I’m really excited to share this recipe that I’ve created. With Easter just around the corner I have the perfect vegan pickled fish substitute. O’ yes I do ? Instead of fish I used firm tofu and to add the flavour of the ocean, I incorporated nori sheets. M mm mmm…the flavours are bold, the textures are beautiful… be warned! This dish is Simply divine!!!
+/- 300g Firm Tofu (cut into approx. 2x5cm pieces)
60ml canola or Olive oil
½ cup flour cake flour (seasoned with salt & pepper)
1 off 19cmx21cm Nori sheet (seaweed)
Pickle Sauce
60ml canola or Olive oil
½ tsp black mustards seeds
3 medium onions sliced into rings
1 tsp (5ml) black peppercorns
5 cloves
1 small cinnamon stick
3 star anise
2 cloves garlic sliced
1 Tbsp. (15ml) ginger sliced into match sticks
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 Tbsp (15ml) coriander powder
2 tsp (10ml) cumin powder
1 tsp (5ml) cayenne pepper or paprika powder
3-4 dry red chillies
500ml white vinegar
1 ½ tsp (7.5ml) salt
2 Tbsp (30ml) white or brown sugar
3-4 bay leaves
1 Tbsp (15ml) cornflour mixed with a little water
Let’s get pickling ?
Start with the pickle sauce – heat the oil in a big heavy based pot.
Toss in the mustard seeds, once it pops, throw in the onions and cook until translucent but still has a crunch – cook for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon stick, star anise, garlic and ginger – give it a nice stir & sauté for 2 minutes.
Toss in the coriander powder, cumin powder, cayenne pepper and red chillies give it another good stir.
Now carefully add the vinegar, salt, sugar and bay leaves. Stir gently – Cover the pot with a lid.
Bring it to a boil. Pour and stir in the cornflour mixture, cover the pot and let it simmer on low/medium heat for 10 minutes. Once done, turn of the heat.
Slice the nori sheets into 2 cm thick pieces along the length, of these cut up 4 strips into small square pieces.
Heat the balance of the oil in a heavy based pan
Dredge the Tofu in the seasoned flour and fry for 5 minutes on each side on medium heat. Turn of the heat and then add the small pieces nori. Let it soak for 5-8 minutes.
Wrap a strip of nori around each tofu piece – keep aside
In a small bowl or tray – layer some pickling juice and onions
Next layer place the tofu pieces on the above layer
Spoon the balance of the pickle sauce and onions over the tofu
Allow to cool and then shrink wrap. Let’s this pickle for two days in the fridge.
When ready, heat in a microwave and serve warm as desired.
Recipe with pics: ingredients
Toss in the mustard seeds, once it pops, throw in the onions and cook until translucent but still has a crunch – cook for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon stick, star anise, garlic and ginger – give it a nice stir & sauté for 2 minutes.
Toss in the coriander powder, cumin powder, cayenne pepper and red chillies give it another good stir.
Now carefully add the vinegar, salt, sugar and bay leaves. Stir gently – Cover the pot with a lid.
Slice the nori sheets into 2 cm thick pieces along the length, of these cut up 4 strips into small square pieces.
Heat the balance of the oil in a heavy based pan
Dredge the Tofu in the seasoned flour and fry for 5 minutes on each side on medium heat. Turn of the heat and then add the small pieces nori. Let it soak for 5-8 minutes.
Wrap a strip of nori around each tofu piece – keep aside
In a small bowl or tray – layer some pickling juice and onions
Next layer place the tofu pieces on the above layer
Spoon the balance of the pickle sauce and onions over the tofu
Allow to cool and then shrink wrap. Let’s this pickle for two days in the fridge.
When ready, heat in a microwave and serve warm as desired.