# Help the tofu newby **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 23, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-tofu-newby/241650 "2004-04-23T15:49:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Glassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Glassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glassy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-tofu-newby/241650/21 "2004-04-26T03:53:17Z")
I’ve used peanut butter in Asian-style noodle dishes before; with ginger, sesame oil, garlic, and a little hot sauce, it makes me think “Thai” (although I’m certainly not going to try to claim that this is an authentic Thai recipe). It was good, really. 🙂 I stir-fried it. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-tofu-newby/241650/22 "2004-04-26T05:34:16Z")
I don’t really like tofu much, but Mark Bittman (my culinary sensei, author of _How to Cook Everything_) gave a recipe in the New York Times a couple of months ago that was actually really good. I know it sounds weird, but not only did I (the tofu-hater) like it, but my roommates devoured whatever I didn’t finish. Tofu and Onions in Caramel Sauce Time: 30 minutes 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup nam pla (Asian fish sauce) or soy sauce 1 large onion, thinly sliced 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste 1 pound firm tofu, cut into chunks of 3/8 inch to 1 inch 1 tablespoon butter, optional 1 tablespoon lime juice or vinegar, or to taste Salt if necessary White rice for serving. 1. Put sugar and a tablespoon of water in a 10- or 12-inch skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium heat. Cook, shaking pan occasionally, until sugar melts and browns a bit. Turn off heat, and carefully add nam pla or soy sauce. Turn heat to low, and add onion. Cook, stirring, 5 to 10 minutes, until onion is very tender. Add pepper and tofu. 2. Gently simmer, turning tofu once or twice in sauce so it is glazed and heated through, about 10 minutes. Stir in butter, along with lime juice or vinegar. Taste, and add salt, more pepper or lime juice or vinegar if you like. Serve immediately over rice. Yield: 4 servings. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-the-tofu-newby/241650.md?page=1)