g)large block of soft and silky tofu (Nori-Nu)
150 g dark chocolate (60% cacao content)
pre-prepared graham cookie pie crust, or make your own by using about 1 1/2 cup graham crackers grinded in food processor)
1 tbsp maple syrup (optional)

Using a food processor, mix the tofu (with maple syrup) until smooth.

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the micro-wave at medium for 2-3 minutes, until the chocolate is completely melted. Mix well until smooth.

Add the melted chocolate to the smooth tofu mix in the food processor. Mix until well incorporated.

Transfer the tofu chocolate mix into a pre-made graham cracker pie crust or simply in small bowls to make small pudding servings.

Chill in the fridge for about 2 hours.

Serve cold for a decadent and rich, yet so healthy, dessert.

Serves 6-8 people.

Share and enjoy!

Last and not least, this dessert created silence around the table as we devoured it. It's hard to believe that this decadent and creamy chocolate pie has no eggs and no cream!

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