Tofu Ground Beef

Ingredients

• 16 oz Super Firm Tofu (*)
• 1 tsp Vegan Beef Bouillon (or Veggie Bouillon)
• 2-3 Tbsp Soy Sauce (or Tamari)
• 1 tsp Marmite (or 1 Tbsp Steak Sauce)
• 1/2 tsp Liquid Smoke
• 1 - 3 tsp Gravy Master (optional for color)
• 2 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast
• 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 2 Tbsp Neutral Oil (Vegetable, Canola etc)
• 2 Tbsp Water
• 1 Tbsp Tomato Paste (optional for more UMAMI)
• 1 Tbsp Blackstrap Molasses (optional)

Instructions

1. Remove tofu from packaging and pat dry. You can press the tofu if you wish, but I didn't find it necessary. Crumble into a bowl.
2. Make the marinade by combining everything in a bowl. Pour over the crumbled tofu. With clean hands, toss the crumbles and coat thoroughly in the marinade.
3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper / cooking spray and spread out the tofu pieces in a single layer. Bake at 350 F / 175 C for 20 - 30 minutes, or until the tofu is slightly dried out and chewy. Extra Firm tofu may need an extra 10 minutes, so 30 - 40. I would suggest checking it every 15 minutes if you're unsure so you don't dry it out too much.
4. Transfer the tofu to a 12 inch skillet, and add 1 cup of liquid (either water, broth, or a mixture, depending on how salty you want the meat, I suggest tasting the tofu before adding any broth so it doesn't get too salty) and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and then simmer until the liquid is mostly reduced. About 10 minutes or so. Taste and adjust for seasoning.
5. Your meat is done! Enjoy as you wish! Like I said it can be used in just about any application you would use regular ground beef!
6. Quick & Easy Method
7. Recently I've been skipping the baking step and just crumbling the tofu into a pan and cooking it in the marinade. While this won't get you the chewy texture that baking does, it's still pretty dang good and ready in a lot less time! Perfect for a quick meal!Just cook the crumbled SUPER FIRM tofu in a pan for about 5 - 6 minutes over medium heat to dry it out a bit more.
8. Then add the marinade, toss to coat and cook for about 5 minutes until it gets some nice browning. Add in more water or broth if desired and enjoy!