feel food club

family friendly

Better than takeout Crispy Sweet Chilli Tofu

by Kommentar verfassen

After having tried this recipe, you will never again think that tofu is boring. Crispy tofu tossed in that addicting, spicy, tangy, sweet chilli sauce served on a bed of fluffy rice. You will not want to go back to takeout and will want to start stocking up your fridge with tofu. A must try for all vegans and all non-vegans! 

What is special about this dish?

It is normal to think that tofu is boring and tastes like nothing. Because it really can. But if you know how to prepare it the right way, you‘ll be convinced differently! Just as in this recipe. Here the tofu is first tossed in flour and then baked. This makes it really crispy on the outside and provides a great texture. Personally, I think that the texture maters a lot when preparing tofu. It just is a completely different experience whether you have a crispy bite or a soggy pulp in your mouth. 

And then comes the sauce. The sauce is suuuper important! Since tofu itself is quite flavor neutral, the sauce it is toss in really matters! And this sauce is a slightly healthier twist on the conventional sweet chili sauce. Plus it is homemade, so it automatically tastes better and is fresher. 

Moreover, all of this is really easy to prepare and does not take very long either. Ot is perfect if you just want a quick dinner after an exhausting day or just a tasty lunch! 

Is this dish healthy? 

Tofu itself actually is really nourishing. It is high in protein and therefore a favorable ingredient in plant based diets. Plus, tofu contains a wide range of amino acids, vitamins and minerals, all essential for your body. A serving of tofu also comes with a small amount of carbs and fibre, making it a really nutritious addition to meals. 

Sweet chili sauces in general are not very nutritious. In order to achieve the addictive sweet flavor, a lot of sugar is needed. Usually, refined, white sugar is needed, which really has no benefit for your body. In this version we are substituting the white refined sugar for honey. Honey still contains sugar (without it would not have the sweet flavor) but also comes with other minerals, vitamins and health promoting features. Switching the refined sugar for honey does not drastically reduce the amount if sugar but it adds some nutritional value.

Plus, we are adding some greens on top, so we also get a decent amount of fibre and even more vitamins. And since we are serving it with some rice we also have a bunch of carbohydrates that will keep us energized! 

How to make this dish? 

The first thing that needs to be taken care off is the tofu because it takes the longest. Here it is essential that firm tofu is used and that we press it (placing it inbetween kitchen towels and letting something (rather) heavy sit on top). This way all the excess liquid is running out and it will turn out crispy. After is has being pressed for about 10 minutes, we can already chop it into about 1 cm sized cubes, which are then tossed in flour. The flour on the one hand binds the remaining liquid, and on the other hand forms a crust. Once they are placed on a baking tray, they can be drizzled with a little oil and baked in the oven until crispy.

That is it for the tofu. Now we can focus on the rest. First on the list is the rice. This can actually already be prepared while the tofu is pressing, since we only need to add rice, water and salt to a pot, bring it to a boil and reduce the heat. So what really still needs to be done is the sauce, for which we combine water, honey, vinegar, chili flakes and sambal olek in a pot and also bring that to a boil. In the meantime we also mix a little cornstarch with water and also mix it in. Also this can be turned down and simmer. The simmering will cause the honey to melt into the rest and everything to combine well, while at the same time the cornstarch helps to bind and thicken everything! After its time in the oven, the tofu can be taken out and tossed in the sauce and that already is it! 

Varieties of the dish

You can either enjoy it with some rice and broccoli, as described here but you can also enjoy the sweet chili sauce in several other ways. 

For example could you make a tofu stir fry out of it, by frying some veggies in hot oil and then adding the baked tofu and sweet chili sauce to it and mixing it. Also, you could add this tofu onto bowls or into wraps or even onto salads! 

If you are not that hyped for that much tofu, why not just make the chili sauce and keep it in the fridge? You can then use it for several different dishes and with several different ingredients. Make sweet chili noodles or sweet chili prawns! Add it to soups, to salad dressings or as a dip! There really are plenty ways of using it! 

This recipe is a great and easy way of making the kitchen staple a little lot healthier! And in combination with the tofu it is unbeatable!! Definitely something worth trying! 

I genuinely hope that you will enjoy this recipe and make it on repeat! If you do so, I would highly appreciate it if you leave a comment or send me a pic of your remake!! 

Print

Better than takeout Crispy Sweet Chilli Tofu

Whoever says tofu is boring, has not trued this dish. Spicy, sweet, addictive goodness that is super easy to make and will convince everyone of how delicious tofu can be! 

