Well, I went to the produce store and made a bunch of impulse buys last week. Included in my purchase were a bunch of gorgeous figs, a 2 ½ pound mango, and some ripe plantains. The mango was the only buy that was a bit disappointing. This sucker was big and I had such high hopes! But it didn’t quite ripen evenly and I ended up with a mix of pale, not quite sweet enough parts, and some mushy spots. The figs were awesome and I’ve got a recipe on the way. And that leaves us with some plantains!
I’ve been itching to try plantains in a curry for a while, so I was ready when I got home with these guys. I went with what I think of as an African-inspired peanut butter curry. If you’re a fan of African peanut stew you’ll enjoy this one! I love curries this time of year, because they help me pretend it’s cold out already. We’re almost there, but yesterday it was still in the eighties here in southeastern Pennsylvania. Not for long! I’m ready with curry. Also, curries are so easy! One pot is all you need. There are a bunch of ways to cook plantains, but I like them in a stew because you can just chop and toss them in. Check out this chili recipe if you want another chop and toss plantain recipe. This one starts with some aromatics: onion, garlic and ginger. Add some curry powder, and then in with tomatoes and peanut butter. Stir it up, add the plantains and simmer until they’re soft.
Cook up your smoky tofu while the curry simmers. I used frozen tofu for this. While freezing the tofu certainly isn’t a requirement, it gives it a great texture and creates little pockets for it to suck up the smoky seasonings. Pan-fry the tofu in a bit of oil, then add your seasonings and cook for a few more minutes until the liquid dries up.
Stir the tofu into the curry when it’s all done simmering, and then serve with rice and peanuts.
Vegan comfort food at it’s best.
Tips for Making Awesome Tofu & Plantain Curry
What’s the best way to go about freezing tofu? There’s no real trick to it. You can either keep it in the package, or remove it stick it in a freezer bag. The only requirement is that it freezes completely. You can thaw your frozen tofu on the counter or in the microwave. You’ll find that it releases quite a bit of water, so keep it on a plate with a lip if it’s not in the original package. Look for plantains that are yellow with some brown spots. This means they’re nice and ripe. Don’t use green plantains for this.
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