If you read Bite-Sized Thoughts regularly, you may know that I don't often have sandwiches, toast or even bread. It's not that I dislike those things, but rather that I find leftovers easier than sandwiches for work lunches, am a fruit/cereal/smoothie girl for breakfast, and prefer crumpets, English muffins and fruit bread to plain toast or bread for snacking.
With the above said, today I am sharing a bread-based recipe that is as delicious as it is simple, and which I would happily have for lunch every day if I could manage it.
This tofu meal brought to mind memories of baked beans on toast and eggs on toast, and reminded me that toast is rather lovely when topped with savoury foods that soak into the bread beneath. When those flavours include a subtle kick of peri-peri spice, all the better.
I should say, before continuing further, that I used a commercial peri-peri sauce for this rather than making my own. In the days when I ate chicken, Nando's was a favourite take away choice and on the rare occasion that I miss chicken now, it is their chicken that I miss.
Nando's sauces appeared in my local supermarkets some time ago, but it is only recently that I tried their products at home. As a general rule, I don't buy packaged sauces or marinades, other than the basics (soy sauce, chilli sauce, tomato sauce). I am certain one could make an equivalent peri-peri sauce at home with minimal fuss, but sometimes it is nice to just pull a bottle out of the pantry.
For those of you not familiar with peri-peri, it is African bird's eye chilli and it is hot. "Mild" on the above bottle should not be confused with "not spicy". Instead, "mild" is actually "moderately spicy", and it is the level you want if you want your taste buds to remain intact. (For those of you who like prolonged mouth burning, try the next level up, which is hot. That one is right on my spiciness limit!)
I made this dish by slicing and pressing a block of firm tofu, adding it to a non-stick pan along with about half of the above bottle (~60ml) and sauteing it until golden. Towards the end, I added half a head of chopped kale to the pan on top of the tofu and let it wilt down, absorbing some of the sauce as it did so. Toast two pieces of bread, top, serve, and you're good to go.
The tofu and kale mix would make enough for two serves (in which case, toast four pieces of bread), or you could keep half of it for another time. It's pretty delicious however you do it.
As for me, I may be re-thinking the frequency of my toast eating.
What's your take on Nando's, and/or peri-peri spices?
To confirm, this post is not affiliated with or sponsored by Nando's in anyway.
I don't think I have ever had peri peri and I was vegetarian before nandos appeared so neither have been on my radar but toast is something I love - esp since I have been making sourdough bread - I think if you have good toast anything tastes great on it and if you have sawdust from the supermarket then you have to work hard to make anything taste good - fried tofu sounds like a great filling for a sandwich - never tried kale in a sandwich but can see if would work
ReplyDeleteI've been putting kale in all sorts of things recently - once you have a head, it can be quite a lot to get through solo! I added some saueted into a burger, which is of course similar to a sandwich, and that worked well too. I think you are right about the bread being the most crucial thing though; it does make a huge difference.
DeleteOn Nando's, if you ever find yourself stuck with limited food options, they do have veggie burgers and wraps that are reportedly quite good (albeit untried by me) :-)
I confess I avoid nandos because they just seem to be colonising so many places in Melbourne and so they just seem more about aggressive marketing than food but also the idea of sitting in a place where everyone is eating chicken is just not appealing.
Deleteon a more positive note - I have nominated you for a meme if you have the time and inclination - http://gggiraffe.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-z-bookish-survey.html
Thank you so much! I will most certainly have the time and inclination :-)
DeleteBREAD BREAD BREAD BREAD BREAD!! You're totally coming over to the dark side with me. DO IT.
ReplyDeleteMy family and I had a favourite portuguese cafe/restaurant that we'd go to at least once a week when I was in my teens. Their peri-peri chicken platters (and the wedges with sweet chili and sour cream I MISS WEDGES WITH SWEET CHILI AND SOUR CREAM) were the best. Nando's arrive in Canberra when I was in college, I think, but it didn't compare.
I am a bit ashamed to admit to never having authentic Portugese chicken, despite my Nando's enjoyment. I should have tried harder before I went vegetarian!
DeleteI think I've always been a bit more bread friendly than you, but I do see myself edging towards sandwiches in a most unpredictable (but enjoyable!) fashion :-)
I'll say it loud and proud - I'm a sandwich floozy. I'm definitely adding this to my 'things-to-try-sooner-rather-than-later' list. I went to Nandos for the first time really recently, and I have to say, I really liked their peri-peri sauce. So I'll also be adding that to the shopping basket too :)
ReplyDeleteI really like that they have it available in the supermarket, because it does allow you to create Nando's-like products at home really easily. I imagine you could have a lot of fun with the sauce and some sandwich ideas!
DeleteThat does look like a very good start to the day. I love peri-peri sauce too. I don't eat a lot of bread either but when I do have it, it will usually be at breakfast xx
ReplyDeleteNow you've made me realise that I need to make this again, and next time for breakfast instead of lunch!
DeleteI was a fan of Nando's years ago and still like to snack on their peri-peri chips occasionally. I never tire of toast and eat it on a daily basis (usually with Marmite) and also love it with a good tofu scramble. I love the thought of a peri-peri flavoured tofu scramble so I might have to follow your lead and give this a try.
ReplyDeleteAh, marmite. Now I want that on toast :-) I actually thought of you when making this because I know you enjoy tofu scrambles on toast - and spice too.
DeleteI love bread, even though I don't have sandwiches for lunch - when Andy goes away I eat a ridiculous amount of toast. We also love to have Things On Toast. Just yesterday we had creamy mushrooms on toast, in fact. Tofu and kale with spicy sauce sounds like a perfect Thing to put On Toast.
ReplyDeleteI think that's where I've been going wrong - thinking in terms of sandwiches instead of Things On Toast! What a lovely phrase :)
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