Go on… Try something new this week
Have you tried tofu yet? For many people tofu conjures up images of tie dye, hemp wearing, tofu knitting hippies but it really shouldn't ;)

I tend to avoid supermarket tofu as the texture is never quite right and it’s not organic. Look for tofu that is not made from genetically modified soybeans; since organic soybeans cannot be genetically modified, organic tofu is a great choice.

Here’s one way I like to cook it… Perfect if you are trying to lose weight.

Tofu stir fry
Ingredients
1 tbspns of coconut oil or olive oil to cook with
3-4 tbspns Soy sauce (or tamari if wheat/gluten free)
250g of tofu (500g if you wish to make enough for a few days/meals) (plain or marinated best, avoid smoked)
Thumb sized piece of fresh ginger
4 cloves garlic
1-2 red chillies (to taste)
½ a cabbage (savoy or Chinese or kale all great options)
200g mangetout
2 red onions
2 peppers
Large bunch of fresh coriander
40g sesame seeds
Sesame oil to drizzle
½ lemon or lime

Method:
If you have time it’s best to marinate the tofu an hour or two before you cook but don't worry, sometimes if I’m in a hurry I skip this and it’s still just as good.
Marinade: Cut the tofu in chunks and marinate in soy/tamari sauce, chilli, garlic, ginger

Heat the olive oil or coconut oil, add chopped onion and stir fry for 2 minutes. (If you skip the marinade add the chilli, garlic etc. now).

Add the tofu and all the marinade. Continue to stir fry for 5 minutes. Next add the peppers and stir fry for 2 minutes. Add the chopped cabbage and mangetout and stir fry on med-high for about 4 minutes. You want the veg to retain some crunch and preserve the nutrients so try keep them al dente.

Once cooked, stir in the chopped coriander and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Squeeze in the lemon or lime, stir through. To finish sprinkle with raw sesame seeds. Add more soy/tamari sauce as required.

All done and you’ve got yourself a big portion of tasty fresh vegetables in very little time. Serve with buckwheat or brown rice noodles, brown rice or by itself for a light lunch/dinner.
Store in a large tub in the fridge and continue to eat over the next 3 days.

Tip: To avoid using too much oil and having the pan too hot, add a drop of hot water to the pan if you notice the oil drying up and this will create enough steam to fry with instead of using a lot of oil.

Stir fries are a great way to get extra vegetables into your diet and inject lots of flavour. Here are some of the benefits of these ingredients