Tofu with Thai Curry Sauce

4 servings, generous 3/4 cup each | Active Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

Sauce

1 cup “lite” coconut milk, (see Ingredient notes)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon red curry paste, or to taste (see Ingredient notes)
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Tofu & vegetables

14 ounces extra-firm tofu, preferably water-packed
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 cups baby spinach, (6 ounces)
1 medium red bell pepper, sliced (1 1/2 cups)

Preparation

To prepare sauce: Whisk coconut milk, cilantro, curry paste, brown sugar and salt in a small bowl.
To prepare tofu: Drain and rinse tofu; pat dry. Slice the block crosswise into eight 1/2-inch-thick slabs. Coarsely crumble each slice into smaller, uneven pieces.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add tofu and cook in a single layer, without stirring, until the pieces begin to turn golden brown on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Then gently stir and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until all sides are golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes more.
Add spinach, bell pepper and the curry sauce and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are just cooked, 1 to 2 minutes more.

Tips & Notes

Ingredient Notes: Look for reduced-fat coconut milk (labeled “lite”) in the Asian section of your market.
Red curry paste is a convenient way to add heat and complexity to a recipe. Look for it in small jars in the Asian section of the supermarket.

From EatingWell: February/March 2005, The EatingWell Diabetes Cookbook (2005)

Moo Shu Vegetables

4 servings, about 1 1/4 cups each | Active Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

3 teaspoons toasted sesame oil, divided
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 12-ounce bag shredded mixed vegetables, such as “rainbow salad” or “broccoli slaw”
2 cups mung bean sprouts
1 bunch scallions, sliced, divided
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, (see Shopping Tip)

Preparation

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add eggs; cook, stirring gently, until set, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a plate.
Wipe out the pan and heat the remaining 2 teaspoons oil over medium heat. Add ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened and fragrant, 1 minute. Add shredded vegetables, bean sprouts, half the sliced scallions, soy sauce and vinegar. Stir to combine. Cover and cook, stirring once or twice, until the vegetables are just tender, about 3 minutes. Add the reserved eggs and hoisin; cook, uncovered, stirring and breaking up the scrambled eggs, until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining scallions and remove from the heat.

Tips & Notes

Shopping tip: Hoisin sauce is a dark brown, thick, spicy-sweet sauce made from soybeans and a complex mix of spices. Look for it in the Asian section of your supermarket and in Asian markets.

From EatingWell: September/October 2008

Italian Vegetable Hoagies

4 servings | Active Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion, separated into rings
• 1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, rinsed and coarsely chopped
• 1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 16- to 20-inch-long baguette, preferably whole-grain
• 2 slices provolone cheese, (about 2 ounces), halved
• 2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
• 1/4 cup sliced pepperoncini, (optional)

Preparation
1. Place onion rings in a small bowl and add cold water to cover. Set aside while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
2. Combine artichoke hearts, tomato, vinegar, oil and oregano in a medium bowl. Cut baguette into 4 equal lengths. Split each piece horizontally and pull out about half of the soft bread from each side. Drain the onions and pat dry.
3. To assemble sandwiches, divide provolone among the bottom pieces of baguette. Spread on the artichoke mixture and top with the onion, lettuce and pepperoncini, if using. Cover with the baguette tops. Serve immediately.

Recipe from EatingWell: July/August 2009