Pretzel- And Cashew-Crusted Tofu
Pretzel- And Cashew-Crusted Tofu
Crunchy, flavorful, and served with a sweet onion relish, this elegant main course also happens to be vegan. It's perfect for Thanksgiving, the holidays, or just a weeknight dinner any other time of the year. To save time, start the tofu while the sweet onion relish is simmering on the stove.
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Servings
4
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, sliced thinly
- 2 tablespoon non-hydrogenated vegetable spread
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 medium-sized granny smith apple, diced finely
- 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon agave nectar
- 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 cup pretzel sticks
- 3/4 cup raw cashews
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon plus a pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 1 cup whole-wheat flour
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- one 16-ounce package extra-firm tofu, cut into 8 slices*
Directions
- In a large skillet, sauté the sliced onion in the vegetable spread. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Season with the salt. Add the apple and continue cooking for 5-6 minutes. Add the brown sugar, agave nectar, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and water. Cook for about 2 minutes. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the pretzel sticks and cashews in a food processor and pulse a few times until coarsely ground. In a small bowl, combine the onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, ½ teaspoon of the salt, and lemon pepper.
- Combine the flour and half of the spice mixture in a medium-sized bowl. Pour the almond milk into a medium-sized bowl. Place the pretzel-cashew mixture in a third bowl. Season with a pinch of salt and the black pepper. Add the olive oil and mix well using your hands.
- Season the tofu slices with the remaining spice mixture. Coat each slice with the seasoned flour, dip in the almond milk, and coat with the pretzel-cashew mixture, pressing gently so it sticks well to the tofu. Place the tofu slices on the baking sheet and bake until golden brown, for 15-18 minutes. Serve with the sweet onion relish.