Rosemary Sage Tofu with Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Pear + Goat Cheese

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This post is sponsored by House Foods

My friend Aran has this knack for dreaming up these wicked food combinations — ones I’d never even consider or know could be possible. And it’s not like these combos of hers are just unique or just delicious — no, they’re these 4-ingredient plates that have been arranged in the purest, simplest, most beautiful way. You stare and feel like–maybe this is falling in love…with red cabbage. Or persimmon.

Most of my favorite dinners are so pleasantly unfussy I almost question whether or not I should have to at least do a push up before I eat. I want to call them rustic but that evokes a charming image of me sitting at a reclaimed wood table drinking out of a mason jar and the reality is so much grimmer.

But Aran reminds me that a few complementary flavors and varying textures make the loveliest meal. There’s nothing fancy required, unless you have the energy (but who does?) to fry a shallot or pickle a beet.

In fall, when I know there are so, so many fruits and veggies in season that I want to eat— like brussels sprouts and honeycrisp apples and just shy of a million types of squash — creating these wholesome, minimalist combinations is how I satisfy my seasonal perma-craving for warm, roasty, hearty meals while also eating a whole lot of plants during the holidays of candy and pie and cookies.

I love using House Foods extra-firm tofu and loading it with garlic and aromatic herbs like fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme. The key is to drain and dry it well before cooking so you remove all the moisture for a nice crisp crust. Using sage and rosemary — maybe because I don’t use them all that often — gives the tofu a special Thanksgiving kind of feel. It’s savory with the mildest sweetness — made even better with salty caramelized brussels sprouts, juicy sweet pear, and some soft goat cheese.

Serve this as a main meal or even as a side. It could be a great dish for holidays, too! I hope you love it!

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Yield: Serves 4-6

Calories per serving: 311

Fat per serving: 15g

Ingredients

• 1 16-ounce package House Foods extra-firm tofu
• 6 leaves fresh sage, finely chopped
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves only, finely chopped
• 1 sprig fresh thyme, stem removed, finely chopped (1 tablespoon)
• 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 ½ pounds brussels sprouts, halved
• 3 pears (anjou, bartlett, or bosc), sliced
• 2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (½ cup)

Instructions

1. Drain and dry the tofu: Remove the tofu from the package and drain the water. Fold a few sheets of paper towels in half, lay them on a plate, place the tofu on them, and cover the tofu with another stack of paper towels. To help press the moisture out of the tofu, place a heavy pot on top of the tofu (put a can or 2 inside the pot for extra weight) to help weigh it down or use a flat-bottomed plate topped with a heavy book. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.
2. Remove the heavy objects and discard the paper towels. Slice the tofu width-wise into two equal rectangles. Next, cut each half into 12 cubes. Place the cubes in a large bowl and toss them carefully with the sage, rosemary, thyme, ¾ teaspoon of the salt, and the pepper.
3. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. On a large baking sheet, toss the brussels sprouts with 2 teaspoons of the olive oil. Season with the remaining ¾ teaspoon salt. Roast until crispy, tender, and well-browned, about 30 minutes.
4. While the brussels sprouts are roasting, in a large nonstick skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add the tofu in a single layer and cook, undisturbed, until lightly golden, about 6 minutes. Flip the tofu and cook on the other sides, stirring and lowering the heat as needed, until lightly golden, 6 to 8 more minutes. Transfer to a serving dish.
5. Add the roasted brussels sprouts to the serving dish, along with the sliced pears, and crumbled goat cheese, and gently toss with the tofu. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Nutrition Information for 4 Servings (as a main course): Calories 311, Fat 15g, Carb 29g, Fiber 11g, Sugars 11g, Protein 19g

Nutrition Information for 6 Servings (as a side dish): Calories 207, Fat 10g, Carb 19g, Fiber 8g, Sugars 7g, Protein 13g

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