Lime Leaf Tofu + Hispi Curry

Time to show tofu the respect it deserves, Farmer J style. Our Lime Leaf Curry Tofu is bold, fragrant, and packed with flavour—a proper Farmer J classic. Toss in some tender Hispi cabbage, and you’ve got a dish that’s warming, hearty, and perfect for those nights when only proper comfort food will do.

Serves 4

Forkin’ Easy

Ingredients

For the Tofu & Cabbage Base:

  • Tofu – 1 block (firm or extra-firm), cut into bite-sized cubes and pressed
  • Hispi cabbage – 1 small head, coarsely chopped to create a bed in the skillet
  • Marinade – Tofu cubes marinated in lime leaf curry

Garnish:

  • Fresh parsley, chopped
  • Spring onion, finely sliced
  • White and black sesame seeds, for sprinkling

Lime Leaf Curry Marinade:

  • 1 or 2, Fresh Red Chilli, finely chopped
  • 1 cm piece, Fresh Ginger, roughly chopped
  • 1 cm piece, Fresh Turmeric, roughly chopped
  • 35 g, Brown Sugar (muscovado)
  • 35 g, Tomato paste
  • 2–3 leaves, Fresh Lime Leaves, finely chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon, Chilli flakes
  • 25 g, Fresh Lime Juice
  • 1 or 2 cloves, Fresh Garlic, crushed
  • 50 g, Soy sauce
  • 100 g, Avocado oil, for emulsification
  • 200–250 g, Coconut milk, added at the end of blending for creaminess

Method

Prepare the Lime Leaf Curry Marinade:

  1. In a food processor, combine all the ingredients except the avocado oil and coconut milk: fresh red chili, lime juice, chili flakes, fresh lime leaves, tomato paste, brown sugar, roughly chopped fresh ginger and turmeric, fresh garlic, and soy sauce.
  2. Blend until smooth.
  3. While blending, slowly drizzle in the avocado oil to create a creamy emulsion.
  4. Once emulsified, add the coconut milk and blend for an additional minute until well combined.

Marinate the Tofu:

  1. Pat the tofu dry with paper towels, then cut it into bite-sized cubes.
  2. In a bowl, gently toss the tofu cubes with the lime leaf curry marinade, ensuring all pieces are evenly coated.
  3. Let the tofu marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours for a more intense flavor.

Pre-Roast the Tofu:

  1. Preheat your oven to 220°C.
  2. Arrange the marinated tofu cubes on a baking sheet, reserving some of the marinade for later use.
  3. Roast the tofu in the preheated oven for 15 minutes to allow it to firm up and absorb the flavors.

Prepare the Cast Iron Skillet with Hispi Cabbage:

  1. While the tofu is roasting, chop the Hispi cabbage coarsely and arrange it evenly across the base of a cast iron skillet.

Combine and Final Roast:

  1. After the tofu has pre-roasted, transfer the tofu cubes onto the bed of Hispi cabbage in the skillet.
  2. Pour the reserved lime leaf curry marinade over both the tofu and cabbage for extra flavor.
  3. Return the skillet to the oven and roast for an additional 15–20 minutes, until the cabbage is tender and slightly caramelized, and the tofu is golden.

Garnish and Serve:

  1. Once everything is cooked and golden, remove the skillet from the oven.
  2. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, sliced spring onion, and a sprinkle of white and black sesame seeds.
  3. Serve directly from the skillet, enjoying the rich and aromatic flavors of this dish.