Deep Fried Tofu Food

CRISPY FRIED TOFU

Steps:

• Wrap tofu in a clean towel and place onto a plate. Set another plate on top, and place a 3- to 5-pound weight on top. Press tofu for about 20 minutes; drain and discard the accumulated liquid.
• Cut tofu into 1-inch by 2-inch chunks. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt onto one slide; flip over and sprinkle remaining 1/4 teaspoon on the other.
• Heat oil in a wok or large skillet. To test if the oil is ready, dip a chopstick or wooden spoon in it; if bubbles rise, it is ready. If the oil smokes, it is too hot.
• Gently place 5 to 8 pieces of tofu at a time in hot oil using metal tongs. Be very careful as oil may splatter; use a splatter guard if possible. Fry tofu until golden, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Drain tofu on a plate lined with several paper towels. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

DEEP-FRIED TOFU WITH PINEAPPLE, SWEET CHILLI & BASIL

Steps:

• Split the chillies down the middle and remove the seeds. Pound the halved chillies a few times with a pestle or the end of a rolling pin (this will soften the flesh and release the flavours). Finely chop and mix with the garlic and palm sugar in a large pan. Cook until the sugar starts to boil. Add the pineapple and cook for 5 mins until the pineapple softens, and the sugar starts to caramelise and turn brown. Add the fish sauce and tamarind. Return to the boil, then take off the heat.
• Heat 5-10cm of oil in a wok and roll the tofu in the cornflour. Fry the basil leaves so that they crisp, then transfer to kitchen paper to drain. Fry about 5-6 pieces of tofu at a time until golden brown, then leave to drain on kitchen paper. Keep warm in a low oven while you fry the rest.
• Warm the sauce through. Place a few cubes of tofu on each plate, pour over the sauce and sprinkle with the basil.

FRIED TOFU RECIPE

Steps:

• Prepare a bowl of clean cold water
• Use a sharp pointed knife to carefully cut along the packaging edges to remove tofu block from its pouch.
• Deep the tofu block into water and gently wash it.
• Pat dry the surface with paper towel.
• Cut the tofu block into cubical pieces or as your recipes call for.
• Lay them out singly either on flat paper towel or colander.
• Let those piece air dried for at least 10-15 minutes or more. This will help to prevent splattering.
• Pour veggies oil into deep frying pan/wok place over high heat.
• When oil is hot, carefully add tofu pieces, one-by-one.
• Carefully use a wooden spatula or chopsticks to separate tofu pieces while they're sizzling.
• When all pieces turn gold and floating to the surface, transfer them onto strained container to allow dripping excess oil.
• Serve as is with soy sauce, onion garnish and Sriracha or use as base for other recipes

ABURA - AGE (DEEP FRIED TOFU)

Steps:

• Remove the excess moisture from the block of tofu by wrapping it in a clean towel and placing it between 2 cutting boards, let stand for an hour or two.
• Now cut the tofu block into triangle shapes, about two inches long.
• Pour the oil into the wok and heat, when you dip a chopstick into the heated oil and bubbles rise from it the oil is ready for use.
• If the oil smokes it is too hot.
• Using the wok's spatula, slide the tofu triangles one at a time into the hot oil.
• Fry on both sides until golden brown.
• Scoop the triangles out of the wok and allow them to drain on the wok's draining grill (or place on paper towels).
• Once the triangles are drained and cool, it's a good idea to give them a second deep frying.
• This deepens their golden color and makes them nice and crisp.
• Place once again on the grill to drain and cool.
• The final step requires that you place the fried tofu triangles in a colander and run very hot water over them. I put the colander in the sink and allow the hot water from the faucet to run over the tofu, while I simultaneously pour boiling water from a pot over the triangles. This hot water bath completely leeches all remnants of oil from the tofu, resulting in tofu that you would never imagine as having been deep fried.
• Pat dry the tofu and serve with rice or noodles and a little shoyu, or use the fried tofu in another recipe.

DEEP-FRIED TOFU

Steps:

• Serve immediately and enjoy.