No-Cook Pizza Sauce (Passata)

This is the easiest and quickest pizza sauce you can make at home. Grab a sieved tomato puree, also known as passata, and the right seasoning and make the perfect homemade pizza sauce. No cooking is needed. Mix, spread, and bake. Everyone has a favorit…

This is the easiest and quickest pizza sauce you can make at home. Grab a sieved tomato puree, also known as passata, and the right seasoning and make the perfect homemade pizza sauce. No cooking is needed. Mix, spread, and bake. Everyone has a favorite pizza. Ours is the airy, fluffy Neapolitan pizza, which my...

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Forbidden Black Rice

As I rummaged through my pantry last spring, I found a canister of black rice that I’d forgotten about. Jack and I hadn’t been to the store in weeks. After eating our way through boxes of pasta and bags of white rice, the black rice was an …


As I rummaged through my pantry last spring, I found a canister of black rice that I’d forgotten about. Jack and I hadn’t been to the store in weeks. After eating our way through boxes of pasta and bags of white rice, the black rice was an exciting change. Thanks to its nutty flavor and striking purple hue, black rice, also called forbidden rice, had been one of my favorite grains when we lived in Austin. I’d get it from the bulk bins at the grocery store, eagerly anticipating adding it to salads and bowls when I got home. I […]

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Easy Tofu Tacos

This tofu tacos recipe is what easy dinners are made of! The filling is spiced to perfection, making it a vegan meal everyone will love. Here’s a fast and easy dinner that went over like a charm over here: Tofu Tacos! While it’s not typically served in a tortilla, tofu is ideal for tacos. Its neutral flavor takes on whatever flavors you season it with: and these tofu crumbles are quite the kitchen trick. Add cumin, garlic powder, chili powder and smoked paprika, and the filling is bursting with flavor! You can whip up these easy tacos in just 20 minutes, making them ideal for weeknight meals. Wait: you can make a block of rubbery white tofu into the best vegan tacos filling? Here’s how. First off: is tofu healthy? There’s a lot of misinformation related to the health benefits of this soy product, so we get this question a lot. Here’s the thing: Tofu in moderation is part of a healthy diet (several times per week). Per to the Harvard School of Nutrition, soy is a nutrient-dense source of protein that can safely be consumed several times a week. It’s likely to provide health benefits, especially when you eat it as an […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This tofu tacos recipe is what easy dinners are made of! The filling is spiced to perfection, making it a vegan meal everyone will love.

Tofu Tacos

Here’s a fast and easy dinner that went over like a charm over here: Tofu Tacos! While it’s not typically served in a tortilla, tofu is ideal for tacos. Its neutral flavor takes on whatever flavors you season it with: and these tofu crumbles are quite the kitchen trick. Add cumin, garlic powder, chili powder and smoked paprika, and the filling is bursting with flavor! You can whip up these easy tacos in just 20 minutes, making them ideal for weeknight meals. Wait: you can make a block of rubbery white tofu into the best vegan tacos filling? Here’s how.

First off: is tofu healthy?

There’s a lot of misinformation related to the health benefits of this soy product, so we get this question a lot. Here’s the thing: Tofu in moderation is part of a healthy diet (several times per week). Per to the Harvard School of Nutrition, soy is a nutrient-dense source of protein that can safely be consumed several times a week. It’s likely to provide health benefits, especially when you eat it as an alternative to red meat and processed meat. For more, go to Straight Talk About Soy and Is Tofu Good for You?

Here at A Couple Cooks, for years we avoided tofu though we ate mostly vegetarian and vegan recipes. The past few years we’ve come around to it as a delicious and easy to prepare vegan protein! We just didn’t know the best ways to prepare it. Speaking of, here’s one of our new favorites…

Tofu Tacos recipe

How to turn a block into tofu tacos filling

Yes, it’s easier than you think to make a flavorless block of pressed soy into a delicious tofu tacos filling! The secret: tofu crumbles. You’ll break the tofu into smaller irregular shaped pieces, then mix it with delicious seasonings. Here’s what to do:

  • Crumble the tofu with your fingers. Yep, throw it right into a bowl and crumble it up! It’s usually pretty cold at this point (since it’s refrigerated), so you’ll have to grin and bear it.
  • Add olive oil and the secret spices. In this case, that’s cumin, garlic powder, chili powder and smoked paprika.
  • Cook in a skillet for 8 to 10 minutes. You’ll want it to be just browned and becoming lightly crisp on the outsides.

