Grilled Veggie & Tofu Stack With Balsamic & Mint

blucoat's Note:

This wonderful summer recipe is modified from the Bon Appétit Test Kitchen (June 2009). It's easy, tastes delicious, and has fewer than 200 calories per serving! Feel free to modify the vegetables to your preference (I added the tomato).

• Total Time: 25 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar or 1/3 cup fig balsamic vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced fresh mint leaf, plus sprigs (to garnish)
• 1 (12 ounce) container extra firm tofu, cut crosswise into 8 slices, drained on paper towels
• 1 small zucchini, trimmed, cut lengthwise into four 4-inch-long slices
• 1 small red bell pepper, ends trimmed, seeded, cut lengthwise into 4 pieces
• 4 slices tomatoes
• 1 Japanese eggplant, trimmed, cut lengthwise into four 4-inch-long slices
• 4 portabella mushrooms or 4 shiitake mushrooms, 3-inch-diameter, stems removed
• 1 small head radicchio, quartered through root end

Directions:

1. Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Place vinegar and minced garlic in large bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Stir in sliced mint. Season marinade to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Working in batches, add tofu to marinade and turn to coat. Transfer tofu to baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add zucchini, bell pepper, eggplant, mushrooms, and radicchio to marinade in bowl and toss to coat.
3. Place zucchini, pepper, tomato, eggplant, and mushrooms on grill. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until charred and softened, turning occasionally, about 6 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet. Place tofu and radicchio on grill. Cook until tofu is charred and radicchio is charred and wilted, about 2 minutes per side.
4. Stack tofu and vegetables on plates. Garnish with mint sprigs and serve.

Reviews

[magpie diner]

Nice flavours. I actually had fig balsamic, this is a really nice way to use it. For me, the tofu looked great, all nicely browned, but the flavours didn't have enough time to absorb so I found that part a little bland (and I love tofu so it's not that). The mushrooms and other veg were fantastic though, the mushrooms really sucked up those flavours beautifully. I ended up cooking it all in the marinade, in a pan I use on the BBQ, to save working around so many little pieces. (I left out radiccio). That worked out really well - although you should cut back on the oil if you try it this way. I'll definitely be making this marinade again...thanks blucoat!

[Chef #1305589]

Great Recipes. I was afraid my kids would not eat the tofu but they loved it!

[JanuaryBride]

It smelled better than it tasted, but was a yummy dinner nonetheless. I used only eggplant, tofu and tomato. . .then threw in some pencil thin asparagus as the side dish. Here's my input. . .I everything marinate for about 30 minutes but the flavors really only absorbed well into the eggplant. I also added about 1/2 tsp of lavender honey and used basil in place of the mint - then let the marinade sit for about an hour before using it (it smelled amazing). That said, if you "stack" the eggplant on the bottom, then the tofu, then the tomato on top, the flavors came together really well. Oh, and I gave it all a few sprays of Braggs to boost the flavors. Next time I will definitely let it marinate longer.