Tofu Pinoy Spaghetti: Almost-Vegetarian Pinoy Pugzhetti

Ganito kasi: wala na kaming giniling sa ref. Hotdog na lang, tofu, and spaghetti sauce  ang mapapakinabangan ko bukod sa oatmeal and dried pasta. So ayun, sabi ko gawa na lang ako spaghetti with red sauce kasi hindi naman ako makakapag tofu sisig at kanin. Naisip ko, what if yung tofu pwedeng gawin na parang ground pork/beef sa pasta na hindi maglalasang ewan? Naalala ko may nakita akong article dati about tofu sa pasta na mukhang ground beef. Pero baked sa oven. Nagtry ako nun-- failure. Mali kaya yung tofu na nabili ko? Sira ba oven ko? Ayoko na ng heartache at sayang na tofu. So, I tried it sa pan and it worked like a charm!

It's not that bad considering yung "meat" na halo sa chow fan ay soy meat or yung nakikita niyong mukhang chicharon sa cup noodles and baka nga yung sa Jolly Spaghetti ay partly ground meat at partly soy meat. Win-win! Makita mo yung mukha ng bata mag-iiba after mong sabihin na may tokwa sa spaghetti. Lol.

Also, this can be an alternative if you don't eat pork. Make tofu and Beefies/Chicken hotdogs!

Makes 12-15 servings, minimum cost is P285.00

1 block (about 500g) firm tofu, drained and mashed with a fork (P59.00)

3 tbsp soy sauce (P2.00)

1 tsp dried oregano (P2.00)

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1 tsp garlic powder (optional)  (P2.00)

1/4 cup vegetable oil (P5.00)

4 cloves garlic (P5.00)

80g /1pc medium onion (P8.00)

1 kg spaghetti sauce (italian or pinoy style) (P70.00)

500g Chicken Hotdog, sliced into rounds (P75.00) (you can skip this or just make half of this)

1 kg Spaghetti (P57.00)

1 can button mushrooms 198g, drained and chopped into bits (optional) (P31.00)

1 165g Eden cheese, grated (optional) (P49.00)

Without cheese and mushroom: P285

With Mushroom: P316

With Cheese: P334

With Cheese and Mushroom: P365

Step 1: Mash tofu then make your faux ground pork/beef

Mash the drained tofu with a fork, and slice/mince/chop your other ingredients of course.

On a pan, pour the oil and heat it until it is almost smoking. Add the tofu, soy sauce, oregano, pepper and garlic powder (if using the last 2).

Stir constantly to not let the tofu stick to the pan or burn, and to distribute the soy sauce. Stir-fry for about 8-12 minutes, on medium high if using non-stick. There's a chance that you'll scorch it if you're using a kawali so be careful. It'll go from looking like adobong tokwa to looking like sisig. Mmmmmmm.

Step 2: Add the other ingredients except for the spaghetti sauce and pasta.

Add your onions and garlic, saute for three to five minutes until you can smell yung sibuyas. Afterwards, add the hotdogs (and mushrooms if you're using some) and saute as well.

Step 3: Once you can smell the hotdogs, add the sauce, about 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper plus 3/4 cup water.

Add it to the pan and stir thoroughly. Pag nagsimmer, be careful kasi para siyang molten lava. You can try simmering it partly closed with a lid for 10 minutes. 

Step 4: Serve it with pasta and cheese.

1 kg of dried spaghetti spaghetti can pretty much serve 12 adults or 15 children, since mas maliit serving size ng noodles nila. Top with Eden or Quickmelt cheese. Enjoy! :D