Tofu: Slimy to Chewy

I found a way to make firm/extra firm tofu more chewy and less slimy.  Here's what I do:

1.  Take the firm or extra firm tofu out of the packaging in the sink and drain the liquid.  Put tofu blocks (usually it's two) on a cutting board.

2.  Cut the tofu into thick slices (you will end up cutting them into squares later)

3.  Turn stove on low to medium heat.  I have an electric stove and usually put the heat at about a 4, a gas stove should be easier to manage.  Note:  it's better to err on the side of having the heat too low than too high.  Your goal here is to evaporate some of the water.

4.  Put the tofu slices in the pan with no water and no oil.  Again you're just aiming to evaporate the water.  This can take a while - about 30-45 minutes or so.  I usually do other things while this is on the stove, like cutting and prepping the stir fry veggies.  No need to baby sit it as long you have the heat low.

5.  You can press on the tofu with a spatula if you want to help squeeze out some of the water and help the process along, but you don't have to.

6.  About half way through you should flip the tofu.  It might stick a little and the top might be a little brown and that's okay, if it's not that's okay too.  Also, if you have to keep the tofu on the stove longer than 45 minutes feel free but don't keep it on longer than about an hour.  I forgot about it once and all of the water evaporated and it was hard as a rock rather than chewy.  Had to throw it out.

7.  Once you get the tofu firm by evaporating the water, put them on a cutting board and let them cool a bit. Then cut them into smaller bite-size squares.

8.  Choose or make any kind of marinade you would normally use (e.g. on beef or chicken).  I like to make mine and I usually  use different ingredients every time - it depends would kind of mood I'm in...whether I want it sweet or spicy or garlicky etc.

9.  I put the marinade in a zip baggie, throw the tofu inside, seal it and shake it really to coat all of the tofu.  You can marinade this as long as you'd like but I usually leave for maybe 10-15 minutes or as long as it takes me to finish cutting a prepping the stir fry.

10.  Here's the stir fry for this day.  I add whatever we have on hand or whatever we decided to buy for it that day.  This one looks like it has tofu strips instead of squares, red peppers, onions, carrots, broccoli, pineapple...and I think that's it.  Just cook this all together along with marinade that was in the bag and you can also add additional spices if you want.  You can serve this with steamed white rice, brown rice, fried rice, or noodles - you pick and enjoy!