These croquettes are easy and nutritious. Serve them on a bed of rice covered with Sweet and Sour Sauce, and steamed vegetables. Another fun way to serve them is on a bun with ketchup, pickles, and coleslaw, and sweet corn.
MAKES: 8
INGREDIENTS:
SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups pineapple-coconut, apple, or pineapple juice
- 1-inch piece ginger root, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, mashed
- 1/4 onion, peeled and chopped
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon mirin (optional)
- 1 teaspoon tamari
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot, dissolved in 1/4 cup
- cold water
CROQUETTES
- 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 large carrot, grated
- 1 stalk celery, minced
- 4 scallions, minced
- 1 package firm tofu
- 1/3 cup roasted sesame seeds
- 1/3 cup chopped peanuts
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 1 tablespoon white miso (optional)
- 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- cayenne to taste
- 3/4 cup bread or cracker crumbs
- 1 to 2 eggs
- vegetable oil for sauteing
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Simmer all the ingredients of sauce except cornstarch or arrowroot for 30 minutes. Strain, reserving liquid.
- Return to the heat. Add the cornstarch mixture, and stir until sauce has thickened slightly.
- Optional: Add chunks of fresh pineapple and fresh, peeled tomatoes to the ingredients before simmering. Makes 4 cups.
- Saute carrot and celery in 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil. After a few minutes, add scallions and saute for 1 more minute.
- Mash tofu with a fork. Add remaining ingredients to tofu, and continue mixing until tofu is completely broken up and ingredients are evenly blended. Add a second egg if mixture does not hold together.
- Form into 2- to 3-inch croquettes.Saute in hot vegetable oil.