The easiest taco toppings

To keep these as a quick and easy dinner recipe, we went for the simplest toppings imaginable. Of course, you can customize them as you’d like! Here’s what we do when we’re in a rush:

  • Sliced red cabbage with lime: Thinly slice it, then spritz with lime juice and add a few pinches salt. You don’t even need to measure!
  • Pico de gallo: Get store-bought for the quickest prep.
  • Torn cilantro: No need to chop: just tear it with your fingers.
  • Yogurt mixed with hot sauce: This is our other favorite taco sauce trick! Take some vegan yogurt and swirl it with Mexican hot sauce (we like Cholula). It makes an instant creamy, spicy sauce. You can also use storebought salsa or taco sauce (or make homemade).
Tofu tacos filling

More tofu tacos topping ideas

The toppings listed above are the quickest and easiest: and usually they’re all we need! But if you want to get fancier, we’ve got lots of great options. Here are some fun tacos fillings ideas:

Tip: warm your tortillas

Here’s our biggest tip for tofu tacos, or tacos of any kind: warm your tortillas! There’s nothing worse than a taco with a tough, cold tortilla. Here’s how to warm tortillas like a pro:

  • Place them over the flame of a gas burner (preferred!). The best way? Place each tortilla directly on a gas burner for a few seconds per side. It lightly chars the edges and warms the tortillas. Then throw them into a tortilla warmer!
  • Or, warm them in the oven. If you don’t have a gas burner, you can warm them in the oven. Go to How to Warm Tortillas.
Tofu tacos

More great tofu recipes

There are so many great recipe to make with tofu! As I mentioned above, we used to avoid tofu but now we like including it as part of a healthy vegetarian and vegan diet! Now that we know the best ways to prepare it, we always look forward to including it in weekly meals. How about you: are you a tofu convert too? Have you always loved this tasty soy protein?

Here are a few more great tofu recipes we’d recommend in addition to these tofu tacos:

This tofu tacos recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Tofu Tacos

Easy Tofu Tacos


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 8 tacos
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This tofu tacos recipe is what easy dinners are made of! The filling is spiced to perfection, making it a vegan meal everyone will love. 


Ingredients

For the tofu

  • 12 to 14-ounce block extra firm tofu
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

For the tacos

  • 2 cups red cabbage
  • Lime wedges
  • Fresh cilantro leaves, torn
  • Pico de gallo (purchased or homemade)
  • Vegan yogurt (or regular), mixed with salt and Mexican hot sauce to taste (we like Cholula brand)

Instructions

  1. Make the tofu crumbles: Drain the tofu container, then pat the tofu dry with a clean dish towel. Place the tofu in a large bowl and use your fingers to break the tofu into roughly bite-sized crumbles. (It might be a little cold on your hands: don’t worry, it should only take a few seconds!). Stir in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, salt and spices.
  2. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large non-stick skillet. Add the tofu and cook on medium high for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking up large pieces into bite sized chunks and stirring occasionally, until browned and lightly crispy and the liquid evaporates. (The exact timing depends on the tofu brand.)
  3. Assemble the toppings: Thinly slice the red cabbage, and place it in a bowl. Spritz with the juice of 2 lime wedges and add a few pinches kosher salt. Mix the vegan yogurt with Mexican hot sauce to taste, and add a few pinches of salt. 
  4. Warm the tortillas: Warm and char the tortillas by placing them on an open gas flame on medium for a few seconds per side, flipping with tongs, until they are slightly blackened and warm. (See How to Warm Tortillas.)
  5. Serve: Place the tofu crumbles in the tortillas, then top with toppings and enjoy. 
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Mexican inspired

Keywords: Tofu tacos

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Mushroom “Carnitas”

This fun mushroom “carnitas” recipe is easy make with marinated shredded mushrooms that are roasted to crispy, juicy, delicious perfection!  Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and perfect for tacos, burritos, quesadillas and more. I’ve got a fun new vegetarian dinner recipe today for you guys to try… …mushroom “carnitas!” ♡ Yep, this classic Mexican dish has gone […]

This fun mushroom “carnitas” recipe is easy make with marinated shredded mushrooms that are roasted to crispy, juicy, delicious perfection!  Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and perfect for tacos, burritos, quesadillas and more.

Mushroom Carnitas on Sheet Pan

I’ve got a fun new vegetarian dinner recipe today for you guys to try…

…mushroom “carnitas!” ♡

Yep, this classic Mexican dish has gone vegetarian (also naturally vegan and gluten-free!) thanks to a simple swap of shredded mushrooms in place of the meat.  And while these plant-based “carnitas” can really be made with just about any type of mushrooms, we love making them in our house with king oyster mushrooms because they can be shredded to take on a shockingly similar texture and meaty flavor of traditional pork carnitas.  My vegetarian husband totally did a double take the first time I served him a plate and couldn’t believe they weren’t made of meat!

