Sweet and Sour Tofu

This was just so delicious, I had to add it here even though it's a bit complicated. The recipe is modified from "Vegan Yum Yum," partly for taste and partly to make it easier. It wasn't particularly time-consuming - maybe 35 minutes start to finish - but you are busy for the entire 35 minutes. It made 4 servings.

Also note that this doesn't work great as leftovers. I ate it as leftovers, and it certainly wasn't bad, but it's much better the day of.

1 cup rice

2 cups water

1 lb. extra-firm tofu, pressed and sliced into medium-small cubes or triangles (1 package) ( sliced them so they were about the same size as my broccoli pieces)

soymilk (in a small shallow bowl)

flour (in a small shallow bowl)

canola oil

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1 bunch broccoli, chopped (I discarded the stem)

Sauce:

3.5 Tbs seasoned rice vinegar

1/4 cup water

2 Tbs plus 2 tsp sugar

2 Tbs soy sauce

2 tsp ketchup

1 tsp molasses

1/4 tsp ginger powder

1/2 tsp salt

2.5 Tbs cornstarch plus 2 Tbs water, mixed

1. Cook rice: combine rice and 2 cups water in a sauce pan. Cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook until done. I used brown basmati rice because I like it and it's healthy, but I think white sticky rice would probably be more traditional for this meal.

2. Toss the tofu first in the soymilk, then in the flour to coat. Pour just enough oil to coat the entire bottom of a large nonstick skillet and heat on medium.

3. While oil heats, start the sauce: put all sauce ingredients except cornstarch/water mixture into a small saucepan and heat until sugar dissolves.

4. Your oil should be ready now. Place tofu pieces in the pan and fry for about 5 minutes (until golden on the bottom).

5. While frying, put on the water to steam the broccoli. Then return to your sauce: add the cornstarch/water mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until it thickens. Remove from heat.

6. Turn tofu to brown on the other side.

7. Add broccoli to your steamer.

8. When tofu is done, add almonds to the pan and fry about 30 seconds.

9. Transfer everything except rice (tofu/almonds, broccoli, and sauce) to serving dish. Serve with rice.