Tofu in Indian food, was Indian lentils

[Guest guest]

You know, I have a story to tell about tofu...

 

A number of years ago, an Indian woman I knew told me something. She

and her family are Jain - very strict vegetarians, but do eat dairy.

 

She told me that, ever since she'd come here a year or two earlier

(they were here temporarily on business) she'd been looking at the

tofu in the stores, thinking it looked a lot like panir (fresh

cheese.) And, when she asked about it, it sounded as if it was used in

much the same way. Now, she had to make panir almost every day - it

was their major source of protein (along with dal) and she used it all

the time. And, she wondered...

 

Finally, she decided to try. She bought tofu, used it to make her

husband's favorite meal (without telling him) and watched to see the

reaction. Evidently, she wasn't subtle about it, but kept asking how

he liked it, if it was OK... Finally, he looked at her and said

" Honey, you know I like this, it tastes the way it always does when

you cook it, what are you fussing about? " Victory!

 

I believe she did continue to make the panir most of the time, but

this gave her a fallback for busy days, which she appreciated.

 

And it told me that I can substitute tofu for panir without hurting

the taste of the recipe! I definitely use extra firm, and press it -

panir is pretty firm.

 

Anne

 

On Thu, Apr 9, 2009 at 6:43 AM, Heather Butler <hawaiihmb wrote:

> Last night I did not feel like going to the grocery store so I scoured my

pantry for ideas for meals.  I found a can of lentils, a can of tomato sauce,

and pulled a tub of extra firm tofu out of the fridge.  I haven't made Indian

food in awhile so I sauteed some ginger in a pan, added some cumin seeds and

then some powdered spices (garam masala, cumin, coriander, tumeric) and the

tomato sauce.  Cooked that for a few minutes to get the flavor throughout and

added the lentils and the cubed tofu.  And now voila!  Add some brown rice and I

have a few meals for the next few days.  Oh, and of course veggies on the

side--those I already had cooked.

>

> Heather

>

[Guest guest]

Anne, thanks for the story. I am glad to hear how easy it is to substitute tofu

for panir. That's what I was going for when I made the change myself. I, too,

have found the extra firm is critical for this, otherwise it breaks apart.

 

Heather

 

There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle.

--Albert Einstein

 

 

 

 

________________________________

Anne F <cityladya

 

Thursday, April 9, 2009 8:35:30 AM

Tofu in Indian food, was Indian lentils

 

 

 

 

 

You know, I have a story to tell about tofu...

 

A number of years ago, an Indian woman I knew told me something. She

and her family are Jain - very strict vegetarians, but do eat dairy.

 

She told me that, ever since she'd come here a year or two earlier

(they were here temporarily on business) she'd been looking at the

tofu in the stores, thinking it looked a lot like panir (fresh

cheese.) And, when she asked about it, it sounded as if it was used in

much the same way. Now, she had to make panir almost every day - it

was their major source of protein (along with dal) and she used it all

the time. And, she wondered...

 

Finally, she decided to try. She bought tofu, used it to make her

husband's favorite meal (without telling him) and watched to see the

reaction. Evidently, she wasn't subtle about it, but kept asking how

he liked it, if it was OK... Finally, he looked at her and said

" Honey, you know I like this, it tastes the way it always does when

you cook it, what are you fussing about? " Victory!

 

I believe she did continue to make the panir most of the time, but

this gave her a fallback for busy days, which she appreciated.

 

And it told me that I can substitute tofu for panir without hurting

the taste of the recipe! I definitely use extra firm, and press it -

panir is pretty firm.

 

Anne

 

On Thu, Apr 9, 2009 at 6:43 AM, Heather Butler <hawaiihmb > wrote:

> Last night I did not feel like going to the grocery store so I scoured my

pantry for ideas for meals. I found a can of lentils, a can of tomato sauce,

and pulled a tub of extra firm tofu out of the fridge. I haven't made Indian

food in awhile so I sauteed some ginger in a pan, added some cumin seeds and

then some powdered spices (garam masala, cumin, coriander, tumeric) and the

tomato sauce. Cooked that for a few minutes to get the flavor throughout and

added the lentils and the cubed tofu. And now voila! Add some brown rice and I

have a few meals for the next few days. Oh, and of course veggies on the

side--those I already had cooked.

>

> Heather

>