Course dinner, lunch, Main Course
Prep Time 10 Minuten
Cook Time 20 Minuten
Total Time 30 Minuten
Servings 4 servings

What you will need

For the sauce:

  • 100 ml water
  • 100 g honey
  • 40 g vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sambal olek
  • 1 tsp chili flakes
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • oil

For the rest:

  • 400 g tofu
  • wholegrain flour (about 5 tbsp)
  • 400 g (brown) rice
  • 500 g broccoli

How to

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. 

  2. Place the tofu inbetween a kitchen towel or kitchen paper and add a (relatively) heavy object on top. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. This will press the tofu and remove any liquid that is inside of it. Then cut it into about 1cm sized cubes, toss them in the flour, so they are evenly coated and lay on a baking tray. Drizzle with oil and bake for about 25 minutes until crispy and golden brown.

  3. To a pot add the rice along with twice the amount of water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer at medium heat and let simmer until all water has been absorbed. Turn down to low heat and let sit for another 5-10 minutes until soft and fluffy.

  4. In the meantime add the honey, vinegar, sambal olek, chili flakes and water, except for 2 tbsp to a pot and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. In the meantime combine the cornstarch with the remaining water until there are no lumps left, then stir into the remaining sauce. Turn down to medium heat and let simmer for 10-15 minutes, storing occasionally until it thickens. Then reduce the heat to very low.

  5. In the meantime break the broccoli into florets and steam it in a pot with boiling, salted water for about 4 minutes, then drain. Once the tofu is done baking, add it into the sauce and make sure it is all covered. 

  6. Divide the rice, broccoli and tofu onto bowls and garnish with some fresh cilantro. Enjoy!

Have fun cooking! 
Enjoy,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière 

Spicy Tomato Rice with Crispy Pan Fried Feta

by Kommentar verfassen

Regular rice was yesterday, we take the game next level and start to make tomato rice. Sounds odd? Just think of Paella – no big difference! But instead of combining it with fish, we are making a vegetarian version. Instead of cooked prawns we are taking pan-fried feta cheese and let me tell you, it is better. Crispy, salty goodness combined with spicy tomatoey carb heaven can only result in a happy tummy and a happy soul.

What‘s special about this dish?

Well, first that we are cooking the rice in canned tomatoes instead of water only. This adds a bunch of flavor and makes it more exciting. The process of cooking it is the same as with regular rice though. Then it also is spiced up with herbs and spices and voilà! 

Then also the feta cheese. Feta always is a great addition but pan fried feta, holy moly, is a next-level addition (&addiction)! The feta is covered in eggs and then breadcrumbs. The frying then makes it crispy on the outside and runny and molten on the inside, which then is a perfect combination! 

Healthy(ish)

Is this healthy? We can definitely say that it is packed with nutrients but it definitely is not, we have to be honest, the super-duper healthy bowl. Still, it is a greatly balanced bowl and definitely healthy for the soul.

We have a good mix of carbs, proteins, fats and vitamins. The rice provides a healthy amount of carbs that will keep you energized for a while. If you are looking for an option that also is high in fiber, you can also switch the regular rice for whole grin rice. 

The feta not only comes with a bunch of flavor, but also with a decent amount of protein. It also contains some saturated fats, but rather little compared to most cheeses. The oil we are frying it in makes sure our bodies get a healthy amount of unsaturated fats and vitamins. Plus, the tomato sauce also is a source of vitamins and fibre. So all in all a very balanced dish! 

How to make it?

As mentioned before, preparing the rice is fairly simple. We just sauté some onion and garlic in a little oil, add the rice, canned tomatoes, water and a little salt. Once it all comes to a boil, we need to reduce the heat to medium low and cover it for about 10-15 minutes. Once all water is absorbed, the heat needs to be turned down to low heat anf the rice will sit for another 3-5 minutes, this helps it to fluff and get really soft. All that now is left to do is to stir in some tomato sauce for even more flavor and creaminess and that‘s it! Pretty simple right?

The feta cheese is a bit more complicated, but not too much! To crumb it, we first need to cut it into smaller pieces. These do not all have to have the same size, but should be about 2-4cm. This is important because if they are too big, it will be very difficult to fry them. So now they are tossed in an egg and then in breadcrumbs. Afterwards the pieces of coated feta can be fried in some hot oil for 2-4 minutes per side until crispy, golden brown. Flip them carefully with a thin, flat spatula, so it does not fall apart. Well, and that already is it! Now it already is time to assemble everything and top it with some slices olives and herbs! Voilà!

