Tofu "Fish" Sticks with 3 Dipping Sauces

Fake meat is really one of the most unhealthy things you can eat...unless you make it yourself. But sometimes you just want some comfort food quick and so you buy that box of faux chicken nuggets or sausage, and then you make the mistake of looking at the ingredients, argh!!!

So bread some tofu and bake them up and be happy, healthy and wise!

Breading anything is so tasty and satisfying, but when you make the breading with these additional flavorings, it's a party in your mouth. Add some fun dipping sauces, and it's almost like you've recreated a fast food restaurant in your kitchen, without the guilt or horrendous ingredients!

Tofu "Fish Sticks" with Three Dipping Sauces
(serves 4)

1 lb extra firm tofu
2 tablespoons flour (any time, but not chickpea, it's to strong a flavor)
1/2 sheet toasted nori
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
1 large egg
1 tablespoon milk (dairy or not)
spray oil (or use the Misto)

BBQ sauce (make your own)
Ranch dressing (make your own)
mayonnaise (or veganaise)
chipotle in adobo (to taste)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Drain tofu and wrap in paper towels to drain for 10-15 minutes with a weight on top. Crumble nori sheet into bread crumbs, add salt and nutritional yeast. In a bowl large enough to accommodate dipping pieces of tofu, beat egg and milk together.

Set up your breading station by placing flour in a bowl or on a plate, followed by bowl with whipped egg and then lastly with bowl or plate with bread crumbs. Place a baking sheet as the last item on the dipping station for the deposit of the breaded tofu. Unwrap tofu and slice into 1/2 inch pieces long sticks and using your left hand, press a stick into the flour, dip it into the egg and then drop it on the bread crumbs and use your right hand to coat in crumbs. Place breaded tofu on baking sheet with your right hand. This way your left hand gets wet with flour and egg but the bread crumb hand, your right, stays dry. Complete with all sticks. Spray all sticks with oil on both sides and bake for 20 minutes or until browning nicely. Meanwhile make sauces.

If you have premade sauce, do a happy dance for ease of preparation! BBQ sauce needs to be made in advance but you can make ranch dressing during the time it takes tofu to cook. To make chipotle mayo, simply add the sauce from chipotle in adobo sauce to your mayo, tasting as you go, for the amount of heat you want. Once tofu is done, serve with dipping sauces!

Hugs!

Recipes currently inspiring me:

Bacon, Kale, Ricotta Sandwich at Not Without Salt
Herbed Potato Stacks at Valley Vegetarian
Pasta Gratin with Cauliflower Chickpea Sauce at Holy Cow!