Quick Vegetable & Tofu Curry

My naan experiments earlier this month sent me on a curry bender. I started with this favorite lentil + kale dal, then made this chickpea + cauliflower number, then sort of combined the two, leaving out the legumes, adding tofu in their place.

The result is a veggie-loaded, super flavorful, Thai-spiced “curry”, a stewy, comforting not-quite-one-pot wonder of a dish. Here, the curry materializes stovetop, while tofu cubes bake briefly in the oven, just long enough to lightly crisp the edges, a measure that ensures the cubes won’t dissolve while simmering, but not so long to render them tough, incapable of absorbing the sauce.

Inspired by this one-pot chicken curry , a dish I learned from Thien Ngo at Fork, this dish is flavored with Thai curry paste, curry powder, turmeric, and coconut milk. I love serving it with rice — this ( no-rinse! ) Instant Pot brown rice is a favorite — and, of course, naan .

If you’ve made any of the curries mentioned above, the process here will feel familiar. This is the formula:

1. Sweat onions (and/or garlic, ginger).
2. Stir in spices + Thai curry paste.
3. Pour in coconut milk + water.
4. Add the substance (lentils, chickpeas, vegetables, tofu, chicken)
5. Simmer till substance is cooked and sauce is flavorful.
6. Fold in greens — spinach, kale, Swiss chard — at the very end.

Vegetable Curry Notes

Thai Curry Paste:

• Using a ready-made curry paste is a serious time saver. It’s a concentrated mix of aromatics, often shallots, garlic, ginger, and lemongrass, along with spices such as coriander, cumin, and cardamom. Using a few tablespoons of such a paste almost renders additional aromatics (such as onions as here) or spices (such as turmeric and curry powder as here) unnecessary (though I do find their inclusion here worthwhile).
• Maesri was Thien’s favorite brand. My Asian market carries it, but I also order it online. I’ve used both red and green curry pastes in this recipe.
• Heat Level: Thai curry paste is spicy. Start with a tablespoon if you are sensitive to heat; add more to taste.

Vegetables:

• Cauliflower: Look for a head of cauliflower with lots of greens still intact — discard only the tough stem and leaves.
• Greens: Folding in something like kale, spinach or Swiss chard at the very end of the cooking process not only gives the curry an extra boost of vegetables, it also provides color and flavor.
• Other vegetables: If you are not yet tired of winter squash season, roasted delicata, Kabocha, or butternut squash would work well here. Sweet potatoes would be nice, too.

Here’s the play-by-play: Gather your ingredients.

If time permits, drain the tofu. Here’s one way to do it (but place the colander in the sink):

Cut the tofu up into 1-inch cubes, roughly:

Spread on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt, and transfer to a 425ºF oven for 10-15 minutes, or until lightly golden.

Meanwhile, slice up an onion.

Then, cook it covered over low heat with a tablespoon of olive oil and a pinch of salt.

Add spices: turmeric, curry powder, and curry paste (see recipe for notes.)

Cook for a minute or two or until the onions are nicely coated and the spices are beginning to toast and stick to the pan.

Add a can of coconut milk and some water to the pan, and bring to a simmer.

Meanwhile, chop up a head of cauliflower. Much of the greens can be used — remove the tough stem and the tough outer leaves; use everything else.

Add the cauliflower to the pot along with the tofu, and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the cauliflower is knife tender.

Meanwhile, chop up some kale (spinach or Swiss chard is fine here, too).

Add to the pan and stir gently to incorporate. Cook for another 5 minutes.

Serve with rice — I love this Instant Pot brown rice (no rinsing necessary!) — and/or naan .

Description

This recipe can be seen as a guide. I have made many variations of it over the years:

• lentils + kale
• chickpea + cauliflower
• chicken + spinach

A few notes:

• Spices : To keep things simple, I’m using turmeric and Madras curry powder here. You can, of course, make the effort to toast and crush whole spices such as (such as cumin, coriander, and mustard seeds as here ) but if you aren’t up for it, the combination of curry powder, turmeric and Thai curry paste will be plenty flavorful.

