Lemongrass Tofu Banh Mi
PREP: 20 min | COOK: 25 min | SERVINGS: 4-6
INGREDIENTS
6 medium cloves garlic
12 sprigs cilantro, including thick stalks
3 tablespoons palm or light brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground white pepper
1 teaspoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 (3-inch) segments lemongrass
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound extra-firm tofu, cut into 1/3-inch slabs, carefully dried (see notes)
3 to 4 Vietnamese-style baguettes, or 2 standard baguettes
1/4 cup homemade or store-bought vegan mayonnaise
2 teaspoons liquid aminos (such as Maggi or braggs or soy sauce)
1 cup pickled carrots and radish
1 cucumber, seeds removed, split lengthwise into 8 spears
1 jalapeño pepper, seeds and stem removed, sliced into thin spears
1 bunch cilantro leaves and fine stems
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare Tofu
Combine garlic, cilantro, sugar, white pepper, coriander, soy sauce, lemongrass, and half of oil in the bowl of a food processor.
Process until a paste is formed, about 1 minute, scraping down sides as necessary.
Brush or rub half of mixture over tofu slabs, stacking them in a plastic container or on a plate as you go.
Cook on the Grill
Charcoal - Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange the coals on one side of the charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes.
OR
Gas - Set half the burners on a gas grill to the highest heat setting, cover, and preheat for 10 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate.Place tofu over cooler side of grill at 45-degree angle to the grill grates. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
Carefully rotate tofu 90 degrees and continue cooking until bottom side is crisp and has distinct hash marks, about 5 minutes longer.
Carefully flip tofu and repeat cooking and rotating steps until crisp on both sides.
Transfer tofu to a large plate to cool.
Place baguettes on the cooler side of the grill (or place in oven and immediately shut off broiler if cooking indoors).
Cover and cook until heated through and crisp, about 5 minutes.
Assemble Sandwiches
Split baguettes, leaving them hinged on one side.
Spread with mayonnaise.
Sprinkle bottoms and tops with liquid aminos, then spoon on a thin layer of the ginger-scallion oil if using.
Layer with sliced tofu.
Add pickled carrot/daikon mixture, cucumber spears, jalapeño, and cilantro and season to taste with salt.
Close sandwiches and split in half crosswise (or if using full-sized standard baguettes, cut each into 3 to 4 serving pieces), and serve immediately.
CHEF: J. Kenji López-Alt
SUBMITTED BY: Jules Peterson