Sesame Tofu With Spinach Food

SPINACH, TOFU AND SESAME STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Heat the canola oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick skillet or wok, and add the tofu. Stir-fry until the tofu is lightly colored, three to five minutes, and add the garlic, ginger and chili flakes. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about one minute, and add soy sauce to taste. Add the spinach and stir-fry until the spinach wilts, about one minute. Stir in the sesame seeds, and add more soy sauce to taste. Remove from the heat.
• Using tongs, transfer the spinach and tofu mixture to a serving bowl, leaving the liquid behind in the pan or wok. Drizzle with the sesame oil, and add more soy sauce as desired. Serve with rice or other grains, or noodles. You may also use it as a filling for whole wheat pita bread.

SESAME TOFU WITH COCONUT-LIME DRESSING AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Prepare the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together coconut milk, lime zest and juice, sambal oelek and brown sugar until sugar dissolves completely. Slowly stream in the sesame oil and whisk until the mixture is emulsified and creamy. Taste and season with salt as needed; set aside. (You'll have 3/4 cup dressing. Save any extra in an airtight container in the refrigerator.)
• Prepare the tofu: Pat the tofu dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. In a medium bowl, whisk together panko, sesame seeds and black pepper. Season the mixture generously with salt. In a second medium bowl, lightly whisk the egg whites. Using a pair of kitchen tongs, dip the tofu slices one at a time in the egg whites and coat well. Transfer to the bowl with the panko mixture, coating well on all sides, then move to a clean plate. Repeat with remaining tofu slices.
• Line a large plate with paper towels. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium (10-inch) cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet over medium-low. Working in batches to avoid crowding, pan-fry the tofu until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. (Don't overcook, or the sesame seeds will turn bitter.) Transfer the fried tofu slices to the prepared plate. Repeat with the remaining tofu, adding oil and wiping out the pan as needed.
• Prepare the spinach: Wipe out the skillet, and heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add the shallot and sauté until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 45 seconds, taking care not to scorch the garlic. Add the spinach by the handful, increasing the heat after the first handful and allowing the greens to wilt before adding more. Sauté until wilted and most of the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes. Add the soy sauce and black pepper, and fold to coat well. Taste and add salt as needed. Remove the skillet from the heat.
• Place spinach in a serving bowl. Add fried tofu on top, and drizzle with half of the coconut-lime dressing. Sprinkle the chives over the tofu, and serve immediately, with more dressing on the side.

SESAME TOFU WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Slice the Tofu lengthwise into 4 rectangular slabs, than half each piece to get squares.
• Spread the sesame seeds on a plate. Press all surfaces of each tofu square into the seeds to coat.
• Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet on medium heat.
• Arrange the tofu in a single layer and cook about 5 minutes Carefully turn and cook 5 minutes on other side.
• Add soy sauce and Tabasco, turn the squares over, and cook another minute. Transfer squares to a plate (leaving stray seeds in the pan).
• Add the oil and garlic to the pan and sauté for about 30 seconds, until golden. Add the still damp rinsed spinach and cook for 1-2 more minutes, stirring constantly. Cook until wilted but still bright green.
• Season to taste with salt & pepper.
• Serve the tofu on top of the spinach.

SESAME-CRUSTED TOFU WITH GINGERY NOODLES

Steps:

• Tip the beaten egg onto a plate and coat the tofu in it. On a plate, mix the cornflour, sesame seeds and seasoning and dip the tofu pieces into it. Set aside.
• Heat the wok and add 2 tbsp of the oil, plus the carrots, and stir-fry until tender, adding a few splashes of water if they start to stick. Add the chilli, garlic, ginger and most of the spring onions, and fry for a few more mins. Meanwhile, cook the noodles following pack instructions, drain, then toss into the vegetables, along with the syrup and soy.
• Heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan. Carefully shallow-fry the tofu pieces, a few mins each side, until golden. Remove and drain on kitchen paper. Scatter with the remaining spring onions and serve with the noodles and a little extra soy sauce, if you like.

