Maharaja Tofu Salad a ‘prince’ of a spread

(Curried-flavored tofu salad makes an elegant sandwich filling)

Freezing tofu and then defrosting it changes its texture, making it more flaky and chewy.
I played around with doing just that to tofu and then mixing it with Nayonaise, vegetables and seasonings for a tasty sandwich spread.

Because I love Indian food, I flavored it with curry powder and rasam to give it a kick. Spreading a little chili relish on the bread, or a grainy lavash, really amped it up, and I dubbed my creation Maharaja Tofu Salad, for its exotic flavor and texture.

One thing about defrosted tofu, it absorbs a lot of oil and Nayonaise, so add them gingerly at first until you get a consistency that holds together.

Toasted almond slices and golden raisins raise this spread to a royal status.

It’s also good as a dip with crackers and fresh vegetables.

One taste, and you’re likely to bow down in appreciation.

Maharaja Tofu Salad

1. 1 pound tofu, sliced and layered between plastic wrap, frozen; then defrosted with excess water squeezed out
2. ½ small red onion, minced
3. 1 celery stalk, diced
4. 1 small carrot, grated
5. Handful of toasted sliced almonds
6. Small handful golden raisins
7. 1 tablespoon Tamari
8. 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
9. 3-4 tablespoons Nayonaise
10. Fresh coriander, chopped (to taste)
11. 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
12. 1 tablespoon fresh minced chives (save flowers for garnish)
13. 1 tablespoon rasam powder (or hot curry powder), according to taste
    
14. ¾ teaspoon ground tumeric
15. ½ teaspoon garlic powder
16. Pinch of paprika
17. Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
18. Chili or lime pickle, or your favorite chutney
    

• Make sure the tofu is well squeezed of water.
• Start by adding a little olive oil, a couple tablespoons of Nayonaise (you could certainly use mayo for a nonvegan version) and Tamari.
• Add the chopped vegetables and the rest of the ingredients, except the relish or chutney.
• If it's too dry, add more Nayonaise.

This spread is also good on toasted bread.