Equipment
Ingredients
Tofu & Marinade
- 200 g extra-firm tofu, pressed and sliced into 1.5cm slabs
- 15 ml soy sauce
- 5 ml sesame oil, toasted
- 10 ml olive oil
Wasabi Mayo
- 30 g mayonnaise
- 5 g wasabi paste
- 5 ml rice vinegar
Sandwich Build
- 4 sourdough bread, thickly sliced
- 1 avocado, pitted and sliced
- 1 tomato, sliced
- 30 g mixed greens, washed and dried
Nutrition (per serving)
Method
Wrap the extra-firm tofu in paper towels and press under a heavy object for 15 minutes to remove excess moisture. Once pressed, slice into slabs approximately 1.5 centimeters thick.
In a shallow dish, combine the soy sauce and toasted sesame oil. Coat the pressed tofu slabs in the mixture and let sit for 5 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, wasabi paste, and rice vinegar until smooth. Taste and add more wasabi if a sharper bite is desired.
Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat, approximately 190 C / 375 F. Add the marinated tofu slabs and sear for 3 minutes per side until deeply golden and crispy on the edges.
Toast the sourdough bread slices until golden brown and firm enough to support the moisture of the vegetables without becoming soggy.
Apply a generous, even layer of the wasabi mayonnaise to the inside face of all four toasted sourdough slices.
On two of the bread slices, layer the mixed greens, seared tofu slabs, sliced tomatoes, and sliced avocado.
Close the sandwiches with the remaining bread slices, press down gently with your hand, cut in half diagonally, and serve immediately.
Chef's Notes
- For an extra layer of texture, lightly dredge the marinated tofu slabs in a fine coating of cornstarch just before searing.
- Salting your tomato slices lightly 5 minutes before assembly draws out excess water and concentrates their natural sweetness.
- Wasabi strength is highly variable across different brands. Always mix half the recommended amount first, taste, and scale up as needed.
- Ensure commercial mayonnaise is used, or if making mayonnaise from scratch, utilize pasteurized eggs to ensure safety for vulnerable populations.
