Happy Monday! I’m kicking this week off with a very flavorful recipe of Tofu Pineapple Coconut Curry. I have mentioned before tofu is not my favorite, but I do it enjoy it once in a while especially when it’s combined with some of my favorite ingredients like pineapple in this recipe! This recipe is seriously jam packed with flavors. It’s healthy, vegan and great with rice or noodles. This recipe started off as an experiment but I was so pleased with the end result. The pineapple added a nice touch to balance out the flavors.
You can add other veggies too this curry too, I stuck to my favorite onion, pepper and tomato. It would actually be great to use fresh pineapple here. I used canned pineapple chunks because that’s what I had in my pantry the day I made this curry. Also it’s convenient as I don’t have to cut the pineapple! As you can see from the pictures, the liquid part of the curry sort of dries out as it cools down. So you can add more coconut milk when you re-heat it or add more of it in the beginning only.
Cashews are optional but recommended. I try to use nuts in my recipes a lot of time because hubby is a huge fan of nuts in food so I had to add these. You can even add roasted peanuts in stead. The cashews that I added were already roasted so I didn’t need to roast them. In case you are using raw cashews, roast them before adding to the curry.
Even if you don’t like tofu, I would highly recommend giving this recipe a try, you won’t be disappointed.
Tofu Pineapple Coconut Curry
Ingredients
To marinate the tofu
- 200 gram extra-firm tofu
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon garam masala powder
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the curry
- 1 cup pineapple chunks I used canned
- 1 red onion chopped
- 1/2 of a large bell pepper I used a mix of green and red
- 2-3 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1/2 can of 14 oz diced tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 4 large basil leaves roughly chopped
- 3-4 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- 10-15 roasted unsalted cashews broken
- salt to taste
- spring onions to garnish
Instructions
- Press the tofu with some heavy weight for 20-30 minutes to get rid of excess moisture then cut into small cubes.
- In a bowl toss together cubed tofu, red chili flakes, salt, garam masala powder and ground black pepper. Set aside for 10-15 minutes.
- Heat a pan on medium heat and add 2 teaspoons of oil to it. Once the oil is hot, add the marinated tofu to the pan.
- Cook for 5-6 minutes till tofu is golden brown on both sides. Set aside.
- In another pan, heat 2 teaspoon of oil on medium heat. Once hot, add chopped red onion and chopped garlic cloves. Cook for 2 minutes till the raw smell goes away.
- Add cubes bell peppers and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Now add pineapple chunks and cook for a minute.
- Add 1/2 of the 14 oz can of diced tomatoes and mix. Cover and cook the tomatoes for 2-3 minutes.
- Add red chili powder, curry powder, salt and mix till well combined. Cook the spices for a minute.
- Add the pan fried tofu to the pan and mix. Cover and cook for 5-6 minutes on medium heat.
- Add coconut milk, fresh basil leaves and mix.
- Let the curry simmer on medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes.
- Add roasted cashews, chopped cilantro. Also squeeze in some fresh lime juice and mix.
- Garnish with chopped spring onions and serve hot.
Nutrition
Thanks for the inspiration Manali! We made a curry tonight that was a mashup of yours and what we had left in the fridge and the pantry. Heaps of fresh veggies, some tinned pineapple and some plain tempe (substituted it for the tofu) marinated in your spice mix. We also used some fresh green chillies and the rest of the cilantro (in Australia we call it coriander) – the roots and stems – and other stuff to make a fresh green curry paste to add in with the tomatoes and coconut cream. Bit of a Frankenstein meal but really tasty and heaps left to freeze for work lunches.
Kind Regards,
Pam and Trevor from Canberra
that sounds delicious!
Hi Manali,
Thank you for posting this recipe. I made it and we all enjoyed the dish, good combination of ingredients.
Keep posting :).
Glad to know that Veena! 🙂
Hi Manali! Tofu is definitely not my favorite ingredient either. I prefer tempeh over it but you’re right, adding some beautiful pineapple can help liven up tofu. This curry looks so bright and perfect for spring! Pinning 🙂
Thanks Vanessa! I actually prefer tofu over tempeh, I can’t eat tempeh I tried but I can’t 🙁
Why have I never thought to throw pineapple into my curry?! This seriously sounds SO amazing, Manali! Totally want this to be my dinner tonight. 🙂
Thanks Sarah! Pineapple is great in curries, you must try!
even though i hate tofu, i must say the use of pineapple and coconut is making me go hmmmm its yummy 🙂
haha yes this version is not bad at all!
Use of Piineapple in a curry renders lovely flavors… Tofu and Pineapple sound a lovely combination together.
Thanks Sandhya! It was indeed a good combination!
This is seriously one of my husband’s favorites. We always order it out, but now I can make it for him. It looks so good, Manali!
Oh is it? I hope you give it a try! Thanks Mir!
Wow! What an awesome looking curry, Manali. Tofu and pineapple along with coconut must be deadly combo. YUMMY! Major drooling here! 🙂
Thanks Anu, it was good!