Dinner
When Life Gives You Lemons: Tofu Piccata

Golden tofu cutlets simmer in a bright lemon-caper sauce for a simple skillet dinner that feels special without making a fuss. Ready in about 35 minutes.
Grab this
- 1 block (454 g) extra-firm tofu, drained and patted dry
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon capers, drained
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Lemon slices, for serving (optional)
Do this
- Cut the tofu crosswise into 8 even cutlets. Lay them on a clean towel, cover with another towel and press gently for 5 minutes.
- Season both sides of the tofu with the salt and pepper. Put the flour on a plate, then lightly coat each cutlet and shake off the excess.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook half the tofu for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden. Transfer to a plate, add the remaining oil and repeat with the rest.
- Lower the heat to medium. Add the garlic to the skillet and stir for 30 seconds.
- Pour in the vegetable broth, lemon juice, capers and maple syrup. Scrape up any browned bits and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Stir the cornstarch mixture once more, then pour it into the sauce. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring, until glossy and lightly thickened.
- Return the tofu to the skillet and spoon the sauce over it. Warm for 2 minutes, sprinkle with parsley and serve with lemon slices if desired.
Easy swaps
- For a gluten-free version, use a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour; check that the vegetable broth and capers are certified gluten-free if needed.
- For a soy allergy, replace the tofu with thick slices of cooked chickpea polenta and use the same flouring and browning method.
- If you avoid capers, use 1 tablespoon finely chopped green olives; check labels because sodium levels vary.
- This recipe contains soy and wheat as written. It is naturally free from dairy, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts, but always check packaged-ingredient labels for cross-contact.
Estimated per serving
Nutrition at a glance
- Calories
- 200
- Fat
- 12g
- Saturated fat
- 1.8g
- Carbohydrates
- 12g
- Fibre
- 1g
- Sugars
- 1g
- Protein
- 11g
- Sodium
- 370mg
Tofu provides a useful amount of plant protein in a modest-calorie main; values are estimates and vary by brand and serving size.
Estimates vary with ingredient brands, substitutions and serving size.
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