Tofu is my favorite plant-based protein, but it scares the hell out of plant-curious folks.

I'm a Plant-Based Nutrition Coach, and I've been vegan for almost five years. I love recommending tofu to my clients for its health benefits. Tofu is low in calories and fat and high in protein, iron, and calcium.

Most people take one look at the jiggly bean curd and head for the hills because they don't know what to do with it.

Here are my top three go-to "meaty" tofu dishes:

• Tofu "Ground Beef"

• Tofu Scramble

• Tofu Bacon

Here's how to make tofu magic:

Press the tofu

Tofu comes packed in water. Drain it, wrap it in clean kitchen towels, and put a heavy pan on top while you prep the rest of your meal.

Squeezing the water from the tofu allows it to soak up the flavors you're going to add.

Spices and sauces

Flavor aggressively. A pinch of salt will not do.

The essential flavors you'll need to get meaty tofu vibes are:

• Smoked Paprika

• Onion granules (or powder)

• Garlic granules (or powder)

• Chili Powder

• Nutritional Yeast

• Tamari (soy sauce)

Turmeric and vegan Worcestershire make tasty additions to your arsenal, too.

Make it crispy first

When in doubt, crisp your tofu before you flavor it. Sear in a skillet, bake, or air-fry, and then toss your tofu in a sexy sauce.

Experiment

Tofu is the ultimate blank page for creativity. Experiment with different spices, marinades, sauces, recipes, and cooking methods. I made tofu taste reminiscent of a corndog by marinating it in pickle juice, coating it in panko, and air-frying it.