Tofu Burgers with Strawberry Picante Sauce
These Tofu Burgers with Strawberry Picante Sauce are simply scrumptious. Juicy and satisfying, these burgers are just as good on a bun as well as in a salad!
You must be thinking “another tofu recipe…boring!” But, these next three words strung together might change your mind: Strawberry Picante Sauce. Now, ruminate on those words…let them sink in…and, read on…
One day last week, I come home dog-tired to find a gaggle of teenage girls raiding my kitchen. The fridge. The pantry. They weren’t leaving anything untouched. Well, what do you think I did?
Layout a spread for them? Nope – not that day! Did I mention I was tired? That day I pulled out a block of tofu and asked who was staying for dinner and they all fled! If they had known that I planned to #KickUpTheFlavor on that bland block of tofu by introducing it to a Strawberry Picante Sauce with Pace®, they might have stayed – but oops – I forgot to mention that part!
The idea for this Strawberry Picante Sauce occurred to me as I sat in traffic staring at a jar of mild Pace® Picante Sauce and jar of strawberry jam I had picked up from Walmart earlier.
As I sat there staring, I recalled this recipe for grape jelly and chili sauce glazed meatballs I had seen awhile back which lead me to go aha – I know what’s for dinner! Pace® Salsas and Picante Sauces can be enjoyed as a valuable and versatile ingredient in recipes, in addition to being a delicious dipping sauce!
This sauce is super simple – just 3 ingredients – strawberry jam, Pace® Picante Sauce and smoked paprika thrown in a pan to mingle for about 10-12 minutes. I used this sauce in the tofu burgers as well as on the tofu burgers as they were cooking.
I‘ve made these Tofu Burgers with Strawberry Picante sauce quite a few times now and once even made the mistake of sharing them with friends, who, apparently, don’t seem to understand this whole sharing-with-the-host concept!
Between mouthfuls, they mumbled how these burgers would be a wonderful vegetarian option for a game-day gathering or any get-together. Then, they attempted to #KickUpTheFlavor on the veggie platter by dipping veggies into the leftover Pace® Picante Sauce!
Do you clear the room when someone pulls out tofu?
What’s the most interesting way you have tried Pace® Salsas and Picante Sauces?
Ingredients
FOR THE STRAWBERRY PICANTE SAUCE
- 1 cup Pace® Picante Medium
- 1/2 cup strawberry jam
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
FOR THE TOFU BURGERS:
- 1 block extra firm tofu
- 1/4 cup cornmeal
- 1/4 cup sorghum flour can also use gluten-free flour or regular flour for a gluten-full version
- 2 teaspoons chopped parsley
- 2 teaspoons chopped cilantro
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon Strawberry Picante Sauce
Instructions
- FOR THE STRAWBERRY PICANTE SAUCE
- Add the Pace® Picante Medium Sauce, the strawberry jam, and smoked paprika to a pan and let cook 10-12 minutes.
FOR THE TOFU BURGERS:
- Using paper towels or a dishcloth make sure you dry the tofu completely
- Then cube it and add to a food processor along with the cornmeal, sorghum flour, parsley, cilantro. salt and pepper, and Strawberry Picante Sauce. Pulse a couple of times till mixture is well blended
- Form into 8 spheres, flatten spheres, brush with Strawberry Picante Sauce and cook in a pan with olive oil for 5-7 minutes on each side -or till golden- over a medium flame
mmm..these tofu patties look droolworthy! The sauce sounds really interesting.
Thanks so much Angie
Firstly I love the sauce.
But secondly I love this recipe for making Tofu Burgers. I don’t have one and as Lynne and I plan to eat lots more Tofu going forward (even when we’re finished vegan January. This’ll do nicely. Thanks! 🙂
Thanks so much Neil – this recipe doesn’t have it – but sometimes when I make these without sauce, I add in cumin, coriander, chili, paprika, and garam masala – ooh ooh so good!
So it was the tofu that got them running? I’ll remember that. Maybe it works for teenage boys too. Ha. WHAT a delicious burger you’ve got going here today Shashi, and of course I’m very interested in that delicious strawberry picante sauce. Sweet and savory mix, love it! So now I need this burger for lunch and you are nowhere nearby to cook it up for me. I might have to get off the sofa. (!) Supposedly we get snow this weekend….we shall see. XOXO
Hahaha – I bet it would work on teenage boys too Allie!
I saw that North East got really dumped on – I hope y’all are olay – and the boys got to get out and enjoy the snow. xoxo
That sauce sounds wonderful! I have to giggle about the tofu sending them running. I am sure my kids’ friends think some of what we eat around here is nuts. Anyway, your sauce sounds good…I would have never thought to put those two together, but the grape jelly and chili sauce mixture works too, so it makes sense!
Thanks so much Michelle!
Some teens sure are funny – they will eat my chocolate-beet cookies, but as soon as I mention the cookies get their coloring from beets, they drop ’em! 🙂
I was not thinking these burgers were boring at all! I WAS, however, thinking WOWZA, now THIS is a tofu burger! These look all sorts of awesome, Shashi!! I am seriously loving the strawberry picante sauce here! I wouldn’t have fled if you offered to make me these, but I would have demanded seconds and thirds! I LOVE how your brain works, so creative!! Cheers, my dear! xo
That strawberry picante sauce was delicious indeed! We made some chicken with it the other night too – simply scrumptious!
Thanks so much sweet Cheyanne!
I definitely did a double-take when I saw the strawberry picante sauce. What a unique combination, Shashi…but you’re totally on point here! These flavors would go well together, and I might even be convinced to eat a tofu burger if this sauce is involved. Haha! I can only imagine the kitchen scene when that block of tofu came out! 🙂
YES!!!! Gawsh, I’d be as happy as pie (as in I ate the whole pie and am happy) if you actually ate a tofu burger, David! 🙂
Those gals are funny – sometimes when I come home they hide in Lil Shashi’s room – then show up in the kitchen and start talking loudly so I cannot tell them what exactly it is they are eating…and I just wanna have dinner and chat with Lil Shashi!
So not a tofu fan, but these actually look amazing. I would give these a try for sure. #client
Hey if I can make a non-tofu fan do a double take – then am happy! Thanks so much Carlyn!
haha the tofu scared them off! Too funny! I would not be running from these – they look amazing! That sauce!
Haha – Thanks so much Ashley! Those gals run when I bring out quinoa too
If any of those girls are reading your post and seeing your yummy tofu burgers, they’re probably kicking themselves!
Hahaha – Chris – my daughter said they saw this post at lunch at school and they are plotting… 🙂
These tofu burgers look divine. That Strawberry Picante Sauce looks dangerous, great recipe 🙂
Thanks so much Mary