Vegan Tofu Sloppy Joe

I rarely dumpster tofu, so I was extra-excited when I did recently. I haven't really cooked regularly with tofu since I was in college, but this is a pretty easy tofu recipe for beginners (and super-easy if you want a vegan barbeque option). So, I re-acclimated pretty fast.

VEGAN TOFU SLOPPY JOES

Ingredients:
- 1 lb. extra-firm tofu, pressed (basically, you press all the liquid out of it. It's easier if you freeze it first then re-thaw it) (those who are new to tofu, YES the consistency matters. It will be labeled on the packaging).
- 1 tomato, diced
- 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
- Soy sauce to taste (I used a few tablespoons)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup ketchup (or you can use tomato paste/tomato sauce and apple cider vinegar)
- 1 tbsp brown mustard (optional)
- Cumin, sugar, cayenne, salt, & pepper to taste - be careful with the salt since the soy sauce has salt in it too...
- Some kind of bread or bun (I used a ciabbata roll sliced in half)

Press and crush up the tofu.
Put olive oil in a pan and soften your onions and garlic on medium heat.
Throw in the tofu and soy sauce on high heat for 3-5 minutes (until it's kinda golden brown).
Throw in the tomatoes, turn to medium.
Add the ketchup, mustard, and spices until it all tastes delicious and something like a Sloppy Joe should.
Simmer for at least 10 minutes so the flavors can meld and work their magic.
Donezo!

I ate this as leftovers at work, and I had all these hardcore carnivores asking me what I'd made because it smelled so good! Epic win!

Items not donated or dumpstered: Olive oil, spices, mustard