The Cascade Kitchen is a student-run food column that brings you budget-friendly recipes and cooking tips. Check back bi-weekly for something new to try in the kitchen, or if you want to see your own recipe featured next, get started by reaching out to culture@ufvcascade.ca.
When we were all snowed in over the holidays, all I craved was comfort food. This time of year always reminds me of the delicious recipes that my mom used to make my brothers and I growing up. So I decided to go through my mom’s old recipe cards and pick out a few of my childhood favourites in an attempt to make them for myself. Although I grew up eating this sweet and sour recipe with turkey meatballs or sauteed chicken, I opted for tofu this time around. It’s a super quick and comforting meal that is packed with flavour.
Cook time: 20 minutes Serves: 3
Ingredients:
1 cup pineapple juice
¼ cup white vinegar
2 Tbsp soy sauce
¼ cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp warm water
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 cup pineapple chunks
½ package of extra firm tofu, about 8 ounces
Method:
- Over medium heat, combine the pineapple juice, vinegar, soy sauce, and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Stir and bring it to a low boil.
- Combine cornstarch and water in a separate bowl and mix until there are no lumps.
- Slowly add the cornstarch slurry into the boiling mixture, stirring constantly until it thickens. This should take approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Reduce heat and add green pepper and pineapple to the sauce. Simmer until peppers are tender, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add diced tofu to the sauce and stir until combined. If you have additional time, you may choose to pan-fry, bake, or air fry tofu ahead of time for a crispier texture.
- Serve over rice and enjoy!
Image: Sydney Marchand
Sydney is a BA English major, creative writing student, who has been a content contributor for The Cascade and is now the Opinion editor. In 7th grade, she won $100 in a writing contest but hasn’t made an earning from writing since. In the meantime, she is hoping that her half-written novels will write themselves, be published, and help pay the bills.
