I am nearing the close of my third year of college, and I only just cooked ramen for the first time.
I don't know how I've avoided this dorm room staple this long. It wouldn't be enough to just plop the brick of noodles in a pot of boiling water. No, this ramen has been fancified. (P.S. I made that word up).
When acting as the blank white canvas for a deep and rich paint of teriyaki sauce, tofu tastes right.
Some people say that when served plain, tofu tastes like nothing. That's a pretty harsh judgment, in my opinion. Sure, it soaks up pretty much anything you douse it with, but on its own tofu has a clean and subtly nutty flavor.
Still, a little sweet teriyaki sauce can't hurt.
Some time in the oven and these lovely little bricks turn into something special. Soft and succulent on the inside, with a nice crust on the outside.
Ramen may soon become a weekly staple for this college student after all (or at least present a nice alternative to the beloved PB&J).
Oven Roasted Teriyaki Tofu (Fancified Ramen)
Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients:
1 package of extra firm tofu
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
2 packages of ramen noodles
1 bag of frozen stir fry vegetables
toasted sesame seeds
salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 deg. F.
Slice tofu into cubes or sticks (I made 2"x1" sticks). Drain tofu on paper towels. Use an additional paper towel to pat down top of tofu until sticks/cubes are still wet, but not dripping.
Using a brush, brush teriyaki sauce lightly over all sides of tofu cubes. Transfer cubes to a pan sprayed with cooking spray. Brush teriyaki sauce over the remaining "unpainted" side.
Bake in an oven at 400 deg. F. for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, turn tofu slices over and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes.
In the meantime, prepare ramen noodles according to package but without seasoning packet. Prepare vegetables according to package.
Top noodles and veggies with additional teriyaki sauce if desired, and tofu slices. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and salt.
