Tofu Fresh Rolls with Peanut Sauce

A refreshing, plant based meal that’s great for any summer night. Pair with a fresh salad to take full advantage of some local seasonal produce.

Recipe

Time: 1 hour
Serves: 4 servings (2 each)

Ingredients

Baked Tofu

350g block of extra firm tofu
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp corn starch

Rice Paper Roll Filling

2 large carrots, cut into matchsticks
1 cucumber, cut into matchsticks
1 red pepper, sliced thin
6 leaves of Boston/butter lettuce
Handful of basil
8 rice paper wrappers

Peanut Sauce
1/3 cup of natural peanut butter
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp lime juice
2 glove of garlic
dash of fish sauce (omit to make it vegan)
1 tbsp of water (more as needed to thin)
1 tbsp of olive oil

Directions:

Filling Preparation
(This can all be done up to a day early, just store ingredients in fridge overnight)

1. Preheat oven to 425°C.

2. Remove tofu from packaging and press dry with cloth or paper towel to remove excess water. Slice tofu into pieces about 1 1/2 inches in length and 1/2 inch width

3. Add tofu to bowl with soy sauce and olive oil. Mix gently until combined.

4. Add cornstarch to bowl and mix until you can no longer see the cornstarch (this helps to get your tofu crunchy)

5. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or re-useable liner and place tofu on sheet so that it isn’t touching. Cook for 15 minutes then flip and cook for another 15 minutes until crispy brown.

6. While tofu is cooking, prepare vegetables and peanut sauce.

7. Wash and slice vegetables into thin, matchstick pieces. Wash basil and pat dry. Set aside.

8. In a food processor or blender, add all the ingredients for the peanut sauce. Blend until smooth. Add water as needed for a thinner consistency.

9. Once tofu is cooked until crispy, remove from oven and set aside until cool

Rice Paper Rolls

1. Soak rice paper in warm water for a few seconds (about 10), and pat dry with a lint free cloth. The rice paper should be pliable but not too sticky. This becomes easier the more you do it, you just need to get a bit of a feel.

2. Place rice paper on a cutting board. On the lower 1/3 half, add tofu, vegetables, lettuce and basil. You will want to leave about 1 inch around the filling for folding.

3. Fold the bottom of the rice paper roll over the filling, followed by the sides. Roll the paper over the filling to create the roll, very similar to folding a burrito or wrap.

4. Repeat until all the ingredients are used up, it should give you about 8 rolls

5. Serve with peanut sauce and enjoy!

– Magical Properties –

Tofu is an excellent addition to your diet. It is rich in iron, calcium and packed full of isoflavones known as phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are thought to positively contribute to your health by helping reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. Tofu is also a plant based protein that contains all 9 essential amino acids, making it an awesome proteins source.

You can also add ANY vegetables or herbs to these rolls, making it a great way to use up some produce in your fridge. Cabbage, radish, zucchini and mint would be a delightful combination.
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