This meal is great for a nice and cozy dinner or if you want to impress someone with a fancy meal. It actually is ready in fairly low time, just about 25-30 minutes and is an explosion of flavours. We love making this on repeat and I hope that you will enjoy doing so too!

Print

Spicy Tomato Rice with Crispy Pan Fried Feta

Definitely not your average rice. Creamy, spicy tomato rice with crispy on the outside and molten on the inside fried feta. Heaven in a bowl. Perfect for a cozy dinner or whenever you want to impress with a fancy dish! Plus, ready in 25 minutes!

Course dinner, Main Course
Prep Time 10 Minuten
Cook Time 15 Minuten
Total Time 25 Minuten
Servings 2 servings

What you will need

For the rice:

  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 chili
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 150 g rice
  • 200 ml canned tomatoes (puréed)
  • 100 ml water
  • 3 tbsp tomato sauce

For the feta:

  • 200 g feta cheese
  • 5 tbsp breadcrumbs
  • oil for frying (NO olive oil – use flavour neutral oil)
  • black olives and dried herbs for serving

How to

The rice:

  1. Start by finely mincing the garlic and chili. Heat up the olive oil in a pan, fry the garlic and chili in there for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant, add the rice and fry for another minute, stirring constantly. Cover with water and canned tomatoes, generously salt. Peal the onion and cut it into 4 pieces, add it on top. Let it come to a boil, then reduce heat to medium heat and let it simmer. Once all water is absorbed, turn the heat down to low and let it sit for another 5-7 minutes. Before serving, remove the onion and stir in the tomato sauce.

The feta:

  1. Cut the feta into about 2x4cm and about 1cm thick sized pieces. Crack the egg and whisk it. Coat the feta pieces in the egg, then in the breadcrumbs. Heat up a generous amount of oil in a pan. Once hot, add in the coated feta. Fry for about 2-4 minutes until golden brown and crispy. When flipping them, do so very carefully with a thin spatula, in order for the feta not to fall apart. Fry for another 2-4 minutes on the other side.

  2. Divide the tomato rice onto the bowls and top with the feta. To finish, sprinkle with some chopped, black olives and dried herbs!

    Enjoy!

Have fun cooking,
Enjoy,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière

The BEST 15-minute Pasta with Rosé Cherry Tomato Honey-Lemon Sauce

by Kommentar verfassen

Summer can be tough for cooking. When having the choice between sitting in the sun and standing in the kitchen , who (except for me) would choose the kitchen? Probably most people wouldn’t. But still, have something delicious and nourishing to eat also is something we do not want to miss out on. Is that impossible? Definitely not!

It may seem a bit tricky to create something delicious in little time but it really isn’t. And given the amazing fruits and veggies that summer brings us, it is as easy as pie to add a whole bunch of nutrients to anything we make. So, we know it is possible to make something delicious and healthy, but what is more, we can even make something fancy. This pasta dish is perfect as a nice lunch that makes you feel as if you were in Italy or as a dinner for two on one of summer‘s long evenings.

Sounds complicated but is easy!

The name of this dish is pretty long and therefore may make the impression that this dish is complicated when it actually isn’t. Making this pasta actually requires very few ingredients, and pretty much all (maybe except for the olive oil and burrata) are available from a local source. It essentially only comes down to cooking the pasta and making the sauce by letting some fresh tomatoes, rosé, garlic, honey, lemon & some olive oil simmer until the tomatoes have bursted and flavours have been able to emerge.

What is special about this dish?

What is special is that it is really simple and yet pretty fancy. We‘re not making a classic tomato sauce here but one that is next level, while not taking much time. The tomatoes are sautéed in hot olive oil with some garlic to on the one hand soften, and on the other hand gain a nice roasted flavour. The honey intensifies the naturally sweet flavour of the tomatoes, while the lemon adds a nice refreshing contrast to them. And since the honey is added to balance it out, the sauce does not have a sour flavour. To make everything merge into a sauce, the rosé wine is used. Why rosé? In my opinion, rosé is just a summer wine. And since, as my dad likes to say, the wine that is used for cooking, also needs be drunken with the meal, there is no way around rosé. The sauce itself already is packed with so much flavour and can totally be eaten as is with the pasta. This way, you would actually have a vegan version of this dish. Nevertheless, in case you want to take everything next level, you can still top this dish off with some fresh, creamy burrata. Because nothing, really nothing, beats some burrata. The creaminess works in such perfect harmony with the sweet and fresh tomato sauce – pure heaven.

