Tofu and eggplant simply teamed as much as create one EPIC appetizer, buddies! These lettuce wraps characteristic SUPER flavorful crispy tofu and caramelized eggplant with recent, crunchy veggies, vibrant herbs, and a savory-sweet sesame dipping sauce. In case you’re considering WOW now, simply wait till the primary chunk!
These 10-ingredient taste miracles make a crowd-pleasing appetizer for 4 or gentle spring or summer season meal for 2. Let’s get to it!
We’ve completed tofu lettuce wraps earlier than, however this time eggplant joins in on the enjoyable! We bake the tofu and eggplant collectively in a candy + spicy sesame tamari sauce, leading to tofu with a agency, “meaty” texture and eggplant that’s tender and caramelized with crisp edges.
Then we add a couple of extra components (tahini, lime juice, and maple syrup) to that very same savory sauce, and it doubles as a creamy dipping sauce! Minimal effort, maximal taste.
Lastly, it’s meeting time! Hold these lettuce wraps easy by including the roasted tofu, eggplant, and dipping sauce to lettuce leaves, or bump up the freshness issue by including sliced veggies (carrot and cucumber) and herbs (cilantro, basil, and/or inexperienced onions)!
We hope you LOVE these lettuce wraps! They’re:
Crispy
Contemporary
Saucy
Nutty
Herby
& SO scrumptious!
These wraps make an awesome appetizer alongside different Asian-inspired recipes and would even be good as a lightweight spring or summer season meal! You could possibly additionally serve them with rice for a extra filling meal.
Extra pairing concepts? Attempt our Creamy Sesame Noodle Salad (30 Minutes!), 30-Minute Quinoa “Fried Rice,” or Straightforward Tofu Pad Thai.
Extra Taste-Packed Tofu Recipes
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Servings 4 (two lettuce-cup appetizer servings // or half as an entrée)
Forestall your display from going darkish
TOFU & EGGPLANT
- 7 ounces extra-firm tofu*, drained, pressed, crumbled into 1/2-inch or smaller items
- 2 ½ Tbsp low sodium tamari (guarantee gluten-free as wanted // or sub coconut aminos and use just one tsp maple syrup as recipe is written)
- 1 ½ Tbsp avocado (or olive) oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp sriracha (or chili garlic sauce)
- 2 tsp lime juice
- 1 medium eggplant, reduce into 1/2-3/4-inch cubes (1 medium eggplant yields ~330 g or 4 cups cubed)
DIPPING SAUCE
- 3 Tbsp reserved marinade (from above)
- 1 ½ Tbsp tahini
- 2 tsp lime juice
- 1 tsp maple syrup
FOR SERVING
- Giant lettuce leaves (butter or Bibb lettuce work properly)
- 3/4 cup sliced veggies (carrot and/or cucumber), reduce into matchsticks (non-compulsory)
- Contemporary cilantro and/or Thai basil, finely chopped (non-compulsory)
- Inexperienced onions, thinly sliced (non-compulsory)
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Start by urgent tofu: Both wrap in a clear towel and set one thing heavy on high, or use a tofu press. Press for a complete of ~20 minutes.
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Preheat the oven to 425 levels F (218 C) and line a big baking sheet with parchment paper (use extra baking sheets if growing the default variety of servings).
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In a small bowl, whisk collectively the tamari, avocado (or olive) oil, toasted sesame oil, maple syrup, sriracha (or chili garlic sauce), and lime juice. Put aside.
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Lower the eggplant into 1/2-3/4-inch cubes and add to 1 facet of the baking sheet. If it fills greater than two-thirds of the baking sheet, use much less eggplant or extra baking sheets to keep away from overcrowding the pan (area permits for crispiness/caramelization!). We discovered ~4 cups (330 g) cubed eggplant match properly on 2/3 of a standard-size baking sheet.
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Crumble the tofu into items lower than 1/2-inch in dimension and organize them on the opposite facet of the baking sheet. Give the sauce one other stir and pour 1/4 cup of sauce (60 ml // regulate if altering the default variety of servings) over the tofu and eggplant and toss to evenly coat. Put aside. Reserve the remaining sauce for later (there must be ~3 tablespoons, until adjusting the default variety of servings).
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Place the eggplant and tofu into the preheated oven and bake for 25-35 minutes, tossing midway by means of, till crispy on the sides.
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In the meantime, put together the dipping sauce by including tahini, lime juice, and maple syrup to the reserved sauce from above. It must be thick however pourable. Style and regulate as wanted, including extra lime juice for brightness, maple syrup for sweetness, tahini for a thicker sauce, or a bit water to skinny.
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Wash and dry lettuce leaves and chop any desired veggies and herbs (all non-compulsory) — we like carrots, cucumber, cilantro, and inexperienced onion.
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To serve, add tofu and eggplant to lettuce leaves. High with veggies and herbs of selection and serve with tahini sauce on the highest.
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Leftovers hold saved individually within the fridge for as much as 2-3 days. Reheat tofu and eggplant within the microwave or in a skillet over medium warmth. Not freezer pleasant.
*Prep time contains urgent tofu whereas getting ready sauce and slicing eggplant.
*Loosely tailored from our Crispy Tofu Lettuce Wraps and Excellent Roasted Eggplant.
*Vitamin data is a tough estimate calculated with low sodium tamari and with out non-compulsory components.
Serving: 1 (two-lettuce cup) serving Energy: 229 Carbohydrates: 17.1 g Protein: 9.2 g Fats: 14.7 g Saturated Fats: 2.1 g Polyunsaturated Fats: 2.2 g Monounsaturated Fats: 4.8 g Trans Fats: 0 g Ldl cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 562 mg Potassium: 531 mg Fiber: 5.9 g Sugar: 10.4 g Vitamin A: 86 IU Vitamin C: 7 mg Calcium: 115 mg Iron: 3 mg
