Deep Fried Tofu Simmered With Scallion Food

AGEDASHI DOFU: JAPANESE FRIED TOFU IN A DASHI-BASED SAUCE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Wrap the tofu with paper towels, and place it on a flat tray. Put a cutting board or a flat plate on top of the tofu , and let sit for about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put dashi, soy sauce, and mirin in a saucepan, and bring to a boil.
• Mix 1 tablespoon katakuriko potato starch with 1 tablespoon water.
• Add the katakuriko mixture to the sauce, and stir quickly. Stop the heat.
• Dry the tofu with paper towels, and cut each tofu piece in half.
• Dust the tofu with 4 tablespoons of katakuriko to coat the pieces completely.
• Heat oil to 350 F in a deep pot.
• Deep-fry the tofu pieces until they turn light brown. Drain on paper towels.
• Place each fried tofu piece in a small dish and pour the sauce over it. Garnish with grated ginger and bonito flakes, if using.

STIR-FRIED SPICY TOFU AND COD WITH SCALLIONS AND PEANUTS

Steps:

• Cut both the tofu and cod into pieces about 1.5 inches long and .5 inch thick. Place tofu in one bowl and cod in another.
• Divide next seven ingredients between the two bowls and toss gently. Take care not to break the tofu.
• Heat half of oil in a wide, ninstick skillet. When hot, add tofu and fry over medium-high heat until golden and crispy, 8-10 mninutes. Turn so that all surfaces have a chance to color. When done, sprinkle with salt, remove to a plate, and cover to keep warm. Return pan to the heat.
• Add remaining oil, add the peanuts and cod, and cook over high heat until cod is barely cooked, about 3 minutes. Return the tofu to the pan, add the scallions, and cook 1 minute more. Season with salt, then slide the tofu and fish onto a platter and garnish with lemon wedges if desired.

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 SIMMERED WITH SCALLION

Steps:

• In a wide, shallow saucepan or 10-inch skillet, combine the water and enough fish sauce to create a lightly savory liquid. The tofu will completely absorb this liquid, so make it a little less strong than you would like. Place the pan next to the stove.
• Pour oil to a depth of 1 1/2 inches into a wok or 5-quart Dutch oven and heat over medium-high heat to 350°F on a deep-frying thermometer. (If you don't have a thermometer, stand a dry bamboo chopstick in the oil; if small bubbles immediately gather on the surface around the chopstick, the oil is ready.)
• Fry the tofu cubes in 2 or 3 batches to avoid crowding the pan and lowering the oil temperature. Gently drop the tofu into the hot oil, which will foam vigorously. The tofu will immediately sink to the bottom and then eventually float up. As the tofu cubes fry, use a skimmer to push them around to ensure even frying and to separate any that stick together. After 4 to 6 minutes, the cubes should be golden and crispy. Use the skimmer to lift them out of the oil and then shake it over the pan briefly to drain away excess oil. Put the tofu directly into the saucepan holding the fish sauce and water. Repeat until all the tofu is fried. (You can fry the tofu several hours in advance, cover, and keep at room temperature. Just before serving, add the tofu to the fish sauce and water and continue with the recipe.)
• Place the pan over medium heat, bring the tofu and sauce to a simmer, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally to expose all the surfaces to the seasonings, for 3 minutes, or until the tofu absorbs the liquid. Uncover, scatter in the scallion, and give everything a big stir. Transfer to a shallow bowl and serve immediately.