Chip Shop Battered Tofu

Chip Shop Battered Tofu. Not all chip shops sell it, so make your own. Bite through the crunchy spiced batter to creamy tofu. Mmmm!

CHIP SHOP BATTERED TOFU

There's nothing better in the summer than walking along a beach or sitting in a harbour watching the boats and eating a bag of hot fluffy chips with lashings of salt and vinegar.

Going to a chip shop as a vegetarian can be a bit like playing Russian roulette. 

First, you have to do a bit of detective work and find out what oil they use (many use beef dripping) and then there's that moment when you optimistically or if you've done this before pessimistically look at the menu hoping there might be something exciting to order. 

That bag of chips is great when you're walking along the beach, but it's not a very filling or satisfying evening meal.

CHIP SHOP MENU

If you're lucky you might find battered garlic mushrooms or a veggie burger on the chip shop menu. 

Slim pickings might mean you only have the option of some onion rings to go with your chips, but if you strike gold you may find battered tofu on the menu. 

This has only happened to me once. Sigh! 

HOMEMADE CHIP SHOP TOFU /TOFISH

I decided to make my own chip shop battered tofu, which is sometimes called tofish.

I made a beer batter and flavoured the batter with chana masala spice mix which I buy from Steenbergs, but you could add paprika (which I often add to this batter), cumin or just your favourite curry mix. 

I know this is a chip shop dish but the spice really makes the batter really tasty.

The batter is light and very, very crisp.

\Biting though that crisp, tasty batter to the soft tofu is a thing of wonder.

SERVING TOFISH

I've served this battered tofu in long slices with slices of lemon, chips and peas, chips shop style in paper.

You can also cut it into bites and vary your dips.

Why not make a chip shop curry sauce, red pepper sweet chilli sauce or kebab shop chilli sauce to serve with your battered tofu?

also try - Vegan Chip Shop Sausage Supper

WHAT TYPE OF TOFU SHOULD I USE TO MAKE TOFISH?

If you aren't familiar with tofu, there are a few different types you can buy. 

Each of them are treated in a different way, but the one thing to remember is you need to add lots of flavour. 

Tofu soaks up flavour like a sponge, which is just as well as it is rather bland before you add other ingredients.

1. Firm Tofu

This tofu comes in a block and needs to be pressed to remove liquid from it. 

You can then marinate and dry fry it before adding it to a dish or simply slice and batter it like I did.

2. Marinated Tofu Pieces

This is very convenient as it has already been pressed and marinated and is ready to add to stir-fries and other dishes.

3. Silken Tofu 

This is a creamy tofu that is perfect to make a creamy dessert like my sin-free chocolate mousse. You could also add it in a creamy sauce for pasta.

FIRM TOFU

For my chip shop battered tofu I used a block of firm organic tofu from Cauldron.

It's available in most supermarkets, so handy to pop in your basket when you're shopping and it doesn't break the bank either.

I should actually have shares in Cauldron Foods, 

I buy so many packs of their tofu, falafel and vegan sausages. 

I love that being a vegan or vegetarian is getting so much easier, it's changed a lot (for the better) over the last 20 years.

also try - Baked Harrisa Popcorn Tofu

HOW DO YOU PRESS TOFU?

The simple answer is to buy a tofu press.

You just pop the tofu into the middle layer of the box which has holes for the liquid to run through. 

Add the lid and use the elastic on each side to pull it tight. 

Half an hour later you have perfectly pressed tofu ready to use with no excess liquid.

HOW DO YOU PRESS TOFU WITHOUT A TOFU PRESS?

If you don't have a press you can wrap the tofu in kitchen paper, then a clean tea towel and pop a heavy cookbook on top, then top with a couple of cans to weigh it down. 

My son shows you how in step-by-step photos when he was making spiced tofu fingers. Have a look. So cute!

MORE TOFU RECIPES TO TRY

Here are a few more easy tofu recipes to try.

1. 20 Minute Thai Green Tofu Bowl - with veg and rice
2. Chipotle Waffle Tofu - cooked in a waffler maker
3. Grilled Tandori Tofu Skewers - on the BBQ or in the oven
4. Spiced Tofu Fingers - with step-by-step photos.
5. Tofu & Mushroom Tacos - with a red pepper sauce

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dinner

Scottish, vegan

Yield: 4

Author: Jacqueline Meldrum

Chip Shop Battered Tofu

Chip Shop Battered Tofu. Not all chip shops sell it, so make your own. Bite through the crunchy spiced batter to creamy tofu. Mmmm!

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 10 MinTotal time: 15 Min

Ingredients

• 396g / 14 oz firm tofu, pressed
• 125g / 1 cup self-raising flour
• 2 tbsp chana masala or other spice mix
• a good grinding of salt and pepper
• 330 ml/ 12 oz beer or lager
• enough sunflower oil to fry the tofu (it should be deeper than the tofu)
• 1 lemon, quartered

Instructions

1. Press the tofu, then cut into slices.
2. Heat the oil in a wok.
3. In a large bowl mix the seasoning into the flour and then pour in the beer and whisk, you want it to be the consistency of thick pouring cream.
4. Dip the tofu in the batter and carefully lower into the hot oil. Fry for a few minutes, turning part way through. You want a golden batter.
5. Drain on kitchen paper to remove excess oil.
6. Serve with lemon to squeeze over the battered tofu and ketchup for dunking.
7. Enjoy!

Notes:

If you use extra firm tofu, it does not need pressed.

DO NOT USE SILKEN TOFU. It is creamy and only used for sauces or desserts.

You can use a deep-fryer instead of a wok.

Calories

384.55

Fat (grams)

15.10

Sat. Fat (grams)

2.27

Carbs (grams)

42.59

Fiber (grams)

4.02

Net carbs

38.57

Sugar (grams)

1.77

Protein (grams)

17.10

Sodium (milligrams)

524.21

Cholesterol (grams)

0.00

Created using The Recipes Generator