Cost per serving: about $1.50

I think a lot of people are turned off by the idea of tofu but there is a lot to love.  The great thing about tofu is that its a good source of protein and it takes on the flavor of whatever you cook it with.  So this has a sweet flavor from the brown sugar, a little sour from the lime and a little hot from the pepper.  But its all good.

I’m not a huge string bean fan, but it worked well and they were cheap. But you could substitute in any veggie you had a hankering for – broccoli, asparagus, snap peas, anything would do. Mix it up a little and be creative.  I also put this with some long grain brown rice, as thats my favorite.

Ingredients

• 1 Pound Green Beans, Trimmed and Halved
• 1 Fresh Lime, Squeezed
• 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
• 3/4 Teaspoon Pepper
• 14 oz Extra Firm Tofu
• 2 Tablespoons Oil
• 4 Teaspoons Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Sliced Shallots

Method

Step 1

Trim and halve the green beans, and then cook until bright green (I put them in a pot of boiling water for about 3 minutes). Drain and rinse with cold water.

Step 2

Combine the lime juice, pepper and soy sauce and mix in a small bowl.

Step 3

Cut the tofu into strips (a little bigger then the beans). Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the tofu and the brown sugar and mix until coated. Cook for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until tofu becomes golden brown.

Step 4

Stir in shallots and cook until translucent, for about 3 minutes. Add the green beans and cook until warm, about another 3 minutes.

Step 5

Pour in the liquid, stir to coat and cook for a couple of minutes to allow the flavor to cook in. Serve over rice, pasta, quinoa, whatevs.