Roasted Red Pepper and Baked Tofu Roulades Recipe

Roasted Red Pepper and Baked Tofu Roulades

Makes 16 pieces (8 servings)

30 minutes or fewer

Piquant black olive paste (sold at many supermarkets) and balsamic vinegar syrup really kick up the flavor of this elegant but super-easy appetizer. If you want, put a small slice of vegan cheese inside each roulade.

1 12-oz. jar roasted red peppers, rinsed and patted dry
4 tsp. black olive paste or finely chopped, pitted kalamata olives
1 cup balsamic vinegar
3 oz. baked Italian-seasoned tofu, cut into ¾-inch cubes
16 large fresh basil leaves

Slice red pepper pieces lengthwise into 163⁄4-inch-wide strips. (There may be some left over.) Spread each strip with about 1⁄4 tsp. olive paste.
Bring vinegar to a simmer in small saucepan over medium heat, and cook until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 15 minutes. It will be very syrupy. Watch carefully at the end because the syrup can burn easily.
Place one cube of baked tofu on one end of red pepper strip; roll up and secure with toothpick. Repeat to form 16 roulades. If making ahead, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until an hour before serving. To serve, place each roulade on 1 basil leaf on serving platter; drizzle roulades with balsamic syrup, and serve.