• Curry paste . Maesri is the brand of Thai curry paste I buy at the Asian market. You can buy it online, too: I most often use the green for this recipe, but the red is great, too. Both are spicy. If you are sensitive to heat, start with a tablespoon and adjust the sauce with more at the end.

• Coconut Milk. I’ve gotten in the habit of ordering it online because I love this brand , and I can’t always find it. Plus it’s cheaper.

• a 14 -oz block of firm tofu

• 1 tablespoon olive oil + more for drizzling

• 1 large onion, thinly sliced

• kosher salt

• 1 – 3 tablespoons red or green Thai curry paste, see notes above

• 2 teaspoons curry powder, such as Madras

• 2 teaspoons turmeric

• 13.5 oz can unsweetened coconut milk

• 2 teaspoons brown sugar

• 1 large head cauliflower

• 2 to 4 ounces kale

• lime for serving, optional

• rice (without the seasonings) or naan , for serving, optional

1. Drain the tofu. If time permits, drain the tofu. This is what I like to do: Remove tofu from its packaging. Place tofu in colander. Place the tub it arrived in on top. (If it didn’t arrive in a tub, simply fold a tea towel around it, and place it in the colander.) Place something heavy, such as 28-oz can plum tomatoes, inside the tub (or on top of the towel). Place colander in sink to drain for 10-15 minutes. See photo above for reference. Heat oven to 425ºF .
2. Cut tofu into cubes, roughly 1-inch. Spread onto a parchment-lined sheet pan. Drizzle with a little bit of olive oil, season with salt. Toss gently. Spread out. Transfer pan to the oven and cook for about 15 minutes. You’re not trying to get these super crispy, just lightly golden (so they don’t turn to mush in the curry).
3. Meanwhile, get going on the curry. In a large skillet over high heat, add the oil, then the onions. Season with a big pinch of salt. Stir. Cover pan and immediately turn heat down to low. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until onions begin to take on some color.
4. Prep the veg. Cut off tough bottom stem of cauliflower. Remove only the very tough outer leaves. Cut the remaining leaves roughly, and cut the cauliflower into florets. Remove the leaves from the kale stems. Chop the leaves roughly.
5. When the onions are ready, open the lid, allowing the water to drip back into the pan. Add the curry paste and spices and cook for a minute or two, or until the onion is evenly coated in the spices, and the spices are beginning to toast.
6. Add the coconut milk. Fill the empty can with water, and add it to the pan. Fill it again halfway and add to the pan — you need about 2 3/4 cup water. (Note: If you like a brothier curry, add 2 cans full of water (3 cups); if you like a thicker curry, use 2.75 cups water.) Bring to a simmer. Add the brown sugar and a teaspoon of kosher salt. Add the cauliflower and the tofu and simmer at a good pace — turn the heat up if necessary — for about 10 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender. Check with a paring knife. (Note: Cauliflower quickly goes from being uncooked/tough to knife tender. Keep in mind the texture of the finished dish ultimately is on the mushy side … there are no crispy elements here. On subsequent days, the texture of the vegetables gets even softer, but I find the flavor gets even better.)
7. Add the kale, and stir to combine. Taste the broth. Add more salt if necessary. Add a squeeze of lime if necessary, too. (Note: Depending on the size/shape of the pan you are using, the broth may evaporate more (or less) quickly. If you find you need more liquid, simply add water by the quarter cup; if it’s too liquidy, simmer it until it thickens slightly and the flavors concentrate.)
8. Serve with rice or naan, if you wish.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Thai

Description

This recipe can be seen as a guide. I have made many variations of it over the years:

• lentils + kale
• chickpea + cauliflower
• chicken + spinach

A few notes:

• Spices : To keep things simple, I’m using turmeric and Madras curry powder here. You can, of course, make the effort to toast and crush whole spices such as (such as cumin, coriander, and mustard seeds as here ) but if you aren’t up for it, the combination of curry powder, turmeric and Thai curry paste will be plenty flavorful.

