Tofu "Meatballs" with Saffron-Ginger Tomato Sauce

Not exactly a $5 dinner. We make enough of those to allow ourselves to venture out of budget from time to time. Not that this meal is particularly expensive either. Actually, you can make our Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Asparagus, minus the onions.

These tofu "meatballs" go on the side.

TOFU "MEATBALLS"

What you'll need . . .

• 1 cake of extra firm tofu (14 ounces) 
• 1/2 cup low fat ricotta cheese 
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese 
• 1 large egg 
• 1-1/2 cups rolled oats processed into flour (sort of like with our smoked tofu "meatloaf") 
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 5 cloves of garlic, chopped 
• Salt and pepper to taste 

Method . . . 

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spritz olive oil into each portion in a mini muffin pan. Set aside.
2. Drain tofu for half an hour (here's how) and break into smaller pieces. 
3. Then toss everything in a food processor and pulse until combined, but not too paste-y (so, still some texture to it). 
4. Then drop in heaping spoonfuls into the mini muffin pan -- the mixture is enough to fill all the slots.
5. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes -- until firm and browned. 

SAFFRON-GINGER TOMATO SAUCE

What you'll need . . . 

• 1 large (24 ounce) can whole tomatoes -- juice and all
• 1 heaping tablespoon powdered saffron
• 1 heaping teaspoon powdered ginger
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Pinch salt and pepper
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1/2 to 1 cup almond milk

Method . . .

1. In a small saucepan, combine the tomatoes, saffron, ginger, 1 tablespoon olive oil, lemon juice, and salt/pepper. Cook for 20 minutes over medium heat.
2. In a small frying pan, toss in 1 tablespoon olive oil and cook the onions over medium-high heat for a couple minutes. Add the maple syrup and continue cooking until golden brown.
3. Put everything in a food processor and blend until smooth. Then add in however much milk you'd like. The more you use, the less acidic the sauce will be.
4. Then return to a saucepan to warm and add in the "meatballs" -- let cook until well warmed.

It took a while longer to prepare than my usual weekday fare, but I had a lot of fun cooking this meal. Too bad Ada has been really cranky at dinner times in general for the past several days. She cried the entire time we ate.

I know I've said she's been teething for months now, but SHE'S DEFINITELY TEETHING. Someone give this girl a tooth already!

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