Crispy Tofu Sandwiches

Tofu is one of those things that can be really gross if the texture is all wrong. Since it has no flavor on its own, it can be hard to convince some of our carnivorous friends to give it a try. These sandwiches are a good intro to tofu for those of you that are still not too thrilled about the product. They make a great lunch to pack for work or school and have great crunch to combat that mushy grossness of the uncooked stuff.

Ingredients:

For the crispy tofu:

1 package extra firm tofu
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup white flour
salt
pepper
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 cloves garlic

Start by cutting the tofu into 1/2 inch slices and laying them in between two paper towels and a clean cotton towel. The main way to get a good texture and flavor into tofu is to make sure that it is dry, so pat that stuff down with the towels as much as you can without squishing it.

In a bowl, mix together the maple syrup, chili powder, soy sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper. Set that aside and in a small plate use a fork to combine the flour, panko bread crumbs, some salt, and pepper.

Now you are going to want to set up a bit of an assembly line. First the tofu goes in the maple syrup marinade, then the flour/panko mixture, and then into a hot pan with a little olive oil.

Cook the tofu for a couple minutes on each side, until you can see the bread crumb mixture making a nice crust on the outside. Drain it on some paper towels to get the extra oil off and you are ready to eat!