Middle Eastern/Mediterranean Tofu Recipes?

Question

As far as vegan fillings are concerned, we use lentils, lots of lentils, and chickpeas, and have for a loong time. Tofu does not traditionally have a place in the Middle Eastern/Mediterranean (refer to as MEM from now on, and excluding Indian food which is wonderful but of a distinct flavor) diet. But, I've loved every South and East Asian tofu dish that I've had so far -- especially the one we ate tonight!! -- and I can tell that tofu can be made to satisfy the MEM taste. I just don't have too much experience in cooking it myself and have yet to master the issue of its texture.

Specifically, my question is this: What are some variations on MEM dishes that can involve tofu AND have a truly MEM taste and at least close to a MEM feel as well -- that would almost fool a MEM person? If such exist, how to cook it?

I know that I can probably google any food combination and get SOME recipe. But I want the most "MEM" tofu recipe. :) Thanks!

Answer 1

I am a former chef and use it in my falafel balls, I mash some medium up and use a falafel mix and use some in it, and for the firm type the greek salad idea sound great, you can even marinade it in the dressing to take the edge off, ground and mixed with beans and lentils and cooked into stews even Morrocan tagines are a good place to use it.

I have use it in my hummus to lower the oil issues and a bit of hot sauce can take away the bitterness, grilled and serve like a chicken breast in shawarma, as a extra in sauce like the garlic sauce served with Kababs in the U.K, it is simple fresh garlic, sesame paste (tahini), water, oil, lemon juice, tofu and seasonings blended until smooth, try it in many ways, think of it not as tofu but an additional cooking element, like parsley it has many uses.

Answer 2

i wouldn't say this is the "most" mem recipe, but i lived in greece for a short while and there are some mediterranean foods there that could easily use tofu.  

what about spanikopita? they are spinach/feta pies wrapped in phyllo dough.  they're totally delicious, and it would be easy to include tofu in the mix.  here is a recipe for spanikopita (it's my favorite!) http://www.eatgreektonight.com/recipe.cf...

you could also try mixing tofu cubes into dolmades, which is a mixture of rice, olive oil, dill, lemon, and onion wrapped in grape leaves.

you could easily blend silken tofu into tzatziki dip instead of using yogurt.....http://www.eatgreektonight.com/recipe.cf...

it's delicious on pita bread, sandwiches, etc.

you could also add tofu cubes into xoriatiki, a classic greek salad. http://www.eatgreektonight.com/recipe.cf...

here is a recipe for moussaka, you'd just have to scramble tofu in a pan and then include it in place of the ground beef.  http://www.eatgreektonight.com/recipe.cf...

all of these recipes are delicious and from a fabulous website, www.eatgreektonight.com

i hope you enjoy greek food as much as i do!! =D

EDIT:  i have not tried the tzatziki with tofu, but i think it would be worth a shot......just blend the tofu first until it's smooth and creamy before you add the other ingredients.  i'm sure it would change the flavor at least slightly, but being that the yogurt used in tzatziki is unflavored (until being used in the sauce) i can't imagine that it would be TOO different.  i would definitely suggest the spanikopita though, because it hides the tofu so easily =)

Answer 3

allveggielinks.com

Classic vegetarian cooking from the Middle East & North Africa / Habeeb Salloum.

Mediterranean harvest : vegetarian recipes from the world's healthiest cuisine / Martha Rose Shulman

Mediterranean vegetarian cooking / Paola Gavin