How to prepare Tofu better known as beancurd

 


Tofu has quite a reputation for being tasteless and bland, even a little funky. When you stop to think about it however, wouldn’t chicken also taste, bland and funky if it were being eaten raw and unspiced?

 

If you've had a tofu dish at an authentic Chinese Restaurant, you'll know that it can be delicious. Tofu can be made into different things like tofu scramble, a quick easy dish that is packed with protein and is similar to scrambled eggs. Tofu scramble is a popular breakfast that can be eaten by itself or in a wrap. Tofu can be made BBQ style, in a Chinese recipe, in a curry as a replacement for meat or even as a sauce! It is versatile and a great way to add some extra protein to your diet.

 

The magic of tofu comes out when it is spiced and seasoned correctly. It is unique in the sense that it soaks up the flavours of the sauces it is mixed with due to its spongy texture. Tofu becomes the sauce.

 

Tofu can be prepared in different ways but here’s a simple, easy recipe that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. You should be able to make it with the ingredients you have in your kitchen.

 

Ingredients

 

Tofu, cut into cubes.

One diced Onion

A few cloves of Garlic minced (let your ancestors guide you)

Ginger (about a 1/2” piece - minced)

Tomatoes - 2/3 chopped up

Soy sauce 2-3 tablespoons full (or change quantity to taste)

Chillie flakes (as spicy as you would like it or omit if you wish to have the dish non-spicy)

Sugar - a tablespoon

Sesame oil (optional)

A little flour - a tablespoon

A little oil for frying

Vegan oyster sauce (optional)

 

First, start by shallow frying the tofu cubes until golden brown. This gave the tofu some texture and reduced its spongy texture. You may experiment without frying as well if you want to reduce the oil content of your dish. Alternatively, you could deep fry it for a completely different texture.

 

In a separate container, fry the onions, garlic, and ginger until golden brown.

Mix in the chopped-up tomatoes and cook further. You will need to keep cooking the sauce until the tomatoes are soft and have melted into the sauce.

 

Add in two to three tablespoons of soy sauce, a little sugar (to taste), and vegan oyster or mushroom sauce, if available.

 

Separately, mix a tablespoon of flour with a bit of water. Add it to the sauce to thicken it. Store until the sauce is thick and add in the tofu. Adjust ingredients to taste.