Sweet w/ some spice & everything nice....Grilled Sweet Thai Chilli Tofu w/ Rice and Veggies!!

Perfect example of how to take advantage of what's in your "plantry"!  I had left over eggplant and tofu, along with some green bell pepper and mushrooms, so why not make something tasty before those yummy veggies go to waste?!

I love dishes that combine sweet and spicy elements!  The best part is, is that this is equally delicious served warm, room temp, or even cool!  And, if you aren't in the mood for soy product, sub tofu for a meaty portabella mushroom!  These mushrooms can easily replace grilled steak strips!

Grilled Sweet Thai Chilli Infused Tofu w/ Brown Rice and Veggies

If you do not have access to an outdoor grill, a double sided Foreman grill works perfectly.  What makes this dish a crowd pleaser, are those sexy grill marks on your tofu (or whatever route you may choose)!




Ingredients:
1 c brown rice
2 c water
1/2 block firm tofu cut into quarters (nice even thick slices)
1 green bell pepper
1/4 c cherry tomatoes
1/2 c sliced red onion
1/2 c cubed eggplant
1/4 c sliced button mushrrom
1 tbsp chopped ginger
1 tbsp chopped garlic
1 tbsp evoo or coconut oil

sweet thai chilli sauce ingredients:
3 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 tablespoon salt
1 table spoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water

Directions
for rice and veggies:
start your grill or foreman grill.  in a pot, bring rice and water to boil, then simmer for 20 minutes, in meantime, saute garlic and ginger for 2 minutes in evoo or coconut oil.  Add pepper, tomato, eggplant, red onion and mushroom and saute until soft.

for sauce:
In a blender, blend garlic, red pepper, sugar, and salt. In a saucepan, bring the sugar mixture, 3/4 cups water and white vinegar to a boil and then lower the heat to simmer for about 3 minutes or until the sauce starts to thicken slightly. In separate bowl, mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and whisk into the sauce and continue to simmer for another minute or two. The cornstarch will thicken up the sauce.

Combine your rice in veggies in your saute pan and add in 1/4 of sweet thai chilli sauce.  mix and heat until distributed.

For tofu, douse sweet thai chilli sauce on pieces of tofu and grill until you achieve those grill marks.  Add more sauce if needed!

Serve tofu on top of your bed of rice.