• Curry paste . Maesri is the brand of Thai curry paste I buy at the Asian market. You can buy it online, too: I most often use the green for this recipe, but the red is great, too. Both are spicy. If you are sensitive to heat, start with a tablespoon and adjust the sauce with more at the end.

• Coconut Milk. I’ve gotten in the habit of ordering it online because I love this brand , and I can’t always find it. Plus it’s cheaper.

• a 14 -oz block of firm tofu

• 1 tablespoon olive oil + more for drizzling

• 1 large onion, thinly sliced

• kosher salt

• 1 - 3 tablespoons red or green Thai curry paste, see notes above

• 2 teaspoons curry powder, such as Madras

• 2 teaspoons turmeric

• 13.5 oz can unsweetened coconut milk

• 2 teaspoons brown sugar

• 1 large head cauliflower

• 2 to 4 ounces kale

• lime for serving, optional

• rice (without the seasonings) or naan , for serving, optional

1. Drain the tofu. If time permits, drain the tofu. This is what I like to do: Remove tofu from its packaging. Place tofu in colander. Place the tub it arrived in on top. (If it didn’t arrive in a tub, simply fold a tea towel around it, and place it in the colander.) Place something heavy, such as 28-oz can plum tomatoes, inside the tub (or on top of the towel). Place colander in sink to drain for 10-15 minutes. See photo above for reference. Heat oven to 425ºF .
2. Cut tofu into cubes, roughly 1-inch. Spread onto a parchment-lined sheet pan. Drizzle with a little bit of olive oil, season with salt. Toss gently. Spread out. Transfer pan to the oven and cook for about 15 minutes. You’re not trying to get these super crispy, just lightly golden (so they don’t turn to mush in the curry).
3. Meanwhile, get going on the curry. In a large skillet over high heat, add the oil, then the onions. Season with a big pinch of salt. Stir. Cover pan and immediately turn heat down to low. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until onions begin to take on some color.
4. Prep the veg. Cut off tough bottom stem of cauliflower. Remove only the very tough outer leaves. Cut the remaining leaves roughly, and cut the cauliflower into florets. Remove the leaves from the kale stems. Chop the leaves roughly.
5. When the onions are ready, open the lid, allowing the water to drip back into the pan. Add the curry paste and spices and cook for a minute or two, or until the onion is evenly coated in the spices, and the spices are beginning to toast.
6. Add the coconut milk. Fill the empty can with water, and add it to the pan. Fill it again halfway and add to the pan — you need about 2 3/4 cup water. (Note: If you like a brothier curry, add 2 cans full of water (3 cups); if you like a thicker curry, use 2.75 cups water.) Bring to a simmer. Add the brown sugar and a teaspoon of kosher salt. Add the cauliflower and the tofu and simmer at a good pace — turn the heat up if necessary — for about 10 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender. Check with a paring knife. (Note: Cauliflower quickly goes from being uncooked/tough to knife tender. Keep in mind the texture of the finished dish ultimately is on the mushy side … there are no crispy elements here. On subsequent days, the texture of the vegetables gets even softer, but I find the flavor gets even better.)
7. Add the kale, and stir to combine. Taste the broth. Add more salt if necessary. Add a squeeze of lime if necessary, too. (Note: Depending on the size/shape of the pan you are using, the broth may evaporate more (or less) quickly. If you find you need more liquid, simply add water by the quarter cup; if it’s too liquidy, simmer it until it thickens slightly and the flavors concentrate.)
8. Serve with rice or naan, if you wish.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Thai

Find it online : https://alexandracooks.com/2020/03/13/quick-vegetable-tofu-curry/

Like many, I am feeling drawn to cooking beans right now. They’re cheap. They’re in the pantry. They’re good. Also, it’s still chilly up here, so beans would likely be on the cooking agenda anyway.

