Buddhist Delight Recipes

BUDDHA'S DELIGHT

Steps:

• Soak mushrooms in 5 cups boiling-hot water in a bowl, keeping them submerged with a small plate and turning mushrooms over occasionally, until softened and cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes. Squeeze excess liquid from caps back into bowl and reserve liquid, then cut out and discard stems from mushrooms. Cut caps into 1-inch wedges.
• While mushrooms soak, carefully break bean curd skins in half crosswise, then halve each portion crosswise again. Transfer to a bowl, then add enough boiling-hot water to cover and soak, turning occasionally, until softened, about 30 minutes.
• If using fresh bamboo, trim bottoms of shoots, then halve shoots lengthwise with a sharp heavy knife. Pull off and discard leaves from shoots, then remove any blemishes with a sharp paring knife (don't worry about natural dotted pattern along base of shoots).
• Cover fresh or frozen bamboo with cold water by 1 inch in a 2-quart saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes, then drain in a colander and rinse under cold water. Repeat boiling and rinsing, then arrange bamboo halves, cut sides down, on a cutting board and cut bamboo lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
• Soak noodles in cold water to cover until softened, about 5 minutes, then drain in colander and transfer to a bowl.
• Drain bean curd skins in colander. When cool enough to handle, squeeze dry and cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces.
• Halve tofu lengthwise, then cut each half crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
• Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart wide heavy pot over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Add ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add mushrooms, bean curd skins, bamboo, and ginkgo nuts and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Stir in oyster sauce, soy sauce, rice wine, and sugar and simmer 1 minute. Add reserved mushroom-soaking liquid and bring to a boil. Gently stir in tofu and soybean sprouts, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, 15 minutes. Gently stir in noodles and simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Add romaine hearts (pot will be full) and turn to coat, then simmer, covered, until romaine is tender, about 5 minutes.

BUDDHA'S DELIGHT VEGAN STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Mix water, fermented tofu blocks, oyster sauce, mushroom seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cornstarch, sesame oil, white sugar, and pepper together in a bowl until fermented tofu has dissolved.
• Cook vegetable oil and ginger in a skillet over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add tofu, lotus root, ginkgo nuts, lily flowers, red dates, shiitake mushrooms, and carrot. Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add cabbage, snow peas, black fungus, noodles, goji berries, and salt. Cook for another 3 minutes. Add moss and fermented tofu mixture; bring to a boil. Remove from heat and transfer to a serving dish.

CHINESE BUDDHA'S DELIGHT

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients, tossing to coat.
• Cover and marinate in refrigerator 1 hour.
• Drain in a colander over a bowl, reserving marinade.
• Cook broccoli florets, carrot, and broccoli stems in boiling water 1 1/2 minutes.
• Drain these vegetables.
• Plunge into ice water.
• Drain.
• Heat canola oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add tofu.
• Stir-fry 5 minutes or until lightly browned on all sides.
• Stir in onions, ginger, and garlic.
• Stir-fry 30 seconds.
• Stir in broccoli mixture, snow peas, corn, and water chestnuts.
• Stir-fry 1 minute.
• Combine broth and cornstarch, stirring with a whisk.
• Add cornstarch mixture, reserved marinade, and salt to pan.
• Bring to a boil.
• Cook 2 1/2 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring constantly.
• Serve over brown rice.

BUDDHA'S DELIGHT

Steps:

• Place the lily buds, black fungus, Shiitake mushrooms and tofu in separate bowls. cover each with boiling water and soak for 30 minutes. Drain the bowls and squeeze the excess water from the tofu. Cut the fungus into bite-sized pieces and halve the shiitake.
• Heat the oil in a wok over high heat. Stir-fry carrot, celery and ginger for 30 seconds. Add soaked ingredients, remining ingredients and 1/4 cups water. Mix well. cover with a lid and cook for 3 minutes or until heated through. Serve.

BUDDHIST DELIGHT

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and saute chopped onion and tomatoes. Add chopped callaloo and mix with the sauteed seasonings. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix in water and allow to steam for about 4 minutes.TO MAKE COCONUT SAUCE: Heat olive oil, add onion and tomatoes and saute for about one minute. Add the Grace Coconut Milk, thyme and scotch bonnet pepper. Bring to a boil then allow to simmer.TO PREPARE TOFU: Cut block of tofu into half, then cut each piece on the bias to create a triangular shape. Use a pairing knife to make a slit or pocket in the centre and fill the cavity with about 2 Tbsps. steamed callaloo. Combine cornstarch and flour on a plate and use to 'bread' the tofu triangles; shake off the excess. Heat Grace Vegetable Oil and use to fry the breaded tofu triangles until they are lightly brown in colour on all sides. Drain on absorbent paper.GRILLED VEGETABLES: Marinate the vegetables in 2 Tbsps. olive oil, a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Grill on each side until done.To Serve: Serve two tofu triangles on each dinner plate with a half of the grilled vegetables. If desired, serve with a starch of your choice.Recipe Note : Saute - To fry briefly over high heat.