Is this dish healthy?

Definitely! Pasta has a reputation of not being healthy but it actually does have a bunch of health benefits. It is loaded with carbs, which make sure you stay full of energy for the rest of the day. Besides, it also comes with a decent amount of protein and fibre. When you chose to go for whole grain pasta, the amount of fibre is increased even more. Personally, I do not like the taste of whole grain pasta in this dish too much, but if you do, it would be a great choice! 

The real star of the show though are the tomatoes. Since this fruit (yes – it‘s a fruit!) is currently in season, they are full of goodies for you. Loaded with sweetness they provide a lot of fibre, Vitamin C & K, potassium and folate. Also, they are high in antioxidants, which have been linked to several health benefits. And the biggest benefit probably: they are delicious. Also garlic has a nutritional value that can be shown. It does not contain an excessive amount of one thing, but it has a bit of anything you need. Garlic has also been linked to help as medicine when catching a cold and to a reduction of blood pressure.

Also, the olive oil in this dish provided a decent amount of unsaturated fats, which are essential – especially for the brain. Yes, we are adding wine into this dish, but the alcohol cooks down, and what stays is the flavour. Last but definitely not least is the burrata on top. This heavenly creaminess is full of protein and deliciousness. It needs to be said that it also comes with a bunch of saturated fats but you know what? A little cheese never hurt nobody! 

Meal Prep? Yes! But not necessary! 

When I made this pasta for the first time, I did meal prep it because I took it to work (where we did not have a kitchen). It worked out perfectly when I heated it up in the microwave, although it would be even better to heat it up on the stove with a splash of water and tomato sauce if you have the possibility to do so. 

Please, still keep in mind that this dish only takes 15 minutes to make – only 10 minutes more than when heating it up. So if you do have a stove I can only recommend you to make it freshly! If you really are that crunched on time, you can also pre chop the tomatoes or throw them into the sauce as a whole. 

Pasta is always a great idea. Still, this dish is an extra level of great. The sweetness of the tomatoes in combination with the sour-tanginess of the lemons and the comfort from the pasta, plus the creaminess of the burrata = HEAVEN. Writing this only makes me want to have it again. You should really do yourself a favour and try this out and spoil yourself and a loved one with this! Easy as pie and tastes like heaven! 

I genuinely hope that you‘ll enjoy it and make it on repeat – at least for as long as tomatoes are in season! 
Enjoy,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière 

Print

15 minute Pasta with Rosé Cherry Tomato Honey-Lemon Sauce

This pasta dish is easy to make, packed with flavor and nutrients and just tastes like heaven. And all ready in 15 minutes. Don’t wait any longer and treat yourself to this! 

Course dinner, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 5 Minuten
Cook Time 10 Minuten
Total Time 15 Minuten
Servings 2 servings

What you will need

  • 250 g pasta (i like to use rigattoni, paccheri or something similar)
  • 500 g tomatoes (best is a mix of cherry tomatoes and large ones)
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • a splash rosé wine
  • 100 ml tomato sauce
  • 2 tsp honey
  • 1 lemon (we need the peel)
  • sea salt
  • 1 burrata
  • fresh basil to serve

How to

  1. Start by preparing the pasta. To do so, add the pasta to a pot with boiling, salted water and cook according to package instructions.

  2. In the meantime, half the cherry tomatoes and cut the larger ones into bite sized (about 1-2cm large) pieces. Peel and finely chop the garlic clove.

  3. Heat up the olive oil in a pan and add the garlic and tomatoes. Generously add some sea salt and let fry on medium high heat for about 3-4 minutes. Turn down to medium heat, add the rosé and tomato sauce and honey.

  4. Wash the lemon and with a potato peeler, peel the lemon off into stripes. Add them to the pan and let everything simmer for 3-4 more minutes.

  5. Before the pasta is done, remove half a cup of the water they are cooking in, then drain them and add them to the sauce along with the preserved water. You may need some olive oil or tomato sauce to help combine.

  6. Divide onto bowls and serve with fresh burrata and basil! Enjoy!

The Best Ever 15 Minute Veggie & Tofu Peanut Noodle Stir-Fry

by Kommentar verfassen

This sounds very complicated, I know, but indeed it actually is super super easy. And don‘t be fooled, easy does not mean boring. Because this is everything else than boring. We have got crispy, stir-fried veggies and tofu combined with saucy, peanuty noodles and topped with a decent amount of fresh herbs. The combo? Insane! The time needed? Insanely little! 