As you might know, I’m a fan of brining beans overnight and cooking them stovetop , a method I love for two reasons:

1. The beans, thanks to the brine, cook up beautifully: creamy, intact, and cooked through with tender skins. ( Scientific explanation here .)
2. The overnight soak (in salted water or not) allows for a relatively quick (less than 1 hour) cooking process.

But my recent slow-cooker black bean experiment reminded me of the virtues of the slow-cooker: how nice it is …

• … “to set it and forget it”.
• … to not have to fiddle with the temperature dial to ensure the water simmers just right.
• … to not have to worry about foamy overflows and the messy aftermath.
• … to fill the house with cooking-all-day smells.

These slow-cooker chickpeas follow the same process as the black beans, and you can employ the technique with any bean or legume, keeping in mind the timing will vary from bean to bean. My dried chickpeas (various brands) have consistently been cooking in 8 to 10 hours on high, but it’s important to start checking at the 3 to 4 hour mark to ensure your beans don’t turn to mush. (Moreover, slow cookers vary in their strength/power.)

I could eat these chickpeas straight from the pot. The broth tastes slightly vegetal thanks to the onion and bay leaf, and it’s a little spicy, too, thanks to crushed red pepper flakes. But there’s a richness to it, too, lent by the chickpeas themselves, their “aquafaba”. (More about aquafaba here.) All beans create aquafaba upon being cooked, but chickpeas’, I think, is the most flavorful and the most robust.

Recently, I dumped the entire pot of slow cooker chickpeas into a pot of sautéed onions and escarole and let it simmer away with a rind of parmesan. But I’ve got another batch simmering away, with a few of my favorite chickpea recipes in mind: 10 Recipes to Make with Chickpeas Right Now.

Thinking of you, Friends. Hope you are well 💕💕💕

PS: If you’re having trouble finding dried chickpeas, Nuts.com is a great source.

PPS: Slow Cooker Gigante (or other white) Beans

Here’s the play-by-play: Gather your ingredients:

Add everything into the slow cooker:

Cover with 8 cups of water and set the crock pot on high. Cook until the chickpeas are cooked through — times will vary depending on the age of your beans.

Store in quart containers. These deli quart containers (BPA-free) are great for this purpose. Freeze for up to 3 months. Store in fridge for up to a week.

Description

Notes:

• Plan ahead: If you start these early in the morning (7 or 8 am), they likely will be ready by dinner time, but all beans cook at different rates, and if your beans are old, they may take as long as 10 hours to cook. If you want to speed the process up, soak the beans in cold water over night.

• Pepper flakes: if you like a little bit of spice, add the the chili flakes; if you don’t, omit or use less. 1 teaspoon will not make for especially spicy beans, but there will be a nice kick.

• 1 lb. dried chickpeas no need to soak

• 1 half of a small onion, halved through the core to keep it intact, no need to peel

• 1 bay leaf

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste

• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

• 1/4 cup olive oil

1. Place all of the ingredients into a slow cooker. Cover with 8 cups of water. Cover pot. Cook on high heat for 8 to 10 hours or until the beans are done. Note: All beans cook at a different rates. Start checking at the 4-hour mark. They likely won’t be done, but if your beans are especially fresh, they might be done.
2. Once the beans are cooked, taste for salt. Add more salt to taste (or, better, wait to add salt to taste till later, when you use the chickpeas in whatever dish you are using.) Note: The beans develop more flavor as they cool in their cooking liquid, which will continue to season them.
3. Store the beans in their cooking liquid. I love these deli quart containers for this purpose. I freeze the beans in their cooking liquid in these quart containers as well. Freeze for up to 3 months. Store in the fridge for up to a week.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 8-10 hours
• Category: Beans, Legumes
• Method: Slow Cooker
• Cuisine: American