Panfried Tofu With Romano Bean And Herb Salad Recipes

PANFRIED TOFU WITH ROMANO-BEAN AND HERB SALAD

Steps:

• Cut each tofu block lengthwise into 3 equal pieces. Drain on paper towels.
• Peel hard-boiled eggs and halve lengthwise. Remove hard-boiled yolks and place in a food processor. Thinly slice whites crosswise and reserve.
• Add lemon juice, water, mustard, and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper to yolks in food processor. With motor running, add 1/2 cup oil in a slow stream, processing until emulsified and smooth and scraping down sides as needed. Transfer to a bowl and stir in shallot, parsley, and capers. Reserve 1/4 cup dressing for serving.
• Cook beans, uncovered, in well-salted boiling water until crisp-tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking, then drain well. Transfer to a bowl and toss with dressing (excluding 1/4 reserved dressing for serving). Gently toss with arugula, tarragon, and egg whites. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Meanwhile, lightly beat remaining 2 eggs in a medium bowl. Pat tofu dry and season both sides with 1/2 teaspoon salt (total). Coat tofu with egg, letting excess drip off, then fry, turning once, until golden and heated through, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain briefly on paper towels, then serve with salad and reserved dressing.◊

MARINATED FRIED TOFU AND VEGETABLE SALAD WITH MESCLUN

Steps:

• Combine the soy sauce and sesame oil in a mediumsize bowl. Add the tofu and, with a rubber spatula, gently toss it with the marinade. Let sit 30 minutes.
• In a large nonstick skillet, heat the tablespoon of oil over high heat until it is very hot but not smoking. Add the marinated tofu and spread it out so that it is in one layer. Fry it, shaking the pan often to prevent sticking, until it is a rich golden color all over. With a spatula, flip it over occasionally so it gets evenly browned. Place the tofu in a large bowl. Set the skillet aside.
• Combine all the ingredients for the dressing in a jar with a tightfitting lid and shake vigorously. Pour half the dressing on the hot tofu and toss well. Chill the tofu until it is very cold, about 2 hours.
• Meanwhile place the broccoli in the skillet, add a little water, and cover the pan. Cook until it is crisp yet tender, about 4 minutes. Immerse it in a bowl of cold water to stop any further cooking. Drain the broccoli thoroughly, then place it on a cotton or linen kitchen towel and pat it very dry. In a large bowl mix the broccoli, scallions, red pepper with half of the remaining dressing and toss well. Let sit at least 30 minutes to marinate. Just before serving mix in the tofu. Toss the mesclun with the remaining dressing, then place a portion of the greens on each large serving plate. Spoon a moundful of the vegetables and tofu in the center. Serve immediately.

THE BEST PAN-FRIED TOFU

Steps:

• Take your block of tofu and wrap it in several layers of paper towels.
• Gently press the tofu with your hands or against the counter top to release the liquid. This will take about a minute.
• Slice the tofu into pieces about 1/2 an inch thick.
• Set tofu aside.
• If you are using a non-stick pan heat it slightly on medium-high heat (about 30 seconds) before adding oil.
• If you are using a cast iron pan, please heat for about 1 minute to 1 1/2 minutes on medium-high heat. Cast iron is very thick and you want the pan to be heated evenly before adding the tofu.
• Add oil to heated pan.
• Gently spread oil over the entire surface of the pan.
• Set the tofu pieces in the pan, leaving ample room between them. They should sizzle when placed in the oil. Sprinkle the tops with salt and a little cayenne pepper.
• Now, the MOST IMPORTANT step is -- LEAVE THEM ALONE for about 6 or 7 minutes. Just gently shake them to make sure they don't stick to the pan. Do NOT turn them or agitate them in any other way. When you see a golden crust beginning to creep its way up the sides of the slices, turn them and spice the other side. Add more oil if the pan seems too dry.
• The second side will only take about 4 minutes to cook.
• When they are evenly browned take them out of the pan and place them on paper towels to drain.
• These are very simply seasoned and basic and can now be used any way you like. I like these with steamed broccoli and peanut sauce -- or in a sandwich with grilled peppers and mushrooms and aioli -- or just eaten with ketchup:-).

PAN-FRIED TOFU

Steps:

• Slice tofu into 1/4-inch slabs.
• Place nutritional yeast on a plate. Mix in garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• Roll tofu slices in the nutritional yeast mixture until evenly coated.
• Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over low to medium heat. Add tofu slices; cook until golden brown and crispy, 3 to 5 minutes per side.

TOFU AND HERB SALAD WITH SESAME

Steps:

• Make the sauce: In a small bowl, put ground sesame seeds, lime, ginger, chile, sesame oil and soy sauce. Add yogurt and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper. (If necessary, thin with a little water.) Set aside.
• On individual plates, arrange watercress, parsley and cilantro, then the mixed herbs. Scatter cucumber slices here and there. Top with the tofu cubes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Drizzle sauce over each plate, and garnish with sesame seeds, if desired.

PANFRIED TOFU WITH CHINESE BLACK BEAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Rinse the tofu, then cut crosswise into 6 slices. Put slices between several layers of paper towels and let drain while making the sauce. (You'll likely have to replace the paper towels at least once.)
• Prep the seasonings for the sauce: Peel the garlic cloves and the ginger, then quarter the ginger. Turn on your food processor and drop the garlic and ginger through the feed tube; they'll be minced in no time. Stop the machine and the black beans in a small sieve until the water runs clear. Add them to the food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.
• For the liquid portion of the sauce, stir together the water, soy sauce, Sherry, maple syrup, vinegar, and the cornstarch until the cornstarch is evenly suspended. Now you're ready to cook the sauce!
• Generously film the bottom of a heavy 2-quart saucepan with the vegetable oil and heat over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Stir-fry the seasonings until fragrant, less than a minute. Stir the cornstarch mixture and add it to the pan. Whisk the sauce occasionally while bringing it to a boil and simmer 1 minute. Then set the sauce aside while you fry the tofu.
• Generously film the bottom of a 12-inch nonstick skillet with vegetable oil and heat over high heat until hot but not smoking. Blot up any excess moisture on the tofu with a paper towel before laying in the skillet. Fry the slices on all sides (forgo the short ends), turning them only when the undersides are golden and crisp, 5 to 8 minutes total. (You may need to lower the heat as the frying progresses.) Give the tofu one last flip on a paper towel to sop up any stray oil and reheat the sauce.
• Serve with rice and broccoli, pouring sauce over all.

ROMANO BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add beans and cook uncovered until nearly tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well, and set aside in a large bowl.
• Smash garlic, olive oil, mint, and salt using mortar and pestle.
• Pour vinegar and half of olive oil mixture over beans and toss well.
• Transfer beans to a resealable freezer bag. Pour remaining olive oil mixture into bag, squeeze out all air, seal and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours.
• Remove beans from refrigerator, top with fresh mint and serve.