Spicy Asian Grilled Tofu

It's been years since I have posted any recipes on this old blog. Recently I have been into cooking a lot of vegan food, and posting photos on Facebook. I guess most of them look pretty good, because many of my friends have been asking for the recipes. I am going to make an effort to get these vegan recipes posted here and also post any new ones I make.

This spicy Asian grilled tofu is one of the most-requested, so it is the first one I am putting up. If you make it, please let me know how you liked it. Thanks!

Spicy Asian Grilled Tofu

1/4 cup soy sauce

1-2 Tbsp sweetener (brown sugar, agave, white sugar)

1/2 Tbsp chopped ginger (or powdered if that is all you have, probably 1 1/2 tsp if dried)

1 - 2 tsp chili garlic paste, depending on how spicy you like it

1 Tbsp sesame oil

 1 Block of extra-firm tofu sliced into about 1/2 inch planks, then pressed*

Whisk the soy sauce, sweetener, ginger, chili garlic paste, and sesame oil in a pie plate or other container suitable for marinating the tofu planks.  Add the tofu planks and turn each one over a few times so that it is well covered in the marinade. Let is soak for as much time as you have, up to several hours (put it in the fridge if it's going to be more than 20 minutes or so).

Heat up a grill pan (or grill if you're cooking them outside). Make sure it's hot and WELL GREASED or these will stick. I also recommend spraying or brushing the planks themselves with a little oil to prevent sticking.

Place them on the hot, well-greased grill and cook for about 4 minutes. To get the cross-hatch grill marks turn them 1/4 turn and cook a further 4 minutes or so. Flip them to the other side, and repeat the process.

*I usually put a clean towel on a cutting board, put the planks on that, either fold over or put another towel on top, followed by another cutting board and something heavy like a few cans. Leave that sit on the counter for a while until a bunch of the water is pressed out