This vegetarian “BLT” sandwich will make you love tofu, we promise. It’s just too yummy and full of umami. In Japanese, that means “deliciousness”! Like pizza or mac and cheese. Follow this step-by-step guide with your parents so that you may successfully make this recipe together.
FOR KIDS
Vegetarian “BLT” Sandwiches
1. Let’s start by preheating the oven. Place the rack in the middle position (be sure to ask your parents to ensure it’s well placed in the centre of the oven) and preheat to 375°F (190°C). Then, line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
Once that’s done, you’ll need a long and sharp chef’s knife to cut the tofu into thin, straight slices. The thinner they are, the crispier they’ll become.
If you need help, be sure to ask mom or dad. C’mon, don’t be too shy to ask!
2. In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, oil, brown sugar and spices. Whisk, whisk, whisk the marinade!
3. Dip one piece of tofu at a time in the marinade and lay out on the prepared baking sheet. The secret to successful tofu “bacon” is in the dipping. But don’t put all the slices of tofu in the bowl at the same time!
Set the marinade aside on the counter while you work on the next step of the recipe!
4. Now comes the time to cook the tofu “bacon.” It’s just as pig-out worthy as pork bacon, we promise! Bake for 15 minutes and then remove from the oven. With a pastry brush, cover the tofu with the remaining marinade. Bake for another 5 minutes or until the sides are golden. Set aside at room temperature.
POP QUIZ:
With a second layer of marinade, your “bacon” will taste even more:
1) bitter
2) sour
3) umami
(Find the answer at the bottom of this page.)
5. It’s now time to adjust the oven temperature to toast the bread. Set the oven to broil. Place the bread slices on a baking sheet and let them broil for three to four minutes, turning them over halfway through. Perfectly toasted bread slices will ensure your sandwich is warm and crunchy.
6. Spread the mayonnaise over the toasted bread. Divide the lettuce, tomatoes and tofu “bacon” among 4 slices of bread. The two other components of a BLT, the lettuce and tomato, will add freshness to your sandwich. And also make for a complete meal for lunch!
7. Top each sandwich with a second slice of bread. Cut the sandwiches in half and it’s now time to take a big bite.
Hello? Are you still there? Ah, we see you’re enjoying your vegetarian “BLT”!
By the way: The answer to the quiz is umami! Good to see you were paying attention!
For those of you looking for another step-by-step culinary project, try our burrito bowl or these yummy brookies.
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