Recipe by Chef Cindy
Mango Thai Tofu Recipe (Mango Thai-fu for short) is a Thai Inspired Vegan Recipe. It is a sweet & spicy tofu recipe made with fresh mango, tofu, Thai hot peppers, yellow peppers, and our featured ingredient - Sea Beans. If you're not familiar with Sea Beans, you will want to give this "jewel from the sea" a try. You can find it on occasion in the produce section of the supermarket or specialty markets. The combination of sweet mango, coconut milk, tofu, spicy Thai hot pepper, and salty sea beans make it a WINNER RECIPE!
What are sea beans?
Wondering what sea beans are? Sea beans are halophytes, which means they only grow in salty environments. They are found growing in clusters along coastal waters and along the banks of salt marshes. Sea Beans are considered succulents and they can grow to be 12 inches in height.
Sea Beans are considered to be a delicacy in many areas. They are crispy with a salty flavor and can be eaten raw, steamed, boiled or sautéed.
Sea Beans are best when foraged in the late spring and summer months. They can be found at specialty and farmers markets. Sea beans can be refrigerated up to 2 weeks and frozen up to a month.
Are sea beans healthy for you?
Sea Beans are high in protein, with roughly 20 grams per one cup portion, calcium, riboflavin, iodine, magnesium, copper, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, potassium, and dietary fiber. Calcium, riboflavin, iodine (essential for thyroid function), magnesium, copper, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, potassium, and dietary fiber. Like anything, though, it is best to eat it in moderation.
Is too much soy from products like tofu and tempeh bad for you?
This is a tough one and very controversial ….
Like all soy products, tofu contains plant hormones known as phytoestrogens, specifically called isoflavones. Isoflavones are able to mimic some effects of estrogen in your body. The most powerful isoflavone in soy products is genistein, which is structurally similar to human estrogen but a weaker form. It has been shown that eating tofu & tempeh may be beneficial for symptoms of menopause, but women who have been diagnosed with estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer should be cautious with their soy intake. Consult with your doctor about the pros and cons of adding tofu to your diet.
As a general rule, limit your intake of soy by reading product labels. You may be surprised by the hidden ingredients in many processed products. So be conscious of where your intake is coming from. It is important to choose organic only and the least processed forms of soy. And, keep on top of the latest medical literature studying the effects of soy on your body.
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Mango Thai Tofu
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon organic coconut oil
- 1 block tofu extra firm
- 1 shallot minced
- 1 yellow pepper diced
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ½ tablespoon curry
- 1 mango peeled and cut into cubes
- 6 ounces coconut milk
- ½ cup sea beans rinsed
- 1 garlic scape diced
- ¼ teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- ¼ teaspoon green curry paste
- 2 thai chili peppers chopped
- 2 blocks instant whole grain rice vermicelli
- fresh basil chopped
Instructions
- Drain & press the tofu for about 10 minutes to remove any excess moisture. Cut tofu ½ in thick slices and then cut into bite size cubes.
- Prep all the ingredients. *After cutting mango into cubes, squeeze out any extra juice from the remaining flesh around the pit. Set aside.
- On medium flame, heat coconut oil in a non-stick pan. Gently place tofu in pan and cook until the individual pieces begin to turn light brown, stirring occasionally.
- Add shallots and cook for 5 minutes. Add yellow pepper, garlic and curry. Stir to combine.
- Gently stir in mango and mango juice. Pour in coconut milk. Add in garlic scape, ginger, green curry paste, thai chili peppers heat thoroughly.
- While flavors are blending, heat water for the vermicelli. Cook 2 blocks, according to directions.
- After tasting, season the mango thai-fu with salt & pepper. *see notes
- Serve in individual bowls layered over the vermicelli. Top with fresh basil.
Notes
- Sea beans are very salty so be sure to rinse them well and do not add additional salt to the dish unless you feel you need to after tasting it.
- I decided to add vermicelli to this dish but it's also great without!
Nutrition
sweet spicy tofu, tofu recipe, thai tofu recipe, coconut milk mango, mango recipe vegan
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