Milk Street: Cook What You Have: Make a Meal Out of Almost Anything (A Cookbook)

Christopher Kimball, Michelle Locke, Dawn Yanagihara, Wes Martin, Diane Unger, Bianca Borges, Matthew Card, Jennifer Baldino Cox, Ali Zeigler, Connie Miller, Christine Tobin

Tofu and Sweet Pepper Scramble with Smoked Paprika

Start to finish: 35 minutes / Servings: 4 to 6

This easy, speedy tofu scramble takes on a Spanish accent thanks to red bell pepper, smoked paprika, cumin and garlic. To prevent the dish from becoming watery, we pat the tofu dry before and after crumbling it in order to wick away some of the moisture. Then the crumbles get a quick toss with olive oil and spices to boost their otherwise mild flavor. The bell pepper and onion are cooked low and slow until they’re silky and softened before the tofu is added to the skillet.

14-ounce container extra-firm OR firm tofu, drained and patted dry

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more to serve

1 teaspoon smoked paprika, divided

1 teaspoon ground cumin, divided

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

1 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped

1 medium red OR yellow onion, chopped

2 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced

3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Line a large plate with a double layer of paper towels. Using your hands or a fork, crumble the tofu into small pieces. Cover with another double layer of paper towels and gently press to remove excess moisture, then transfer to a medium bowl. Add 1 tablespoon oil, ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon cumin and ¾ teaspoon each salt and pepper; toss, then set aside.

In a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons oil until shimmering. Add the bell pepper, onion and ¼ teaspoon salt, then cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and start to brown, 13 to 16 minutes. Add the garlic and remaining ½ teaspoon each paprika and cumin; cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic softens, about 2 minutes.

Add the tofu and cook over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until the tofu is warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes. Off heat, stir in the parsley, then taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve drizzled with additional oil.

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