Caramelized Tofu W/ Shredded Brussels Sprouts

Feeding my Family's Note:

Last Thanksgiving, none of my guests wanted turkey, so I wanted to come up with a pareve main dish. There were NO leftovers and I get more requests for this recipe throughout the year than anything else, so it will be the main fare this year as well.

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 lb extra firm tofu
• 3 garlic cloves , minced
• 1⁄3; cup pecans , chopped
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro , chopped
• 2 tablespoons peanut oil
• 1 dash sea salt
• 12 ounces frozen Brussels sprouts

Directions:

1. Drain the tofu. Slice the tofu into strips or triangles. Put the tofu pieces between two paper towels or woven dish towels (NOT terry cloth) and gently press, enough to get a lot of water out but not hard enough to squish it.
2. If you have a non-stick pan, dry fry the tofu as follows (otherwise, fry it with a splash of peanut oil and a pinch of sea salt). Heat your non-stick pan on medium heat on an electric range (low to medium-low on a gas range) and add your tofu in a single layer. Slow cooking is the key to keeping the tofu from sticking to the Teflon and insures that the water has time to evaporate out before the outside is browned. Do NOT use oil. You want to leech all of the moisture out of your tofu, so do not use oil--leave the pan dry.
3. As the tofu cooks, use a spatula to frequently press down on each piece. You will see the water seeping out and sizzling in the pan. Once the bottom sides are very firm and golden in color, flip the tofu pieces and fry the other side, again frequently pressing each piece with a spatula. When they are golden and firm on both sides, they are done.
4. Add the garlic and pecans, and cook for another minute. Drizzle the agave nectar onto the tofu. Cook for another couple of minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro. Scrape the tofu out onto a plate and set aside while you cook the brussels sprouts.
5. Shred the frozen brussels sprouts in the food processor.
6. In the same pan (no need to wash), add the oil, pinch of salt, and dial the heat up to medium-high. When the pan is nice and hot stir in the shredded brussels sprouts. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes, stirring a couple times (but not too often) until you get some golden bits, and the rest of the sprouts are bright and delicious.