Mmm, home fries. Hot, crispy pieces of well seasoned potato next to a steaming cup of coffee is a fantastic way to start the day. On mornings when the boys are up at 6:30, I can throw them in the oven and know they’ll be done by the time Greg is ready for work. This morning I gave my home fries a healthy twist by adding diced yellow bell pepper for the last ten minutes of cooking, and serving with a side of seared tofu topped with avocado and cilantro. Delicious, fresh tasting, and packed with protein and healthy fats. If the avocado and cilantro doesn’t give the tofu enough flavor for your liking, add some salsa or hot sauce on the side!
Bell Pepper Homefries & Pan-seared Tofu with Avocado & Cilantro
Serves 2 generously
2 waxy red potatoes
1 T grapeseed oil
1 yellow pepper
1/2 carton of extra-firm tofu
1 avocado
handful of chopped fresh cilantro
old bay spice to taste (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
hot sauce or salsa for serving (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Slice the tofu into two rectangles and press for 20 minutes.
Wash, dry, and cut the potatoes into small cubes. 1/2 inch cubes take about 40 minutes to cook, the ones pictured in the photo were a little smaller because I was short on time. Toss the cubed potatoes with the grapeseed oil on the baking sheet and sprinkle with old bay (if desired). Roast until crispy and cooked through, about 40 minutes, shaking the pan or stirring occasionally to produce even browning.
Meanwhile, dice the yellow bell pepper. Set aside. Add them to the potatoes when they have about ten minutes of cooking time remaining.
When you have 15 minutes remaining on the potatoes, preheat a cast iron or stainless steel skillet on medium and oil it extremely lightly with grapeseed oil. Brown your tofu on each side. For very detailed instructions on dry-searing tofu, see Isa Chandra’s article from the ppk.com.
Plate the tofu and top it with avocado and cilantro. Serve next to the bell pepper home fires, and top the tofu with salsa or hot sauce for extra flavor, if desired.