TOFU

• Press tofu between some sheets of paper towelling or a clean dish towel. Add a few heavy cookbooks or a cast iron pan on top and let it sit while you prepare the rest of the meal.

TARTAR SAUCE RECIPE LINK HERE

SLAW

• Into a medium sized bowl add 2-3 cups of shredded green or red cabbage. Or bag of slaw from grocery store. Add a small handful of chopped cilantro (¼ - ½ cup more or less to taste). Squeeze the juice of 1 lime over the cabbage-cilantro. Add a pinch or two of salt and toss until incorporated. Set aside until assembling.

PICO DE GALLO RECIPE

• Add 2 cups chopped tomatoes (use the juiciest, reddest tomatoes you can find) to a medium-sized bowl.

  Chop a small bunch of cilantro (1 cup loosely packed), 1 or 2 jalapenos (to taste), and ½ a white onion and add to the bowl.

  Season with the juice of 1-2 limes (mine was really large and juicy so I used only 1), a pinch or two of coarse salt (to taste), and a splash of chipotle sauce (if using). Toss to incorporate.

  Set aside. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.

PREPARING THE OIL

• Best oil for pan frying: chose a neutral oil with a high smoke point like vegetable or canola.

  Heat about ½" of oil in a cast iron or heavy bottomed skillet over medium to high heat. Test the oil to be sure it's perfect by using the chopstick method above or drop a small dot of batter into the pan and it will sizzle and bounce about when the oil is ready.

SLICING THE TOFU FILETS & MIXING THE BEER BATTER

• Slice the pressed tofu into 1" x 3" x ½" thick fillets (approximately). Pat dry if wet.
• Mix the flour (I used AP but you could sub out your favourite GF AP flour mix - like Bob's Red Mill) and spices together in a medium-sized bowl.

  Add 1 cup of the beer and stir. If the batter is too thick, add more beer until the desired consistency is reached (like pancake batter - there will be a few lumps too).

  Working in batches, dip each piece in the batter and place in the hot oil, once it's golden and crispy, flip the piece. Remove from the oil and transfer to a cooling rack with a piece of paper towelling below to catch the drippings.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

• Warm the tortillas (microwave or dry fry on griddle), add slaw, tofu fillets, pico, tuck avocado slices on the side, drizzle with tartar sauce. Add a sprinkle of chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime for an added punch of wow!