Sweet Onion Tofu Cakes with Roasted Onion Sauce and Raw Onion Poke

This recipe from Chef Lyndon Honda won an award at the 2004 Maui Onion Fesitival!

Caramelized Sweet Onion Tofu Cakes
1 sweet onion, sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 block of tofu, firm
1/2 cup panko or bread crumbs
2 tablespoons green onion, chopped
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon flavored soy sauce
Peanut or sesame oil for frying

First caramelize the raw julienne sliced sweet onions by sautéing them in olive oil on high heat. It is important to make sure the pan is hot enough. The onions should sizzle when placed in the pan! Sauté for 8-10 minutes and stir occasionally. This is longer than you usually cook onions, but make sure they are really golden brown all over and very soft in order to get that delicious caramelized flavor for this dish. Let them cool. Place the now caramelized Maui onions in a food processor and pulse blend until a chunky consistency. It is not necessary to get them completely smooth.

Squeeze the tofu block between your hands to get some of the liquid out, but leave enough liquid so the tofu remains moist. Crumble the tofu with your hands in to a large mixing bowl. Add the chopped green onions, sesame oil, and soy sauce. Then add the panko crumbs a little at a time while you mix. Regular breadcrumbs can be substituted if Japanese panko is not available, but this will change the texture of the patties. Mix all the ingredients with your hands thoroughly until you feel the texture of the mixture tighten. The firm consistency is needed because the patties will be fried. If the patties are too loose or sticky, add more panko to make the mixture stiffer. Form into patties and pan-fry in peanut or sesame oil until golden brown on both sides. Make sure the pan is hot and the patties sizzle when placed in the hot peanut oil.


Roasted Sweet Onion Sauce
1 sweet onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup flavored soy sauce or Vegetarian Stir Fry Sauce

To roast the sweet onion, cut it in half, coat each half with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in an oven proof dish and bake in a 350º oven for about 20 minutes. Once the onions start to brown, take them out, stir to break the onion layers up and then return to pan to the oven for another ten minutes. The roasting will give the sauce a delicious smoky flavor from the onions. When the onions are done, cool them down and dice into small pieces.

Heat a saucepan and sauté the prepared diced roasted sweet onion with olive oil. Add the garlic and the flavored soy sauce or Vegetarian Stir Fry Sauce. Mix well, and then add the vegetable broth. Bring everything to a boil, turn down the heat and simmer for about 15-20 minutes so that the flavors blend together.

Raw Sweet Onion Poke
1 sweet onion, julienne sliced
1/4 cup green onion, chopped
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil

Combine the sliced raw onions with the soy sauce and quickly toss. Add the sesame oil and the green onions. The raw ingredients in this dish will add a wonderful crunch to the final meal!

To plate this dish, place two or three of the tofu cakes in the center of the plate, drizzle the sauce over them and top with a spoonful of the poke.