Tofu Tomatillo Stew Food

TOFU-TOMATILLO STEW

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. In a blender, combine tomatillos, whole onion quarters, garlic, cilantro, jalapeño, 1 tablespoon oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; purée until smooth.
• Transfer mixture to a medium saucepan and simmer over medium heat until darkened slightly, about 10 minutes. Stir in broth and hominy; simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes more. Season to taste.
• Meanwhile, pat tofu dry; toss on a rimmed baking sheet with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and taco seasoning. Broil, stirring a few times, until a golden-brown crust forms on tofu in places, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve stew topped with tofu, cilantro leaves, and chopped onion (optional), with lime wedges and tortillas.

TOMATILLO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil over high heat in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Saute chicken in oil until both sides are browned, approximately 2 minutes per side. Remove the chicken, and set aside.
• Add onions and garlic to saucepan, and saute until golden. Stir in the tomatillos, jalapeno peppers, and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover the pot, and simmer for about 15 minutes.
• Puree vegetables in batches in a blender or food processor. Return to pot, and reheat. At this point taste the soup; if not piquant enough, add cayenne pepper or pepper sauce.
• Slice the chicken into thin slices, and then shred. Stir into soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• When ready to serve, stir in the minced cilantro and ladle into bowls. Put a dollop of sour cream on top of each portion, and let it melt a bit. Top each dollop with a single cilantro leaf, and serve immediately.

STIR-FRIED TOFU AND VINE-RIPENED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat 4 cups canola oil in a 2-quart pot to 375°F. Working in batches, deep-fry the cubes of tofu until golden brown, making sure they don't stick to each other. Wait between batches for oil to return to 375°. Drain tofu on paper towels.
• Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat until hot. Add 3 tablespoons canola oil. Add onion and garlic, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring. Add tomatoes and cook, stirring carefully, just until tomatoes begin start to break down, about 1 to 2 minutes. Deglaze with mirin and cook for approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tofu and green onions, stir, and season with salt to taste.

TOMATILLO STEW

Steps:

• Remove and discard husks from the tomatillos and rinse well. Place in a medium sauce pan with the water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until tomatillos are softened, about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly and pour into blender container; blend or pulse to desired smoothness. Set aside.
• While tomatillos are cooking, roast poblanos. Place on a baking sheet under broiler, turning frequently until skins are blackened and blistered all over. Alternately, place over gas burner of stove, turning with long-handled tongs--take care not let handles of tongs overheat and burn your hands. When chiles are blackened all over, place in a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a dish towel. Let sit for 15-20 minutes, until cool enough to handle. Rub skins from chiles; cut in half and discard stems and seeds. Dice chiles and set aside.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, bell pepper, and carrots to skillet and sauté until onions become translucent, 5-7 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring so garlic doesn't burn. Add diced poblanos, tomatillo mixture, can tomatoes, oregano and cumin. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, for 15-20 minutes.
• If stew gets too thick, add additional water or chicken broth to desired thickness. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir in lime juice and oregano, if using. Add meat or other ingredients and cook for an another 10-15 minutes and serve over steamed white rice with hot tortillas on the side.