Simply shred the mushrooms, toss them with your favorite marinade, and roast them up in the oven to crispy, juicy, delicious perfection.  Then these mushroom “carnitas” will be ready to serve in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, burrito bowls, chilaquiles, enchiladas, salads, or whatever sounds good!

They’re seriously so fun to make, and I promise that even the meat-eaters in your life won’t miss the pork with this dish.  Let’s make some!

Mushroom "Carnitas" Tacos (Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free) (more…)

Vegan Sushi

I’ve shared vegan sushi recipes before, but earlier this winter, I thought of another idea that I just had to try. I wanted to make vegan sushi that looked like, well, not vegan sushi. I thought that if I marinated pink Chioggia beets they’…


I’ve shared vegan sushi recipes before, but earlier this winter, I thought of another idea that I just had to try. I wanted to make vegan sushi that looked like, well, not vegan sushi. I thought that if I marinated pink Chioggia beets they’d look pretty darn similar to tuna. How cute would that be?! There was just one problem: Jack hates beets. Sure, he’ll eat certain beet recipes from time to time, but that only happens when I put a dish in front of him and don’t tell him what’s in it. And in our house, vegan sushi is one thing we […]

The post Vegan Sushi appeared first on Love and Lemons.

Easy Caramelized Onions (Oil-Free!)

Caramelized onions without the oil? Friends, we tried it and it’s more than possible! These tender, caramelized bites of goodness are incredibly versatile and perfect for adding sweet-savory flavor to a variety of dishes.
Just 1 pan and 1 ingredient r…

Easy Caramelized Onions (Oil-Free!)

Caramelized onions without the oil? Friends, we tried it and it’s more than possible! These tender, caramelized bites of goodness are incredibly versatile and perfect for adding sweet-savory flavor to a variety of dishes.

Just 1 pan and 1 ingredient required. Let us show you how it’s done!

First, let’s talk about the science of caramelized onions. The process of cooking the onions for a long time breaks down and releases the natural sugars from the onion.

Easy Caramelized Onions (Oil-Free!) from Minimalist Baker →

Grape Smoothie

This grape smoothie recipe is tangy sweet with just 4 ingredients! It’s an easy breakfast or snack that’s a great use for frozen grapes. On our way to making smoothie recipes with all the fruits and vegetables, we met a smoothie that surprised us. This weirdly delicious Grape Smoothie! The flavor is such a pop of sweet tart and delicious, you might not believe it on first sip. Who knew frozen grapes were the key to the tastiest of all smoothies? Consider us impressed. This one stood out to us in our list of 30+ smoothies as a simple, easy and healthy way to feel like you’re eating a treat. Here’s what you need to know to make it! Ingredients in a grape smoothie This grape smoothie is ultra simple: in fact, it’s got one of the shortest ingredient lists for any of our smoothie recipes. Here’s what you need: Grapes: We prefer the sweet flavor of red grapes in this smoothie! If you have green grapes, you can certainly use them too. They’re a little more tart, so you could add a little honey or maple syrup as necessary. Banana: No need for frozen banana: use a room temperature […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This grape smoothie recipe is tangy sweet with just 4 ingredients! It’s an easy breakfast or snack that’s a great use for frozen grapes.

Grape Smoothie

On our way to making smoothie recipes with all the fruits and vegetables, we met a smoothie that surprised us. This weirdly delicious Grape Smoothie! The flavor is such a pop of sweet tart and delicious, you might not believe it on first sip. Who knew frozen grapes were the key to the tastiest of all smoothies? Consider us impressed. This one stood out to us in our list of 30+ smoothies as a simple, easy and healthy way to feel like you’re eating a treat. Here’s what you need to know to make it!

Ingredients in a grape smoothie

This grape smoothie is ultra simple: in fact, it’s got one of the shortest ingredient lists for any of our smoothie recipes. Here’s what you need:

  • Grapes: We prefer the sweet flavor of red grapes in this smoothie! If you have green grapes, you can certainly use them too. They’re a little more tart, so you could add a little honey or maple syrup as necessary.
  • Banana: No need for frozen banana: use a room temperature banana here.
  • Greek yogurt: We love adding Greek yogurt to smoothies because it’s protein packed. You can also make this smoothie vegan by simply adding more non-dairy milk.
  • Milk: You can use any type of milk you’d like here, or if you don’t stock it, substitute water.
Grape smoothie

Allow 2 hours for frozen grapes (or overnight)

Are frozen grapes good for smoothies? Yes! Frozen grapes are perfect for adding an icy texture and sweetness to smoothies. They’re a bit sweeter than frozen blueberries and strawberries, which makes them great for adding to smoothie flavors of all kinds. Add them to your next blueberry smoothie or strawberry smoothie to mix it up!