When I asked you all on instagram which dishes you would like to see more of, there were soso many that said „quick meals“. And really, I get you! Some days we just cannot stand spending large amounts of time in the kitchen preparing dinner and still want to have something healthy. And this can be a challenge. So recipes like these are perfect for when you want something quick and yet healthy and delicious! 

What is special about this dish? 

Well, it is super super quick. All we need to do is fry the veggies and tofu, cook the noodles and combine everything with the sauce! It comes together in something like 10-15 minutes, really! 

And then also, it is not very traditional. You could say it is pad-thai inspired, just way simpler, with fewer ingredients and a bit healthy. Maybe something like a mix between a pad-thai and a wok. So basically, with this we are inventing an easy and healthy dish.

Is this dish healthy? 

Yup Yup, it is. How come so? It is packed with all the nutrients we need to stay happy, healthy and full. The large amount if different veggies that we are using add a whole bunch of fibre and vitamins to the dish. The fibre helps our digestion and the vitamins our immune system and organs. Then we also have the tofu, which is another great source of fibre and also of protein, to help us strengthen and repair muscles.

Now what’s left are the noodles and the sauce. So as for the noodles, they are our source of carbohydrates, which we need for our energy. And the sauce, which is made up from peanut butter, honey (or maple), soy sauce, sesame oil and lime juice, is a great way to sneak in some healthy fats and more protein (from the nuts and oil). Yes, the soy sauce makes it contain a lot of salt too, so if you want less of that, you could just go for sodium-reduced soy sauce. 

How to make this dish? 

As the name implicates, this is easy peasy. So, what we need to do is chop the veggies, here you can really use whatever you want. I personally love asparagus, edamame (you don‘t have to chop this), bell peppers, spring onions, or broccoli and carrot, but really, just use whatever’s left in your fridge. That‘s what makes this so easy and versatile.

Then we also need to finely chop some ginger and cube some tofu and them throw everything into a pan with hot oil. This then is stir fried for 2-3 minutes until crispy. Then we turn it down to medium heat and cook the noodles. Depending on what you package instructions say, the cooking time may vary, but should probably be around 5 minutes. While they are cooking, we can mix everything for the peanut sauce. Then, once drained, we add the noodles to the pan, take it off the heat and mix it all with the sauce. Voilà, that‘s it! Now we just need to garnish it with the mint and cilantro and a lime wedge and our meal is finished!!

Perfect for meal prep! 

How come? Shouldn’t it be served warm? Definitely! Surprisingly though, it also tastes incredibly delicious when being served cold! The sauce gives it kind of a salad-vibe, so it tastes at least as tasty when it is cold. You could just add it to a tupperware and enjoy it cold. 

Honestly, this is one of my favorite quick and lazy meals! Perfect for busy work days or evenings when you are just tired and don’t feel like cooking! It is just perfect! 

Print

The Best Ever 15 Minute Veggie & Tofu Peanut Noodle Stir-Fry

Easy, delicious and healthy. These stir-fry noodles not only are easy to make but also taste so incredibly delicious and addicting. Soft noodles tossed in a tangy and salty sauce along with fresh veggies and perfect tofu. Really, there is no reason you would not want to have this.

Course Main Course, mealprep
Cuisine asian
Prep Time 5 Minuten
Cook Time 10 Minuten
Total Time 15 Minuten
Servings 4 servings

What you will need

  • 400 g glas noodles (rice noodles)
  • 400 g firm tofu
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 2cm piece of ginger
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 200 g edamame beans
  • 200 g mushrooms
  • 2 bok choy
  • 2 spring onions
  • 1 bell pepper

For the sauce:

  • 3 tbsp peanut butter
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp honey/ maple
  • fresh cilantro & lime for serving

How to

  1. Cut the tofu into 1cm sized chunks. Peel and finely mince the ginger. Heat up the oil and fry the ginger for 1 minute before adding the tofu and frying this for 2-3 Minutes on each side until crispy. Then add 2 tbsp of soy sauce.

  2. In the meantime prepare the noodles according to package instructions and undercook them for a minute. Peal (if necessary) and cut all veggies into bite-sized pieces and add to the tofu. turn onto medium heat.

  3. In the meantime combine everything for the sauce.

  4. Once the pasta is done, drain it and add it to the veggies along with the peanut sauce. Give it a good mix and serve with fresh cilantro & lime wedges!

  5. Enjoy!

I genuinely hope that you‘ll enjoy this and make it on repeat! 
Love,
Katie// Une Petite Cuisinière