Cooking delicious meals is one thing but doing it while on a budget is a whole other challenge. It’s often hard to do both, mainly because quality ingredients cost more. That’s where Budget Bytes comes in. Run by a food lover and “number cruncher” named Beth, this blog is dedicated to creating mouthwatering recipes while still being wallet-friendly.
With every recipe Beth posts, there’s a price tag associated with it so that every reader knows exactly how much each meal will cost them. This is a feature that’s rarely found on other cooking blogs, making Budget Bytes such a gem!
One of my favorite recipes from the blog is the pan fried sesame tofu with broccoli recipe. For many of us, tofu is a very difficult ingredient to work with. It’s hard to find the right flavor and texture, but Beth nails it with this recipe. Best of all, it costs just $5.22!
Ingredients (serves 3):
Sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
Stir Fry
- 14oz. block extra-firm tofu
- Pinch of salt
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 2 Tbsp neutral oil (vegetable, canola, peanut)
- ½ lb. frozen broccoli florets
- 3-4 green onions, sliced
- 4 cups cooked rice
Directions:
1. Place a few paper towels or a lint-free cloth on a large plate. Remove the tofu from the packaging and place it on the towels. Place more towels or cloth on top and cover it with another plate, creating a sandwich. Place a few cans or a few large books on top to gently “press down” on the tofu. You want to squeeze all the extra water out of the tofu. Do this for 30 minutes
2. While the tofu is being pressed, in a small blow, mix together all the sauce ingredients. Stir until the sugar and cornstarch have dissolved then set aside.
3. Cut the pressed tofu into 1-inch cubes and season with a pinch of salt. Sprinkle 1 tbsp cornstarch over the cubes, being sure to coat each cube evenly. Add a second tbsp if necessary.
4. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add oil to the skillet, coating the bottom with a thick layer of oil.
5. Toss in the tofu cubes and cook until golden brown on the bottom. Turn the cubes to another uncooked side, and repeat this process until the cubes are all brown and crispy on each side. Remove the crispy tofu.
6. Add broccoli to the skillet and stir-fry until it’s slightly browned on the edges.
7. Lower the heat to medium-low and pour the sauces into the skillet. Stir and cook until the sauce begins to thicken and bubble. Once it has thickened, turn off the heat and stir in the cooked tofu cubes.
8. Serve together over a plate of rice and enjoy!
For more information or a more detailed version of this recipe, please visit BudgetBytes.com by clicking here.
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