Tofu Jerky

"This is a nice substitution for beef jerky, as it provides the saltiness and smoky flavor (it has been a long time since I've had real beef jerky, though, so I may not be the best judge). The texture will not be the same, of course, but it is chewy and satisfying. Enjoy!"
 
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photo by Sandi From CA photo by Sandi From CA
photo by Sandi From CA
photo by Sandi From CA photo by Sandi From CA
photo by Sandi From CA photo by Sandi From CA
photo by Aunt Cookie photo by Aunt Cookie
Ready In:
12hrs 15mins
Ingredients:
8
Yields:
12 pieces
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ingredients

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directions

  • Cut the cube of tofu horizontally into four pieces, and then slice it into strips (I had a total of 12). The strips should be about 4 millimeters in thickness. They're going to shrink a lot in the oven, so they should start out pretty thick.
  • Mix all the other ingredients together.
  • Arrange the tofu in a single layer in a shallow baking pan or cookie sheet and pour the marinade over it.
  • Let it soak for several hours or overnight.
  • Drain excess liquid and dry tofu in food dehydrator or 200 F oven. This will take 4 to 8 hours, depending on the weather (it took six hours for me in the oven).
  • Flip the tofu over hourly so it dries evenly.
  • Dry the jerky until it is very chewy, but not crispy.

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Reviews

  1. Found this a bit on the salty side so use low sodium soy sauce. Otherwise it was very good. I used 1 teaspoon liquid smoke and that was plenty (Colgin brand mesquite flavor). I froze the tofu first. Makes it firmer. and you can increase heat for a while to dry it faster.
     
  2. I made this with low sodium soy sauce and several people sampled it and liked it. I'll try regular soy sauce when I make it to take backpacking. I used a dehydrator for 7 hours at 195 F, and the texture came out nice -- not really chewy, but not crispy either. It made the house smell smoky for a couple days, but it's a pleasant smell. When I laid it out to dry, I made sure some of the marinade solids (garlic and pepper) was on each piece.
     
  3. This was my very first time using tofu in anything other than miso soup! I figured something like this recipe would be a good introduction for this carnivore as I love beef jerky and all things salty. I followed the directions and used the dehydrator, which, after 2 hours, resulted in all but one piece being completely crispy! The last one had a chewy texture, but I'm not really sure which I like better. They were definitely extra salty, even for me, but with a good flavor. I can see experimenting with the marinade ingredients. All in all, a nice alternative to beef jerky and not-so-healthy snacks. Thank you, Aunt Cookie!
     
  4. This is the same recipe I've been using for years (from an old Meal-Master recipe posted by Mike Richichi). It won't quite cut it if you're craving beef, but it has a great taste and is one of the better "good-for-you" treats I've found. I use a dehydrator so I don't have to flip them over every hour. Definitely use low-sodium soy sauce if you're watching your salt. A little chili powder or tabasco can also be added to spice things up.
     
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

I wandered onto Recipezaar less than a year ago, looking for a lentil soup recipe. I'm pretty sure I haven't left the computer since then...I've been completely sucked in by this site! Of course, I do take the occasional break to actually cook the recipes I find. When I'm not at my computer or in the kitchen, I'm working toward my PhD in clinical psychology from Kent State. I also work as a therapist at the campus clinic, teach a class (Social Psychology this semester), and work as a research assistant. I'm a little bit busy. I do usually find time every day to cook something for myself with the help of this site, and to exercise (to counteract the effects of the great recipes I find here). I don't have much time in my life for hobbies at the moment (sigh), but I seem to recall that I used to like reading, going to see musical performances, and watching movies. I still do my best to travel as much as possible. My sister, Kate, my boyfriend, Jake, and my friend, Kris, are my favorite travel partners. Kate and I go on an "eatacation" every year. The picture above is (from left) Andrea, me, and Kris, on our first annual Tacky Tourist Weekend.
 
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