Kid Friendly Tofu Recipe: Tofu Sloppy Joes

From Debbie Nothaft's 'Cabbages and Roses' cookbook

Debbie Nothaft's Tofu Sloppy Joes are on our short list of kid friendly tofu recipes - those that kids will actually eat. The whole family will love this quick and easy vegan tofu recipe.

Debbie is famous in our town for the food she brought to the Saturday trade fairs at the M.I.U. Student Union, for 15 years. When she left town, the trade fair collapsed, and many people starved, but she wrote down the recipes in Cabbages and Roses.

Debbie's recipes are quick and easy, they always work, and taste great. Although it's mostly vegetarian, there are chicken recipes in Cabbages and Roses, which makes it an excellent transitional vegetarian cookbook.

Makes 6 - 8 sloppy joes, under 30 minutes prep time from start to eating

Ingredients:

• 1 lb firm tofu
• 2 Tbsp oil
• 2 Tbsp minced green pepper
• 1 Tbsp minced fresh garlic OR 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp minced onion OR 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 Tbsp minced jalapeño pepper
• Pinch dried cayenne or chipotle pepper
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup catsup
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp minced parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Mash tofu and mince the veggies
2. Heat oil on medium in a large frying pan, fry onion & garlic 5 min
3. Add tofu, jalapeno & green pepper, fry 5 minutes, on high
4. Add dry spices and fry for 2 minutes
5. Add catsup, water, soy sauce, br sugar, parsley and simmer 10 minutes
6. Tofu moisture content varies, so add more catsup and water as needed if the mixture seems too dry
7. Serve over buns with fixins - tomato, lettuce, avocado slices & mayo are good choices