May 8, 2025
Tofu Kitfo | Power Plates
Servings:
4
This recipe is inspired by Lalibela, an ethiopian spot in Los Angeles that my friends and I frequently visited. They are the only ethiopian spot that I have eaten at that offers a vegan version of kitfo, a dish usually made with raw beef. I took that dish and swapped out the faux meat for tofu to bring you a new way to cook your tofu. This dish packs in 14g of protein per serving and makes a great meal prep friendly breakfast or lunch.
Ingredients
1 14-oz block extra firm tofu
2 shallots
2 cloves garlic
1 jalapeño
2 in piece raw ginger
1 ½ tbsp coriander seeds
1 tbsp cumin seeds
½ tbsp ajwain seeds
½ tbsp fenugreek
1 tsp black pepper
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp turmeric
1 tbsp berbere
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dijon mustard
½ tsp salt
Oil, for cooking
Method
PREP. Slice tofu into large slabs and press with a heavy object like a cast iron skillet. Mince shallot, garlic, jalapeño, and ginger.
MAKE KITFO BASE. Heat a drizzle of oil in a medium skillet. Once hot, add cumin, coriander, black pepper, ajwain, fenugreek, turmeric, and cinnamon. Toast until fragrant being careful to not let the spices burn, about 1 minute. Add shallots, garlic, jalapeño, and ginger. Cook until shallots have softened, about 3 minutes. Add berbere, vinegar, and a pinch of salt. Simmer until liquid has partially evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add mustard. Cook to infuse flavors, about 1 minute. Add salt. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
MAKE TOFU. Crumble tofu into a medium bowl. Add kitfo base to tofu. Mix well to combine.
SERVE. Serve kitfo warm with injera, toasted whole wheat bread, or a grain of your choice.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Marcus Samuelsson
Berbere is a popular Ethiopian spice blend that combines cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, turmeric, black pepper, ginger, fenugreek, paprika, allspice, and clove. It has a similar flavor profile to Indian garam masala but with a touch more sweetness from the higher amount of cardamom and cinnamon. I was able to find it at a local specialty foods store. You can also get it at Whole Foods.
If you are using high protein tofu, you do not need to press it as most of the moisture has already been removed
This is great for meal prep as the flavors become more cohesive as it sits in the fridge