Tofu Burgers with Caramelized Onion and Peanut Sauce

Thumb_tofuburger

(from Pubsone’s recipe box)

Categories: Main Course

Ingredients

  • 1 block extra firm tofu (14 ounces), drained and cut into 4 thick slabs
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup light coconut milk
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil, divided
  • 2 medium-large onions, halved and thin sliced
  • 4 good-quality onion rolls
  • 1/2 teaspoon Chinese 5 spice powder
  • Salt and ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • Sriracha sauce
  • toppings: shredded cabbage
  • grated carrot
  • lime

Directions

  1. Wrap tofu in paper toweling or a clean tea towel and place on a plate. Place a second plate on top and weight to drain additional liquid, about 10 minutes.

  2. Mix peanut butter, coconut milk, soy sauce, sesame oil, and ginger in a small bowl; set aside.

  3. Meanwhile heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until light golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook until onions are rich golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes longer. Transfer to plate and set aside. Return skillet to stove, add remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, and reduce heat to medium.

  4. While onions cook, warm the buns in a 300 degree oven and dust drained tofu slices on both sides with Chinese 5 spice, season with salt and pepper, and dredge in panko. Add tofu to hot skillet and cook, turning only once, until golden brown on both sides, about 5 minute total.

  5. Place a portion of the onions on each bun bottom. Top with a tofu slice and a drizzle of peanut sauce. Serve with slaw (see note below) and extra peanut sauce and sriracha passed separately.

  6. NOTE

  7. There will be leftover peanut sauce so to make a quick slaw toss 4 cups of shredded cabbage and a grated carrot with a few tablespoons of the peanut sauce and a generous drizzle of fresh lime juice or rice wine vinegar.

  8. Put slaw on the burger and top them fairly liberally with sriracha. This burger has got a lot going for it: spicy, sweet, and crunchy.

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