SESAME CRUSTED TOFU WITH SPINACH AND CARROTS

Steps:

• Combine the flour and five- spice powder on a plate. Combine the egg whites, 2 tablespoons of the water or broth and 2 tablespoons of the teriyaki sauce in a shallow bowl. Spread the sesame seeds out on a plate. Dip the top of each piece of tofu into the flour mixture, then into the egg white mixture and then gently press into the sesame seeds. Place seed side up on a plate and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, combine the carrots, ginger, sesame oil, remaining water or broth and remaining teriyaki sauce. Cook over medium heat until the carrots are cooked but still crunchy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the spinach and red pepper flakes and steam until tender. Keep warm.
• Place a large, heavy-bottomed nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Lightly coat with the vegetable oil spray. Add the tofu, seed side down and saute until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Turn and cook on the other side until brown.
• Divide the carrot mixture with its liquid among 4 plates. Top each with 2 pieces of tofu and serve immediately.

MA PO TOFU WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Start your rice cooker.
• Dice the pork into tiny cubes, stir in a splash of soy sauce, and set aside.
• Cut the silken tofu into 1/2 inch cubes and set aside. Be gentle with your tofu, the soft kind is delicate and comes apart easily.
• Combine the chicken broth, soy sauce, sherry, sugar, and salt, and set aside.
• Heat up the vegetable oil in a wok, deep skillet, or dutch oven.
• when the oil is very hot, add the chili sauce and garlic. Stir for 30 seconds, just enough to wake up the flavors, but not enough to burn the garlic.
• add the diced pork and stir, cooking for another minute or so. (It will cook more later).
• Add the tofu and pour in the sauce. Stir once gently, being careful not to break up the tofu.
• Bring the sauce up to a boil and braise uncovered for 5 minutes or so. (How long you want to braise it depends on how saucy you want it to be--the longer it boils, the more the liquid will reduce.).
• Dice the green onion, white and green parts together.
• After 5+ minutes, the tofu will take on a nice reddish brown color from the sauce. At this point, mix cornstarch and water to make about a tablespoon of goopy paste, and stir into the boiling sauce. Throw about 4 handfuls of baby spinach onto the top and cover, cooking for another 2 or 3 minutes.
• When your spinach is wilted and the sauce is "clingy", gently stir in the green onion and 1/2 tsp of sesame oil.
• Serve on top of lots of steamed white rice.

SESAME TOFU

Steps:

• Wrap tofu with paper towels and place on a cutting board.
• Put a heavy plate on top to press out liquid for approximately 20 minutes.
• Stir sauce ingredients together in a saucepan.
• Simmer sauce while you cook the tofu.
• Dry drained tofu with paper towels and cube.
• Dust very lightly with cornstarch.
• Heat 1" oil in deep frying pan.
• Fry tofu in 350 degree F oil until golden brown.
• Place fried tofu in a large bowl and toss with 2/3 cup sauce, sprinkle liberally with sesame seeds and scallions.
• Toss gently.
• Serve remaining sauce for dipping or drizzled over vegetables.

CRISPY SESAME TOFU

Steps:

• Place block of tofu flat on cutting board; slice lengthwise into 4 equal pieces, then down the middle to make 8 squares. Place on baking sheet lined with three layers of paper towels; cover with three more layers. Place another baking sheet and a weight on top. Let tofu drain until towels are soaked, 5 minutes.
• Spread the sesame seeds on a plate. Press both sides of each tofu square into sesame seeds. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon sesame oil over medium heat. Cook tofu, until golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Add the soy sauce; continue cooking, turning tofu, until it has absorbed all the liquid, about 1 minute. Remove from pan. Wipe skillet with a paper towel.
• Add broccoli, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and 1/2 cup water to skillet. Simmer, covered, until broccoli is tender, about 5 minutes. Divide among 4 serving plates; arrange 2 tofu squares on each. Drizzle with remaining tablespoon sesame oil. Serve.

SESAME TOFU WITH DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut tofu into 1/2 inch thick slices, lay flat on a towel to dry out.
• Combine all the dipping sauce ingredients in a small mixing bowl.
• Marinate tofu in 1/2 to 3/4 of the dipping sauce for a couple hours. (The original recipe says to marinate for thirty minutes, but I did it overnight to maximize flavour).
• Remove tofu from marinade and pat dry with a paper towel (I skipped this step).
• Dip tofu in beaten egg white then coat with sesame seeds.
• Brown tofu slices on each side over medium heat in a non-stick pan with olive oil until sesame seeds are golden and crispy, about 5-7 minutes per side (The recipe says two minutes per side, but I found it took much longer).
• Serve with remaining dipping sauce.