Beancurd Cake and Bitter Cucumber Salad with Lime and Lemon Grass Dressing

Beancurd, or tofu, is generally regarded as bland, which it certainly is in its raw state. My new way with it is to make it into a spicy tofu cake, then dress it with contrasting tastes, bitter and sour, and a sprinkling of chopped chillies. This salad makes an interesting starter, or a vegetarian main course to accompany pasta with Red Pepper and Tomato Sauce.