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Category

Tofu, Garlic, Side Dish

Preparation Time

25 minutes

Difficulty

2

Spice Level

2

Soy & Garlic Tofu Bites

Soy & Garlic Tofu Bites

Description of the Dish

Tofu has been a firm favorite of my family’s since way back, and my Buddhist grandparents would always promote the idea of eating more veggies and beans over meat. Tofu (soybean curd) is cooked in myriad ways in China, and other Asian countries, too. It comes in different forms and textures, but for the first tofu recipe in this book, I want to introduce you to one of my favorite and tastiest ways to prepare it, and I’m proud to say that I’ve converted many tofu haters with this recipe—it doesn’t have to be bland and tasteless. The secret to great-tasting tofu is cornstarch, which gives the tofu a crispy outer coating when fried and makes a welcome contrast in texture as you bite into the soft inside.— Verna Gao, Have You Eaten?

Ingredients List

Preparation Instructions

  1. Drain the tofu well to remove any excess liquid, which would otherwise dilute the taste of the dish. If the tofu needs pressing, wrap it in a few sheets of paper towel and weigh it down with heavy plates.
  2. Leave it to drain for 30 minutes, then cut the tofu into bite-sized cubes. Put the cornstarch on a plate, add the tofu (in batches), and turn to generously coat the cubes on all sides. Pat off any excess cornstarch.
  3. In a bowl, mix together the sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and garlic, then set aside.
  4. Heat the cooking oil in a large frying pan on medium heat. Add the tofu and fry until light golden and crisp on all sides, about 10 minutes. Try not to move the tofu too much while frying; just turn it before it becomes too brown and make sure there are no uncooked patches of cornstarch. Add more oil to the pan, if needed.
  5. Pour the sauce over the tofu in the pan and gently turn until everything is combined.
  6. Scatter the sesame seeds over the tofu and finish with a splash of chili oil, if you like.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)