Southampton - Mark Reinfeld was awarded the 2011 Recipe of the Year from Vegan.com for a magnificent and mouthwatering gourmet dish entitled, "Mediterranean Pistachio Crusted Tofu with Saffron Quinoa Pilaf."

This is a remarkable gourmet dish that can be prepared in a wide assortment of variations. It's also simply one of the most delicious vegan entrees you'll ever taste.

Reinfeld is partner with Bo Rinaldi in Vegan Fusion. Mark has over 20 years of experience preparing creative vegan and raw food cuisine and offers vegan fusion workshops and training internationally and online. He and Rinaldi specialize in vegan, vegetarian, raw food and gluten free plant-based diets.

Reinfeld is also the recipient of a Platinum Carrot Award for living foods - a national award given by the Aspen Center of Integral Health to America's top "innovative and trailblazing healthy chefs."

Reinfeld received his initial culinary training from his grandfather Ben Bimstein, a renowned chef and ice carver in New York City. He developed his love for World culture and cuisine during travel through Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He has Masters Degree in Holistic Nutrition.

His first cookbook, "Vegan Fusion World Cuisine," co-authored with Rinaldi and with a Foreword by Dr. Jane Goodall, has won several national awards, including 'Cookbook of the Year', 'Best New Cookbook', 'Best Book by a Small Press' and a Gourmand Award for 'Best Vegetarian Cookbook in the USA '. In addition he co-authored "The Taste Of The East," "The 30-Minute Vegan" and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw."

Mark and Bo currently offer online vegan cooking lessons as well as vegan consulting, recipe development, workshops, and retreats in both North America and Europe.

Seasoned Tofu
 • 14 ounces extra firm tofu
 • 2 tablespoons wheat-free tamari or other soy sauce
 • 1 tablespoon olive oil or your favorite, optional
 • Tahini Marinade
 • 2 tablespoons sesame tahini
 • 1 teaspoon wheat-free tamari or other soy sauce
 • 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
 • 2 tablespoons water or more depending on consistency of tahini

Crust
 • ¾ cup roasted unsalted pistachio nuts
 • 1 tablespoon minced flat leaf parsley, basil or herb of your choosing
 • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
 • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
 • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
 • 1/8 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
 • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Mediterranean Vegetables
 • ¾ cup chopped artichoke hearts, chopped
 • 1 and ½ cups chopped tomatoes (½ inch chop)
 • ½ cup finely chopped arugula or spinach
 • 3 tablespoons finely chopped kalamata olives
 • 2 tablespoons diced green onion
 • 1 tablespoon thinly sliced or shaved, and chopped fennel
 • 1 tablespoon capers
 • 2 tablespoons chiffonade basil
 • 2 teaspoons fresh minced oregano or ½ teaspoon dried
 • ½ teaspoon fresh thyme or ¼ teaspoon dried
 • ¼ teaspoon lemon zest

Dressing
 • 2 tablespoons olive oil
 • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
 • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
 • 1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
 • ¼ teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
 • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Preheat the oven or toaster oven to 375°F. Place the soy sauce, olive oil, if using, and water in a baking dish and stir well. Slice the tofu into four cutlets and place in the baking dish. Let stand for at least five minutes or up to 30 minutes, flipping periodically. While the seasoned tofu is soaking in its dish, prepare the tahini marinade by placing the ingredients in a small bowl and whisking well. You are looking for a smooth spreadable consistency. Since the consistency of tahini varies greatly, you may need to add a bit more water to get a spreadable consistency. Place the baking dish containing the tofu, along with its seasoning liquid, in the oven and roast for 10 minutes. While the tofu is cooking, prepare the crust. Pulse chop the pistachio nuts in a food processor until they are coarse crumbs. Be careful not to over-process or it will turn into a paste. Transfer to a bowl with the remaining crust ingredients and mix well. Meanwhile, combine the topping ingredients in a mixing bowl and gently mix well. Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and stir well. Add to the topping and gently mix well. Remove the tofu from the oven and coat the top of the cutlets with tahini marinade, using a spoon. Liberally top the cutlets with the crust mixture and bake for an additional 10 minutes. To serve, slice the cutlets into triangles and top with the Mediterranean Vegetables. Serve over a bed of arugula and alongside the Saffron Quinoa Pilaf.