Green Pepper Ham And Tofu Skin With Sesame Vinegar Food

GREEN PEPPER, HAM, AND TOFU SKIN WITH SESAME VINEGAR

Steps:

• For Sesame Sauce: (Depending on size of green peppers, you may only need to use 2-4 T sauce for this dish and you can keep the extra sauce for other sauteed veggies and meat).
• Grind toasted sesame seeds using a mortar and pestle or spice/coffee grinder until they are moderately ground. It should be half way between seeds and paste.
• Combine prepared sesame seeds with oyster sauce, rice vinegar, mirin, sugar and 1 T soy sauce; set aside.
• For Vegetables:.
• Thinly slice green peppers, ham, and tofu pockets (aka aburaage) approximately same size.
• Using a moderately high heat, heat a frying pan and add oil and sesame oil.
• Add green pepper, ham, and tofu pockets (aka aburaage) slices to the frying pan and turn down heat to medium.
• Saute for 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add 1 T soy sauce and continue to saute for additional minute.
• Remove from heat and combine with sesame sauce and serve either warm or at room temperature.

GARLIC PEPPER PORK

Steps:

• Heat oil to medium-high; stir-fry garlic, dried chile, and pork, about 3-4 minutes until pork is nearly done.
• Add onions, ginger, bell pepper, and stir-fry 3 minutes.
• Add black pepper and remaining liquids and stir-fry another 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Serve over white rice.

BRAISED TOFU SKIN

Steps:

• Soak the tofu sticks in water for 2 hours; drain. Cut into 1-inch pieces.
• Heat the peanut oil over medium-high heat and saute the garlic then bok choy until tender. Add the mushrooms and saute until hot. Toss in cashews.
• In a small bowl, stir together the bean paste, broth, sugar, cornstarch and sesame oil. Pour into the skillet and cook, stirring, until sauce boils and thickens.
• Serve over rice, rice noodles, chow mein noodles, or wrapped in rice paper sheets like a burrito.

FRESH HOMEMADE YUBA (TOFU SKIN)

Steps:

• Wash soy beans and soak in plenty of water for at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Boil 7 1/2 C water in a large non-stick pot. Let the water come to a boil then turn down heat to simmer.
• Divide drained beans in 2 equal portions. Using a blender, blend one portion of beans with 2 C hot water until very smooth and pour this into the non-stick pot containing 7 1/2 C boiling water. Repeat with remaining beans and 2 C hot water.
• Place a colander over a large bowl (I usually have two bowls ready for this to pour the extra soy milk if the first one gets too full). Colander should be lined with cheese cloth (may have to double line if thin) or preferably cotton straining bag.
• Carefully ladle the hot mixture into the cheesecloth. Be careful, it's very hot. Wear rubber gloves. Once all the mixture is ladled in, twist cheese cloth closed and with a canning jar extract soy milk by pressing down. Make sure the cheese cloth is always closed to prevent grated soy beans or okara from falling into soy milk. Pick up the twisted cheese cloth and continue to knead it to extract the milk. Now you have soy milk in the bowl and okara left in the cheese cloth. Use okara for other uses.
• Pour the soy milk into a wide non-stick pot and heat the soy milk to 175°F or 79.5 C slowly. Once you reach the temperature, it takes about 7 minutes for yuba to form. Don't rush it.
• Trim film away from the pot using a small knife and with your fingertips lift up one edge of yuba and insert a long chopstick underneath to lift up. Drain over the pot for a few seconds. Repeat until soy milk is all used up. What's left in the pot is red film known as amayuba. Scrape this off too with spatula.
• Roll each yuba into rolls.
• Variation: Half formed yuba takes 4 to 5 minutes steaming before the yuba has had the chance to attach to the sides of pot instead of 7 minutes steaming . Using your fingertips or chopstick lift the yuba (very delicate) and serve immediately.

SESAME GINGER TOFU AND VEGGIE STIR FRY

Steps:

• Slice tofu into 3-4 horizontal slices. Drain well by placing between 2 cookie sheets lined with paper towels. Weight down the top cookie sheet with canned goods or a cast iron skillet to "press" the moisture out of the tofu. Keep changing the paper towels until no more moisture can be pressed from the tofu. This is the key to crispy tofu. Once dry, cut the tofu up into 1" cubes and toss with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to coat.
• While drying the tofu, prepare the sauce. Combine sesame oil, ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch and water. Mix in blender or food processor until completely smooth. Set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoons of oil and swirl to coat pan. Add the cubed tofu to the pan and fry for 3-5 minutes. Flip the tofu as needed to brown all sides. Add 2 tablespoons of the prepared sauce to the tofu and allow to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. When the tofu is carmelized, remove to plate and keep warm.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add the veggies and toss to coat. Cook the veggies for 3-4 minutes or just to al dente. Add the sauce and let it thicken just slightly. Add the tofu and sesame seeds and stir to coat. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes or until the tofu has soaked up all the flavors.
• Serve warm with rice or quinoa or on its own. Eat right away as the tofu will lose its crispiness as it sits and cools.

HAM AND PEPPERS STIR FRY WITH SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare the sauce by first stirring cornstarch with about 2 or 3 tbs.of the chicken broth in a small bowl.
• When the cornstarch is dissolved and smooth, stir in the remaining sauce ingredients and set aside.
• Brown ham in 1/3 of butter over moderately high heat in a skillet or wok until it begins to brown.
• Remove and set the ham aside.
• Melt another 1/3 of the butter in the skillet or wok and sauté the onions.
• When they start to soften and turn translucent, add the peppers and the final 1/3 of the butter.
• When the onions have somewhat browned, add the ham and the pineapple, juice and all.
• Stir the sauce until smooth again (since the cornstarch tends to settle) and pour into skillet or wok.
• Increase heat and stir until the sauce begins to bubble.
• Reduce heat and stir for a minute or two until the cornstarch is fully cooked; if too thick, thin with a little water or broth.
• Serve over steamed rice as soon as possible. I like to sprinkle some dried hot red pepper flakes over it; I love hot food and this gives the dish some zing!