Quick Sesame Noodles With Five Spice Tofu Cucumber Radish Recipes

STIR-FRIED CUCUMBER WITH TOFU

Steps:

• Place cucumbers in a bowl, add 1 teaspoon salt, and gently massage the pieces. (This helps to release some of the water.) Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes until the cucumbers are slightly wet and pliable to the touch.
• Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients with 1 tablespoon water.
• Prepare the stir-fry: Heat a wok or a large skillet over high. When smoking hot, add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Add the tofu, season generously with salt and pepper, and stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes until the tofu is partly golden. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Wipe the wok or skillet clean, and keep off the heat until the cucumbers are ready.
• Drain the cucumbers and rinse under cold running water. Drain well, then pat dry with a clean kitchen towel.
• Heat the wok or skillet back over high heat. When hot, add the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Add the garlic and allow to sizzle for just 10 seconds, then toss in the cucumbers, stir-frying for 2 minutes. Return the tofu to the wok and toss well.
• Add the sauce and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until the cucumbers look glossy. Taste and season well with salt and white pepper. Top with scallions and sesame seeds, and serve with rice, if using.

SPICE-CRUSTED TOFU WITH KUMQUAT RADISH SALAD

Steps:

• Slice the tofu in half, wrap well in kitchen paper and put on a plate. Place a heavy frying pan on top to squeeze the water out of it. Change the paper a few times until the tofu feels dry, then cut into chunky slices. Mix together the sesame seeds, Japanese spice mix and cornflour in a bowl. Sprinkle over the tofu until well coated. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, mix the dressing ingredients together and set aside. Bring a pan of water to the boil for the vegetables and heat the two oils in a large frying pan.
• When the frying pan is very hot, add the tofu and fry for 1 min or so on each side until nicely browned. Repeat until you have done them all.
• When the water is boiling, cook the broccoli and sugar snap peas for 2-3 mins. Drain and divide between two large shallow bowls. Top with the tofu and drizzle over the dressing. Scatter the radishes, spring onions and kumquats on top.

STICKY TOFU WITH NOODLES

Steps:

• Using a peeler, cut thin ribbons off the cucumber, leaving the seeds behind. Put the ribbons in a bowl and set aside. Gently heat the vinegar, sugar, 1/4 tsp salt and 100ml water in a saucepan over a medium heat for 3-5 mins until the sugar dissolves, then pour over the cucumbers and leave to pickle in the fridge while you prepare the tofu.
• Heat all but 1 tbsp of the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium heat until bubbles begin to rise to the surface. Add the tofu and fry for 7-10 mins, turning halfway, until the tofu is evenly golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside on kitchen paper. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey and miso. Spread the sesame seeds out on a plate. Brush the fried tofu with the sticky honey sauce and set aside any leftovers. Coat the tofu evenly in the seeds, sprinkle with a little salt and leave in a warm place.
• Cook the noodles following pack instructions, then drain and rinse in cold water. Return the frying pan to the heat, toss the noodles with the rest of the oil, the remaining sauce and 1 tbsp of the cucumber pickling liquid. Cook for 3 mins until warmed through. Divide the noodles between bowls and top with the tofu, bundles of cucumber and the spring onion.

SESAME NOODLES WITH TOFU

Steps:

• Cut the tofu into 12 pieces and mix with 1 tbsp of soy sauce and 1 tsp of sesame oil. Heat the remaining oil in a wok, then stir-fry the vegetables, garlic and ginger for 2 mins until the vegetables are starting to wilt. Drizzle with 2 tbsp water, then stir-fry for another min.
• Add the noodles, sesame seeds and soy sauce from the marinated tofu, then stir-fry for 2 mins. Now add the tofu, splash over the remaining soy sauce, then cover with a lid or baking sheet. Leave for 1 min so that the tofu heats through, then gently mix into the rest of the stir-fry.
• Lift the noodles and tofu into bowls and splash over a little more soy sauce and sesame oil to serve, if you like.

SWEET AND SPICY TOFU WITH SOBA NOODLES

Steps:

• Drain the tofu in a colander, or dry on paper-towel lined plate while you prep the remaining ingredients, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a small pot of water to a boil for the soba noodles.
• Cut tofu into 1-inch cubes. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil. When the oil shimmers, add the tofu in a single layer, in batches if needed and cook until golden on all sides, turning as needed when the tofu releases easily from the pan, about 8 to 10 minutes total. Lift the tofu out of the pan with a spatula and transfer to a new paper-towel-lined plate.
• Meanwhile, cook the soba in boiling water for 5 to 8 minutes (or according to package directions), until just al dente, stirring frequently. Drain and rinse in cold water until the noodles no longer feel sticky.
• Add garlic, ginger and whites of the onions to the skillet, along with the remaining tablespoon sesame oil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the oil is fragrant, stirring constantly, about 1 minute.
• Add cooked and drained soba noodles to the pan, along with soy sauce, sugar, black pepper, red pepper and reserved green onions; toss together until the noodles are coated. Gently toss in the tofu until all the pieces are covered in the sauce.
• Remove from the heat, and sprinkle cucumber, radish and cilantro on top. Serve warm or at room temperature, with lime.