How to Make Ground Beefless

This is one of my favorite vegetarian staples and has fooled more than a few diehard meat eaters. Most people think my chili is made with turkey, the supposed healthier ground flesh. The process of freezing the tofu and then thawing it later separates the water out of the soft curd to make a more spongy meat-like consistency. And some color and spices and you can add this to any dish that ground meat would go into like tacos, chili, sauces, gravies etc. (See how to go green, how to end world hunger, how to be a vegetarian)

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1-Pound Tofu (frozen and thawed)
• Kitchen Bouquet (in the gravy section of grocery store)
• 1-Large Yellow or White Onion
• ¼ Cup Canola Oil

1. Freeze 1-Pound organic firm tofu. Keep in package.

2. Thaw out in package.

3. Open and squeeze water out of tofu, which should be like a sponge.

4. In a large mixing bowl, break the tofu into smaller pieces.

5. Add a few tablespoons of Kitchen Bouquet for color. Squeeze this into the tofu, mixing and squeezing.

6. Add 1-diced onion and mix.

7. Pour Canola oil into a large fry skillet. When very hot, pour tofu mixture into pan. Leave this layer in the pan to brown for a moment, and then flip to the other side. Continue to let the tofu brown in this fashion until desired consistency and color.

8. Add whatever seasoning you like at this time like taco seasoning, (use only half a packet meant for 1-pound ground beef; tofu absorbs more flavor) add sloppy-Joe sauce or barbeque sauce for “Barbequed Beefless”, add spaghetti sauce anything you’d like. I make great tamales with this mixture as well.

9. Be creative, enjoy and share with your friends. Organic tofu is reported to reduce cholesterol and is a fun and great source of protein (something we humans actually need very little of, less than 2% for adults.)

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that humans need very little protein in our diets, which is easily absorbed from the variety of fruits and vegetables we eat. Too much protein of any kind is not a healthy choice. In rare occasions people actually develop allergic reactions after consuming too much soy products for extended periods of time. I eat soy products maybe ten meals per month. More is fine, but everyday is probably too much.

[bethany1202]

on 7/29/2009 I almost always freeze my tofu. Great ideas for more uses!