'Tis the season for happy hours and cocktail parties, dinner parties, and potlucks. But with such rich fare lurking around every corner, what you'll make for guests who prefer to keep a light holiday diet and get a jump on their New Year's resolutions? Secondly, what about those who don't eat meat?  A delicious, Latin alternative to have in your recipe repertoire is Grilled Spicy Tofu.

Wait! Stop! Don't roll your eyes! Tofu often gets a bad rap for being unpalatable and bland, but when cooked correctly and flavored generously, it can be a wholesome and exciting addition to your table. Made of curdled soy milk, tofu has the consistency of a soft and lightweight cheese. It can be fried, grilled, baked, even pureed and can be used just as succesfully in sweet and savory dishes.

For this dish, I used extra firm tofu (perfect for chopping), baked the marinaded cubes, and then topped it with a fresh and spicy salsa. For a festive look, the fresh from the oven tofu is skewered on colorful toothpicks and arranged on a platter, ready to party.  

See! What did I tell you? Tofu can delight the palate if you're thinking outside the box.

Tofu Bites (Bocaditos de Tofu)

  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1/2 red onion
  • 14 ounces extra firm organic tofu
  • 1 handfull of cilantro
  • 1/4 chile jalapeño or serrano pepper
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • 2 limes, juiced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Get the full recipe.