Serves: 5
Total Calories: 174
Yield: 3 1/2 cups

2 pounds firm tofu
8 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
4 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground sage
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
2 tablespoons tamari sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1/4 cup water

1. Crumble the tofu and carefully drop it into a large pot of boiling water. Bring the water back to a boil and cook for 1 minute.
2. Drain the tofu through a colander lined with a clean dishtowel. Run some cold water over the tofu to cool it off for easier handling.
3. Gather the ends of the towel and press out the excess water from the tofu. Continue pressing the tofu until it has a firm, ground beef-like texture. Set aside.
4. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, basil, thyme, sage, and celery seeds. Saute for 5 minutes or until the onion is tender.
5. Add the tofu to the skillet and mix well with other ingredients. Continue to saute the mixture another 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the tamari, tomato paste, nutritional yeast, and water. Mix well.
6. Use immediately in any recipe that calls for tofu crumbles or ground beef. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container up to three days, or freeze up to six months.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 5
Total Calories: 174
Calories from Fat: 48

More Recipes from the Vicki's Vegan Kitchen Cookbook:
Preparing Dried Legumes
Cooking Dried Beans
Creamy Corn Bake with Red Beans
Lentil Carrot Loaf
Simple Red Dal with Miso
Buckwheat with Tofu and Thyme
Tips for Bean Digestibility
Mung Dal
Pinto Beans A Ma Facon
When Cooking Beans
Black Bean Stuffed Peppers
Vegetable Chili
Crockpot Lima Beans and Wheat Berries
Lentil Sprout Saute
Lentil Pie
Bulgar with Lentil Sprouts
Adzuki Beans with Winter Squash
Hippie Burgers
A Word About Tofu
Tofu Crumbles
Gingered Tofu
Tofu Veggie Corn Cakes
Tofu Shepherd's Pie
Tofu "Fish" Sticks
Tofu Bourguignon
Tofu with Chard and Shiitake
Tofu and Greens with Onion Sauce
Pecan Stuffed Thanksgiving Loaf
Bay and Orange Infused Tofu
Cooking Ideas for Tempeh
Sweet and Sour Tempeh
Pan Seared Tempeh Marsala