Saturday, July 21, 2012

2630. GRILLED TOFU, BACON and AVOCADO SANDWICHES

serves four 


14 to 16 oz. block firm or extra-firm tofu 
2 inches unpeeled fresh ginger 
2 teaspoons sugar 
2 pinches pepper 
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce 
1 tablespoon dark (black) soy sauce 
3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil 
About 1 tablespoons canola oil 
4 ciabatta rolls, split horizontally, or 4 thick slices ciabatta loaf (about 3 1/2 in. wide), with most of insides of bread scooped out 
2 zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/4-in.-thick slices 
About 3 tablespoons mayonnaise  
About 4 teaspoons Sriracha chili sauce
12 to 14 cilantro sprigs, roughly chopped 
4 slices cooked bacon, halved crosswise
1 avocado, sliced

Cut 4 lengthwise slices from block of tofu, each about 1/2 in. thick. Transfer to a 9-in. square baking pan. Grate ginger with a Microplane, then press solids through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl to get juice. Measure 2 tsp. ginger juice into another bowl. Whisk in sugar, pepper, both kinds of soy sauce, sesame oil, and 1 tbsp. canola oil, then pour over tofu. Turn tofu to coat and set aside, uncovered, 1 to 2 hours, turning halfway through. Brush a cast-iron grill pan lightly with more canola oil and heat over medium-high heat until pan is hot enough to evaporate a bead of water. Sear tofu, 2 pieces at a time (reserving marinade), until grill marks appear and tofu releases from pan easily, 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Toast rolls or bread, cut sides up, in a 300° oven until crisp, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, toss zucchini in leftover tofu marinade and grill until tender and browned, about 4 minutes per side. Save remaining marinade. Spread about 1 tsp. mayonnaise on each half of roll, then drizzle about 1/2 tsp. of reserved marinade and 1/2 tsp. Sriracha on each. Sprinkle half of cilantro on bottom roll halves. Add tofu, bacon, zucchini, and avocado. Top with remaining cilantro and tops of rolls.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Andrea Nguyen, , March 2012