Tofu Cutlets Marsala

From EatingWell: October/November 2005, The EatingWell Healthy in a Hurry Cookbook (2006) — Subscribe Now!

In this dish, tofu "cutlets" are dredged and sauteed as you would a chicken breast or fish fillet. Try the technique using any of your favorite pan sauces.

READER'S COMMENT:

"I did not like the marsala sauce at all, and I love chicken marsala. Something about it was just way off to me. However, I did like the method of cooking the tofu cutlets, and would use that again to make a tofu substitute for chicken...

4 servings

Active Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

1/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons cornstarch, divided
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 14-ounce block extra-firm tofu, drained, rinsed and cut crosswise into eight 1/2-inch-thick slices
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 large shallots, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
6 cups sliced cremini, or white mushrooms (about 10 ounces)
1/2 cup dry Marsala wine, (see Ingredient note)
1 cup vegetable broth, or reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste

Preparation

Preheat oven to 300°F.
Whisk 1/4 cup cornstarch, flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Pat tofu with paper towel to remove excess moisture.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge 4 tofu slices in the flour mixture, add them to the pan and cook until crispy and golden, about 3 minutes per side. Place the tofu on a baking sheet and transfer to the oven to keep warm. Repeat with another tablespoon of oil and the remaining tofu, adjusting the heat if necessary to prevent scorching.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, shallots and thyme to the pan. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until the shallots are slightly soft and beginning to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until tender and lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in Marsala and simmer until slightly reduced, about 1 minute.
Whisk the remaining 2 teaspoons cornstarch with broth and tomato paste in a small bowl. Stir into the mushroom mixture, return to a simmer and cook, stirring constantly, until thick and glossy, about 4 minutes. To serve, spoon the hot sauce over the tofu.

Tips & Notes

Ingredient Note: Marsala, a fortified wine, is a flavorful and wonderfully economical addition to many sauces. An opened bottle can be stored in a cool, dry place for months—unlike wine, which starts to decline within hours of being uncorked.

Nutrition

Per serving: 334 calories; 18 g fat (3 g sat, 12 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 25 g carbohydrates; 11 g protein; 2 g fiber; 256 mg sodium; 562 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Selenium (41% daily value), Calcium (25% dv), Potassium (16% dv), Iron (15% dv).

1 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 medium-fat meat, 3 fat