A twist on a Christmas classic.
Christmas dishes usually consist of a combination of sweet, savoury and aromatic flavours. This dish consists of all the above; with extra firm tofu smoked and marinated in garlic and olive oil, then coated and baked in a delicious orange marmalade glaze.
This dish is sure to be a winner for any Christmas festivity. Served as a main or side dish, this beautiful glazed tofu can be served with quinoa sausage stuffing, a salad or even served in a sandwich with a spread of pepper jelly and cashew cheese. Hops and 'ham' anyone?
Yield approximately 8-12 servings
Ingredients
4 Packs/ Blocks Extra Firm Tofu- I used https://www.house-foods.com/
For The Marinade
8 Garlic Cloves
1 Cup Olive Oil
2 tsp Liquid Smoke
For The Orange Glaze
8 1/2 oz. Orange Marmalade- I used http://www.mackays.com/our-range/marmalades/seville-orange-marmalade/
4-6 Garlic Cloves
1/2 Cup Spicy Brown Mustard
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 of an Orange, Juiced
Method
Preparing The Tofu
Place the tofu on a cutting board and slice into slabs of approximately 1/2 inch thick.
Lay a kitchen towel on a flat surface or on a cutting board with bounty paper towels on top. Then place your slabs of tofu in single rows on half of the paper towels, then fold the other half of your towel and paper towel over the slabs of tofu.
Now, using your hands, press firmly on each piece of tofu to remove the excess liquid. Note: Make sure not to press too hard so that the tofu gets smashed.
Repeat this process until all the slices of tofu are pressed.
The Smoked Tofu Marinade
Blend all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender until the garlic is finely minced.
Coat the bottom of a large, deep baking dish with marinade then place the tofu in single rows, covering the marinade.
Pour the remainder of the marinade over the tofu and spread to evenly coat the tofu.
Cover the dish and allow it to marinate overnight.
When the tofu is finished marinating, preheat your oven to 350ºF, remove the cover from the tofu and pop in the oven.
Bake for 10 minutes on each side. Remove from the oven and then remove the excess marinade by tilting the dish and pouring the excess liquid into a glass or jar. You can reserve this marinade for cooking and flavouring other dishes.
Now, raise your oven temperature to 375ºF for when you're ready to bake the glazed tofu.
Making The Orange Glaze
Add all the ingredients to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
Add the glaze to a pot then place on a medium low heat. Cook for 10 minutes, allowing the glaze to bubble while stirring or whisking every few minutes. This helps to enhance the flavours of the glaze before adding to your tofu.
When the glaze has finished simmering, pour approximately 3/4 of it over the pre-cooked tofu and coat both sides of the tofu well with the orange glaze. You can reserve the remainder of glaze for when serving.
Return to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes on each side until sticky and golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.
Serving suggestions: This dish can be enjoyed alone, or served with my quinoa sausage stuffing, fresh bread and Christmas salad. It's also delicious in sandwiches with a spread of pepper jelly and cashew cheese.
Note: You can freeze glazed tofu by cooling completely and placing in an airtight container. It can be kept frozen for up to 2 months.
Photo credit: Ariann Mieka Photography @mynorthsea
Table Decor: @dreamuptt