How long does it take grapes to freeze? Allow about 2 hours for grapes to freeze completely. It’s also easy to toss them into a freezer safe container and freeze overnight.

Flavor variations and add-ins!

This grape smoothie is a great canvas for adding interesting flavors to your puree. In fact, we can think of about 100 variations. Here are some favorites:

  • PB&J: Add 1 to 2 tablespoons peanut butter for a PB&J vibe
  • Vanilla: Add 1 scoop vanilla protein powder or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Berries: Substitute 1 cup frozen blueberries, raspberries or strawberries for half of the grapes
  • Mango: Substitute 1 cup frozen mango for half of the grapes
  • Pineapple: Substitute 1 cup frozen pineapple for half of the grapes
  • Coconut: Add a handful of shredded coconut or coconut milk
  • Chocolate: Add 3 tablespoons cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Grape smoothie recipe

Make it a vegan grape smoothie (& add protein!)

This grape smoothie has Greek yogurt, like many of our smoothie recipes, to load on protein and healthy probiotics. But want a vegan smoothie? Here’s what to do:

  • Use non-dairy milk for the Greek yogurt and milk (start with 3/4 cup). You don’t need Greek yogurt here: though it does add some creamy body! Use a non-dairy milk like almond milk or oat milk. Coconut milk also works, but it’s high fat: consider using just 1/2 cup coconut milk and 1/4 cup almond or oat milk.
  • Add back some protein! You’ll lose some protein from removing the yogurt. Here are some ideas for adding plant based protein to smoothies:
Grape smoothie

Smoothie storage

This grape smoothie is best right after you blend it up. But you can make smoothies in advance! Store them up to 1 day, refrigerated in a sealed container or a mason jar with the lid on. If it separates, just shake it up and you’re good to go!

This grape smoothie recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, see the substitutions listed in the recipe.

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Grape Smoothie

Grape Smoothie (4 Ingredients!)


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 small or 1 large
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This grape smoothie recipe is tangy sweet with just 4 ingredients! It’s an easy breakfast or snack that’s a great use for frozen grapes.


Ingredients

  • 2 cups seedless red grapes, frozen at least 2 hours or overnight
  • 1 banana (room temperature)
  • 1/2 cup milk (or almond milk or oat milk)
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (or 1/4 cup non-dairy milk for vegan, see below)

Instructions

  1. Before starting the recipe, remember to freeze the grapes!
  2. Place all ingredients in the blender starting with the milk and yogurt, breaking the banana into pieces. Blend until smooth, adding a splash more liquid as necessary to come to the desired consistency. 
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Blended
  • Cuisine: Smoothie

Keywords: Grape smoothie

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

The Best Gluten-free Pizza Crust

Make it a fun pizza night at home with the family with this easy-to-make, light, and airy Neapolitan gluten-free pizza crust. Made with six simple ingredients and baked to perfection, this tender and crunchy crust is so good, your guests will think it …

Make it a fun pizza night at home with the family with this easy-to-make, light, and airy Neapolitan gluten-free pizza crust. Made with six simple ingredients and baked to perfection, this tender and crunchy crust is so good, your guests will think it came from an Italian restaurant in Naples! For more easy recipes to...

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The post The Best Gluten-free Pizza Crust appeared first on My Pure Plants.

Miso Soup

Raise your hand if you love miso soup! Same. The cloudy broth is warming, nourishing, and deeply flavorful. On a cold, gray winter day, there’s nothing I crave more. It clears my head and warms me up from the inside out. For years, I only ate mis…


Raise your hand if you love miso soup! Same. The cloudy broth is warming, nourishing, and deeply flavorful. On a cold, gray winter day, there’s nothing I crave more. It clears my head and warms me up from the inside out. For years, I only ate miso soup at Japanese restaurants. But after Jack and I traveled to Japan for the first time, we got curious about Japanese cooking at home. We cooked soba noodles, we made matcha, and we decided to try a miso soup recipe. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I certainly didn’t imagine the […]

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Healthy Stuffed Zucchini

These healthy stuffed zucchini are oven baked and filled with fluffy quinoa and coarsely chopped walnuts and raisins. Served with a creamy, vegan puree, these stuffed zucchinis make for an elegant main course or a simple side salad.  These quinoa s…

healthy stuffed zucchini
These healthy stuffed zucchini are oven baked and filled with fluffy quinoa and coarsely chopped walnuts and raisins. Served with a creamy, vegan puree, these stuffed zucchinis make for an elegant main course or a simple side salad.  These quinoa stuffed zucchinis are completely vegan and super versatile!