Family Style Bean Curd Recipes

FAMILY STYLE BEAN CURD

Steps:

• Cut th ebean curd into 1 x 3 x 1 inch pieces.
• Lay them on paper towel to drain for 10 minutes.
• At a slight diagonal, cur the scallions into 3-inch pieces.
• Heat a wok until hot. Add 1/2 cup peanut oil. When it's hot, fry tofu in small batches on both sides until golden brown. Drain the bean curd well on paper towels. Discard the oil from wok and wipe clean. Reheat wok and add 1-1/2 tsp of oil.
• Add scallions and garlic, and stir fry for 30 seconds.
• Put in the rest of ingredients except sesame oil.
• Bring the mixture to a boil. Return the fried bean curd pieces and cook over high heat for 10 minutes or until bean curd has absorbed most of the sauce. Add the sesame oil and give a final turn. Serve at once.

BEAN CURD HOME STYLE: MEAT-FREE AND DELICIOUS

Steps:

• Boil the rehydrated bean curds in water for about 10 min (or according to the package instructions).
• Mix soy/ doubanjiang sauce, honey, chili flakes, pepper, garlic, and ginger in a separate bowl.
• Pat the boiled curds dry and cut them into 2-in long strips.
• Bring the sesame oil to medium heat in a frying pan or wok. Add the curd strips and fry for 2-3 min, until lightly golden. Then add the spice mix and bamboo shoots and fry for another 2-3 min, until fragrant. Done, the home-style tofu is ready to serve!

PEKING-STYLE FRIED BEAN CURD

Steps:

• Cut the bean curd into 1/2 inch slices.
• Before frying, coat with flour then dip into the egg.
• Heat the wok then add 2 T oil.
• Arrange the slices of bean curd evenly on the bottom of the wok.
• Fry over medium heat for about 1 minute, or until golden brown.
• Sprinkle with onion, ginger root and sherry, salt, sesame oil and stock.
• Pierce the bean curd with a fork to allow the liquid to seep through.
• Turn heat to low and cook until the liquid is absorbed by the bean curd.
• Shrimp's eggs may be added to this dish if desired.

FAMILY STYLE COOKED RED-BEAN CURD (CHINA)

Steps:

• Cut the bean curd cake into 1-by-3-by-1-inch pieces. Lay them on paper towels and drain for 10 minutes. At a slight diagonal, cut the scallions into 3-inch pieces. Heat a wok or large saute pan until it is hot. Add the 1/2 cup of peanut oil, and when it is hot, fry the bean curd on both sides until it is golden brown. Drain the bean curd well on paper towels. Drain and discard the oil. Wipe the wok clean, reheat, and add 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil. Then add scallions and garlic, and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Put in the rest of the ingredients except the sesame oil. Bring the mixture to a boil, return the fried bean curd pieces and cook over high heat for 10 minutes or until the bean curd has absorbed most of the sauce. Add the sesame oil, and give the mixture a final turn. Serve at once.

BEAN CURD SZECHUAN-STYLE (MA PO DOFU)

Steps:

• Cut bean curd into .5-inch cubes, place in a colander and leave to drain for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl blend the marinade: 1 tsp of soy sauce, sherry, and sweet bean or hoisin sauce; add pork and stir to coat.
• Stir in 1 tsp of the oil and marinate for 15 minutes.
• Heat a wok or wide frying pan over high heat.
• When pan is hot, add remaining veg oil.
• When oil begins to heat (i.e. passes the "water droplet test" where a sprinkling of water thrown into the oil starts to crackle--careful here) add ginger and garlic.
• Stir once, then add pork and stir-fry until meat isn't pink any more, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in hot bean sauce (lajiaojiang or tobanjan).
• Add drained beancurd, the water and the 2 Tbsp soy sauce.
• Simmer for 3 minutes, then add green onion.
• Re-mix cornstarch and water with a fork, add to pan and cook, stirring, until sauce bubbles and thickens (this happens very quickly).
• Sprinkle with crushed szechuan peppercorns just before serving.
• Serve over large mounds of hot white rice.
• I have served this along with some stir-fried Chinese broccoli (gai lan) seasoned with a little oyster sauce, or some baby bok choy stir fried with a little sesame oil.
• For a vegetarian version, this recipe also works if you omit the meat.
• You could also try using some kind of veggie sausage, like Morningstar crumbles, in place of the pork.