This dish changed my life

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Published 2024-01-20
Whether your new to tofu or a lover from way back. This easy whole crusted tofu will change your life adding texture and layers of flavor. Great for any day roast dinner, family meals or meal prep. Including 10+ Chef hacks on how to make a vegan roast dinner, fast and delicious and for the whole family, party or just me! Super filling comfort food made plant based. Healthy is great but if it doesn't lead with flavor and taste good, no one is going to eat it. Appreciate you.
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dereksarno.com/

RECIPE:

GARLIC HERBED MASHERS:
2 kg masher potatoes, washed with skin on, cubed
5-6 cloves of garlic, smashed and minced
4-5 tablespoons of vegan butter (1 stick)
2 tablespoons of Greek-style vegan yogurt (optional)
4 tablespoons of nutritional yeast (optional)
½ teaspoon of black peppercorns, pulverized
½ teaspoon of white peppercorns, pulverized
Flake salt to taste


Directions:
Boil the cubed potatoes until tender.
Drain and return to the pot.
Add the minced garlic, butter, yogurt (if using), nutritional yeast (if using), pulverized black and white peppercorns.
Mash until smooth and creamy.
Season with flake salt to taste.


ROASTED VEGETABLES:
A handful of large carrots, blanched and cut into large pieces
2 zucchinis (courgettes), cut into 1-inch cubes
2 large onions, cut in half then into quarters
½ head of broccoli, trimmed into florets
Olive oil
1 teaspoon of granulated garlic
¾ teaspoon of smoked paprika
Flake salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F (fan/convection setting).
Arrange the vegetables on a baking tray and drizzle with olive oil.
Sprinkle with granulated garlic, smoked paprika, flake salt, and black pepper.
Roast for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
If preferred, par-cook for 20 minutes and finish in the oven when ready to eat.

CRUSTED TOFU:
3 blocks of super firm tofu, drained and hand-pressed
3 tablespoons of sage & onion seasoning
3 cups of Panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons of fresh chopped herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage)
2 tablespoons of vegan mayo
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
A splash of sherry (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of olive oil


Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F (fan/convection setting).
Coat tofu evenly with olive oil and sage & onion seasoning on all sides.
Place on a lined baking tray and pre-roast for 20-30 minutes until golden.
Remove from oven and let cool.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine Panko breadcrumbs, fresh herbs, mayo, Dijon, sherry, salt, and pepper. Let sit for a few minutes.
Crust each block of tofu with the breadcrumb mixture.
Roast for another 20-30 minutes until golden and crispy.


GRAVY:
1 litre of vegetable broth (25g bouillon dissolved in boiling water)
2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
2 tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons water to make a slurry
Black pepper to taste
A cap full of browning gravy sauce (e.g., Kitchen Bouquet)


Combine the vegetable broth, Dijon mustard, and maple syrup in a saucepan.
Bring to a simmer.
Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook until thickened.
Season with black pepper.
Add a cap full of browning gravy sauce for color and flavor.
Serve hot over the crusted tofu and roasted vegetables.

All Comments (21)
  • I never ate tofu until you came along and showed us it’s versatility! Now I love it…❤Thank you.🙏🏻
  • @AMCvanTuijl735
    I love tofu and prepare it very often. I saw a Chinese cook on YouTube explain why Chinese freeze their tofu before using. Freezing tofu causes the water inside to expand, forming ice crystals that create tiny holes in the tofu. Once thawed, these holes are left behind. This gives the tofu a texture that soaks up marinades and sauces even better than its fresh counterpart. I do it all the time know!
  • @kiana4534
    Made the entire recipe for dinner tonight, it was delicious. After 9 months of grieving the loss of my husband, I decided to start eating a plant-based diet again. Glad I came across your posting. Every bite was delicious. I’m looking forward to the next couple of evenings for left-over dinner. Yumm
  • @kellysweeney3842
    I count going vegan one of the best decisions I've ever made. 8 years in, still learning and loving finding new recipes. TY!
  • @redcurlvegan
    I've been following you since I first went vegan over 3 years ago and think you're by far one of the best out there & I've watched pretty much every video of yours, but for some reason I particularly enjoyed this one - humble, authentic, gorgeous kitchen (as always), subtle humour, ASMR, your emphasis on reducing waste, down to earth realistic home cooking with the added bonus of professional knowledge, plus a Frankie-feature is always a delight... You're great Derek, don't ever stop what you're doing (as long as it makes you happy of course) 🌱💚
  • @tamcon72
    80% healthy, 20% wicked is a pretty good design for life ; ) Food looks great. Thanks for posting : )
  • @susankara7520
    I cool my vegetable cooking water and pour over herbs in garden as liquid fertilizer. 😊
  • @SpicyMoustache
    Absolutely loved this one and 100% agreed that there’s no need to get a tofu press! 🙏🏻
  • Oh man... everything you make for us looks beautiful and tasty! Hope Frankie keeps you sane.
  • @dianajohn9150
    Just found you Derek,am inspired thank you as I live alone here in uk.Cooking after loss has been a journey too so I scale your recipes down just for me,organic and home grown herbs makes such a contribution.My body and mind gradually coming back to a fresh new me.thanks again.🎉
  • I know he's a pro so his skills in the kitchen are no surprise ...The amazing thing is how wicked amusing his videos have become... just love it.
  • @charlottemarand
    I love the idea of the stuffing-like crust on the tofu. Thank you for sharing.
  • @hiorpnana0479
    i personally freeze a bunch of firm tofu before hand as prep, i love the texture so much
  • @behemoth5344
    I'm not a fan of tofu presses myself. On an unrelated note, I'm making lion's mane (or monkey's head, as we call it down here) mushroom steak basically once a week, and it's all your fault. Keep up the good work, and greetings from Southeast Asia 🤟
  • @chuchuchuchia
    You are one of the very few people I've seen use the knife tip technique for cutting broccoli to prevent floret mess and waste. THANK YOU.
  • @-LivingProof
    Chef Sarno, due to health issues, I've been considering switching to a plant based diet & I want to say "thank you" for sharing your expertise with people.
  • @Leopard_Lover
    Finally a good cooking channel! Thanks chef ❤ love your doggie as well. I’m learning good habits ie: wiping board down !
  • @anonamouse9198
    Never stop flexing the tongs, nothing will ever go wrong 👌🏻👨🏻‍🍳