Tofu in the spotlight in a chili (sin carne)!
2025-03-14
This year, it's a first for the Solidarity Kitchens - Next Generation program, as the recipe will be vegetarian! For this 22nd edition, we wanted to make the recipe more inclusive, suitable for all diets and respectful of our environment by using a plant-based, local alternative.
It's a recipe we're all familiar with: chili, but with a lesser-known ingredient that will be in the spotlight to sublimate this delicious meal: tofu!
So why did we choose this ingredient for our recipe? Let us tell you the story...
Tofu, a versatile food
At first glance, this food might make some people hesitate. But with its soft, slightly spongy texture and rather neutral taste, it's up to the person cooking it to give it another chance to be the star of the dish! Sliced, chopped, broken up into chunks or cubes, marinated, grilled or in soup, tofu becomes an interesting option to add variety to our meals.
From its manufacture…
Tofu is made from soybeans. To make it, soybeans must be soaked, ground, boiled and then passed through a sieve to collect the whitish liquid. A coagulating agent is added to the soy “milk” to solidify the liquid, much as when making cheese. The whole thing is then compressed into tofu blocks.
To our kitchens…
To enjoy it, you need to give it the flavour you want! Want to test its versatility? Here are some suggestions on how to prepare it:
- Grind finely or coarsely to add to burrito fillings, bolognese sauce or chili! ;) The tofu will quickly marinate in the recipe and take on all the flavour.
- Use your fingers to break it into pieces and add it to a meal bowl. Once sautéed with cornstarch and seasonings, the irregular shapes of the pieces will add crunch. Add a sauce for even more flavour!
- Cut into cubes to add to an already tasty soup.
- Coat with sesame seeds, toasted nuts, Panko breadcrumbs or mixed seasonings for extra crunch and crispiness.
- Slice thinly and marinate for a few hours before pan-frying over medium-high heat. The slices will be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, perfect for a sandwich.
- Incorporate it into smoothies, soups, creamy sauces, creams and mousses if you want to tame silky tofu.
Per 100 g serving, tofu sells for around $1.10 and contains (for firmer tofus) 15-17 g of protein. This makes tofu food that fully deserves its place on a balanced plate, and at the heart of the next recipe you feel like trying!
In addition to being the star of this year's recipe, our tofu is also highlighting the region of Québec! In fact, Soyxpert, a Quebec soy producer and processor, is offering us their Soykei Tofu , which will be cooked in each participating school.