Naihomy’s Dominican Tofu Guisado

This tasty Dominican tofu guisado is the perfect ejemplo of how Familia Kitchen Healthy & Delicioso Editor Naihomy Jerez takes a beloved, traditional dish—in this case, Dominican pollo guisado or stewed chicken—and gives it a food makeover that has tons of sabor and good-for-you.

Naihomy calls this a food flip, and we love how she daringly takes on classic dishes, since Familia Kitchen is all about ”cooking our way home”—one favorite familia receta at a time. In this dish, Naihomy stays true to tradition by starting with an authentic recipe from the D.R., where she was born. She then tweaks just a couple of ingredients and techniques to make it más saludable.

How Naihomy Flips Foods to Healthy & Delicioso

The entire point of a flip, says Naihomy, is to nudge a dish in a healthier direction, without sacrificing flavor.

If you have been looking for meatless versions of old-school Latinx dishes, this one is for you, says Naihomy. She makes it easy to ditch the chicken. ”As I coach my clients in my food consultancy, Bagels and Brussels, switch just a couple of things: like tofu instead of pollo and avocado oil instead of corn oil.”

Not sure the carne eater in your life will be up for your messing with a tried-and-true favorite plato? Neither was Naihomy—at first. Her husband, also of Dominican heritage, loves his pollo guisado. But Naihomy forged ahead and is delighted to report: ”I served it to my husband, a meat eater who can be tofu reluctant, and to my delight, he said it was ‘delicioso!’ I hope your family enjoys it, too.”

Naihomy advises serving this tofu guisado accompanied by the traditional Dominican sides: fried-plantain tostones and her Healthy & Delicioso moro de guandules—rice with pigeon peas.

For more of her famous food flips, check out Naihomy’s flan de calabaza or pumpkin flan (her mom made the traditional version and she gave hers a non-dairy makeover), these chicken enchiladas using almond-flour tortillas, and this arroz con pollo.

Naihomy’s Dominican Tofu Guisado

Recipe by Naihomy Jerez Cuisine: Dominican

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Ingredients

• For the Tofu

• 14 oz 14 extra-firm tofu

• 2 Tbsp 2 sofrito sauce (recipe here)

• 1 tsp 1 adobo seasoning

• 1/2 tsp 1/2 sazón seasoning

• 1/2 tsp 1/2 oregano

• 1/2 tsp 1/2 black pepper

• 1/2 tsp 1/2 Himalayan sea salt

• 2 Tbsp 2 avocado oil

• 1/2 tsp 1/2 raw sugar

• For the Onions and Peppers

• 1/2 1/2 green pepper

• 1/2 1/2 red pepper

• 1/2 1/2 red onion

• 1 Tbsp 1 Loisa Sofrito

• 1 Tbsp 1 apple cider vinegar

• 1/2 tsp 1/2 Himalayan sea salt

• 1 Tbsp 1 avocado oil

• Plus: The Broth!

• 8 oz 8 vegetable broth

Directions

• Squeeze the excess water from the tofu, cut into small squares and place in a mixing bowl.
• Sprinkle with sofrito, adobo, sazón, oregano, black pepper and Himalayan salt.
• Gently fold into the tofu and ensure all pieces are well-covered with spices. Set to the side.
• Cut green and red peppers and the onions into slivers. Set aside.
• Place sauté pan over high heat and add 2 Tbsp of avocado oil for about 1 minute.
• Sprinkle in raw sugar in the oil and let it caramelize for approximately 3 minutes.
• Once the sugar has turned light brown, add the tofu and spread evenly in the pan. Do not stir to prevent the tofu from falling apart. Let the tofu to brown on each side.
• While tofu is browning, add the sliced peppers and onion to the bowl where the tofu was marinating to marinate in the leftover seasoning. Add the sofrito, apple cider vinegar, Himalayan salt, and avocado oil. Mix well and set to the side.
• Return to the tofu and gently stir, making sure you’re browning as much of the tofu as possible, approximately for 5 minutes.
• Add the peppers and onions, plus any remaining seasoning in the bowl, to the hot pan with the tofu. Lower the heat to medium and stir.
• After about 2 minutes, add the vegetable broth, and bring to a simmer.
• Occasionally stir and let it all cook for a last 5 minutes.
• Give the dish one final good stir, turn off the heat, and serve with your favorite side, like these tostones or these moro de guandules. Buen provecho!

Notes

• The key to substituting tofu in your favorite dishes is starting with a packet of extra-firm tofu and then keeping your stirring to a minimum, so that it doesn’t fall apart.