Crystallized Ginger Tofu Food

CRYSTALLIZED GINGER

Steps:

• Place ginger in a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Partially cover saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat; boil until ginger is almost cooked through but still slightly al dente, about 1 hour. Drain.
• Weigh cooked ginger and return it to saucepan with an equal amount of sugar. Add 2 tablespoons water; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring, until ginger becomes translucent, about 20 minutes.
• Reduce heat and continue cooking, stirring, until ginger is crystallized and begins to clump in the middle of the pan.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle a large rimmed baking sheet with sugar. Pour crystallized ginger onto prepared baking sheet and roll in sugar, separating pieces. Transfer to a sterilized jar and store in a cool place for 3 to 6 months.

CRYSTALLIZED OR CANDIED GINGER

Steps:

• Cut ginger into 2-inch pieces and slice lengthwise into 1/8-inch slices. Score ginger slices by pricking with a fork.
• Toss ginger with sugar in a bowl.
• Combine ginger-sugar mixture and water in a large skillet or wok; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar melts into a syrup and starts to crystallize, about 1 hour. Continue stirring until syrup is mostly crystallized and ginger comes together in a pile in the center of the skillet and very little syrup drains out; remove from heat.
• Toss ginger slices gently to cool and separate from excess sugar. Spread slices out on a tray to cool and dry.

CRYSTALLIZED-GINGER TOFU

Steps:

• In a shallow dish, combine flour, salt and black pepper.
• Dredge tofu in the seasoned flour; shake off excess.
• In a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat, cook garlic in hot oil about 10 seconds. Add tofu and stir-fry 2 to 3 minutes, or until light golden.
• Remove tofu to a plate.
• Add broth, ginger, soy sauce and sweet potato to the wok and bring to a boil.
• Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes, or until potato is just tender.
• Return broth to a boil.
• Add green pepper and tofu and cook, stirring, 2 minutes or until tofu is just cooked through and sauce has thickened slightly.
• Sprinkle with cilantro.

GARLIC GINGER TOFU

Steps:

• Heat oil in a wok or skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic and ginger, and cook for 1 minute. Add tofu to the pan with tamari, and stir to coat. Cover, and continue cooking for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Squeeze lime juice over tofu before serving.

CRYSTALLIZED GINGER

Steps:

• Peel the ginger and slice it into rounds 1/8 inch thick.
• For every cup of prepared ginger you will need 3 cups of water and 3 cups of sugar.
• In a large to huge pot bring the water/sugar to a boil and stir to dissolve the sugar.
• When dissolved add the ginger and boil for 45 minutes stirring almost constantly.
• You want the ginger tender and getting that translucent look about it.
• You also don't want it at a full rolling boil-just a little less.
• Drain the ginger reserving the liquid.
• Separate and place on a rack to dry for around 30 minutes-it's gonna be a bit sticky-and then coat with sugar-I would whirl it a bit in a spice grinder to get it half powder, half granulated.
• Set it out on wax paper to dry-this took a few hours with a lot of hand slapping.
• Store in an air tight container.
• As for the remaining syrup you can boil and reduce to a syrup-something between maple syrup and honey and use on pancakes, waffles or ice cream.