Tofu Fried Rice

I usually get home from work about 30 minutes before dinner time...and I say dinner time because my boys' are usually starving and won't stop yelling at me until they get fed. All I hear is "EAT, EAT, EAT"...ah, the vocabulary of two year olds. This is a really quick meal with a little prep work the night before. I generally keep some marinated tofu in the fridge for such occasions during the week. Bonus to me is that they LOVE this meal.

Start by freezing and then defrosting some firm or extra firm tofu (this gives the tofu a chewier texture.) Drain the liquid and place tofu on a small stack of folded papertowels. Place a few more folded papertowels on top of the tofu, followed by a pot, and then a can of beans for weight. Press the tofu for about 30 to 40 minutes, or as long as it takes to get a good majority of the water out. This will help the tofu suck up the marinade. (I use Soy Vay Island Teriyaki. It has minced garlic in it) Place the pressed tofu in a plastic dish and pour marinade on top. This can sit in your fridge for a couple of days as long as you keep it tightly covered. The longer it sits, the more marinade the tofu will suck up. I generally just marinade it overnight...

(Yeah, I know there are only peas in this picture...but I had them leftover in the fridge from the night prior and didn't want them to go to waste)

TOFU FRIED RICE

• 1 block marinaded tofu, cut into 1/2 in cubes
• 2 c cooked brown rice (frozen, steamable brown rice works perfectly)
• 1 bag frozen mixed vegetables of your choice (I use the Steamables kind)
• 1 T sesame oil
  
• 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
• 2 stalks of green onions, cut up (optional)
• 2 eggs, whisked (optional)
  
• 2 T soy sauce
• 1/4 t garlic powder
• 1/4 t onion powder
• 1/8 t ginger powder

What to do:

1. If using steamable vegetables and rice, place in microwave and cook according to package directions.
2. Heat oil in a pan, add garlic and tofu. Once tofu starts to brown add rice, vegetables, and green onions, then mix well. (If using eggs, push all ingredients to side of pan, add a little more sesame oil, and add the eggs. Scramble eggs then mix into rest of ingredients) Add all spices and soy sauce, then mix again. Continue to heat on the stove for about 2 minutes just to mix the flavors, then serve.


TA DA - all done!! Wasn't that easy? Serves anywhere from 2 to 4 people, depending on serving size.