Maple-Brown Sugar Glazed Tofu - Vegan, GlutenFree

Maple-Brown Sugar Glazed Tofu is a gift to you if you enjoyed ham as a part of your celebrations back in the day and were feverishly looking for a recipe online that gives you back some of that experience.  You will be missing the salt-piercing tongue paralysis of a cured ham, but you will also be missing the very dangerous cholesterol.  Tofu is the way to go if you want to enjoy a piece of "sham" with your Christmas or Thanksgiving.  And for those of you with religious proscriptions, it's CLEAN-- it's not even meat.  So win-win.

Want to know MORE about the health benefits of Tofu? Watch Dr. Michael Greger's videos HERE.

So here we go with the
INGREDIENTS (3 ADULT SERVINGS)

• 1# Block of Organic, non-GMO, EXTRA FIRM Tofu (bought mine at Costco)
• 1/2 C. Pure Maple Syrup OR Blackstrap Molasses (Molasses gives a darker glaze)
• 1/2 C. Brown Sugar
• 1 T. Dijon Mustard
• 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. Ginger Powder
• Salt and Pepper to taste (May want to use Cayenne or Chipotle Pepper)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Press the tofu for 30-60 minutes-- makes a huge difference to the results
2. Set the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit/205 degrees Celsius
3. Cut the tofu with a sharp knife to form 2-3 'steaks' (meaning you cut through the sides of the tofu to create 2-3 same-size rectangles as your original block).  Sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper on each side of the steaks.
4. With the same sharp knife, score through one side of each steak in a crisscross pattern.  Be careful not to cut through entirely!
5. Place tofu on baking sheet covered with parchment paper or silicone pad (to avoid use of oils)
6. Bake at 400F/205C degrees for 30 minutes, flipping after 15 minutes.
7. While the Tofu is baking, make the glaze, mixing together Syrup OR Molasses, Mustard, Cinnamon, Ginger and a pinch of salt in a sauce pan on the stove.
8. Whisk the sauce over medium heat until everything comes together, and then turn the heat to LOW.  Keep whisking for another few minutes until the sauce is smooth and thickening a little. 
9. Remove sauce from the heat (it will thicken as it cools)
10. Remove the slightly crispy tofu from the oven and turn the temperature down to 375 degrees Fahrenheit/190 degrees Celsius.
11. Brush the sides of the Tofu that have not been scored, first, and then turn and brush the scored (cut) sides, making sure that you are generously brushing the tofu so that lots of the sticky goodness sinks into the crevices.
12. Return to the oven and bake another 5-10 minutes.  Flip over to the sides that have been scored and makes sure that the cuts have received the syrup and are not sealed up (you can lightly re-cut them if so, and spoon on more glaze)
13. Remove from the oven and rebrush the tops with glaze.  Serve immediately.

(inspired by recipe at Rabbit and Wolves site)

OTHER DELICIOUS BAKED TOFU RECIPES:

Tofu, Baked with Spanish Rice
Tofu Stroganoff, with Veggies