Best Chinese Mushroom Smothered Bean Curd Aka Tofu Recipes

FU JU FERMENTED TOFU OR BEAN CURD

Steps:

• Press the bean curd for 2 hours. Dry with towels and cut into 9 pieces. Use a very thin 5 to 6 inch bamboo or wooden skewer thread 4 small squares of curd onto each. Leave space between each.d Place in covered steamer pot in well aired room for 2 to 4 days. {Trust me you want it well aired.} It will develop a orangish yellow mold and have a slippery appearance and strong odor.
• Grind the crushed peppers, peppercorns and fennel. Add salt and mix well then pour into a dish. Carefully take a skewer and sprinkle seasoning mix over all of the fermented curd. Repeat until done.
• Put into a wide-mouth jar and pull out skewers carefully. Pour wine to cover and sprinkle salt mix on top. Cover in keep in refrigerator. IT will be ready to use in a week and will keep indefinitely.
• NOTE this is highly seasoned. Use small portions. If wine is too strong use salt dissolved in water. It may be made without the spices and just the salt.

CHINESE MUSHROOM SMOTHERED BEAN CURD AKA TOFU

Steps:

• Quarter your bean curd squares then cut into 2 triangles. Turn each on longest side and cut thru to make 3 thin triangles from each. Set aside.
• Cover mushrooms with 3/4 cup boiling water and soak 1 hour. Lightly squeeze to let liquid drain back into bowl [NOTE this is where you get the mushroom liquid. The soaking water not the rinse step] then rinse briefly and squeeze dry. Destem and cut cap into 1/2 inch wide slices. Place scallions, ginger, mushrooms and curd on work tray. Measure mushroom liquid if you are short 1/2 cup add some stock or water.
• Heat large heavy skillet over high until hot. add oil. Swirl. heat for 15 seconds. Lower heat to med and place scallions and ginger in and stir rapidly a few times. Add the sherry, soy, sugar and mushroom liquid. As it sizzles to boil add mushrooms and bean curd. Turn gently a few times. Adjust heat to maintain gentle simmer. Cover and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes. Turn contents half way thru.
• You should be minus the liquid or close to it at this point. Add the oil and turn once more. The serve.

MABO DOFU - TOFU WITH BEEF

Steps:

• Cut bean curd into bite-sized squares and set aside. Heat oil and fry garlic, chili peppers and chopped leek.
• Add meat. When meat changes color, lightly stir in bean curd, soy sauce and = sugar.
• Cover with lid and cook for 10 min.
• Add cornstarch mixture, allowing it to thicken for a few minutes.
• Turn out into serving dish, sprinkle with the sesame oil and serve hot. EmmaDeer

YU-DOFU (KYOTO STYLE PLAIN SIMMERED BEAN CURD)

Steps:

• Dice the tofu into 1 inch cubes and arrange in a large, shallow earthenware casserole. Add boiling water to cover and place over medium heat.
• Combine, in a sauce pan, the soy sauce, sake, sugar, bonito shavings, and 2/3 cup water. Heat on medium-high and simmer for 3 minutes then turn off heat.
• When the water the tofu is cooking in starts to boil, remove the casserole to the table. Pour 1/4 cup of the prepared sauce into individual saucers and place before each guest, together with a saucer of chopped scallion and grated ginger. Cut each lemon in half and serve one half to each guest.
• Each guest helps themselves, transferring the tofu to an empty saucer. Have each guest squeeze the lemon into their prepared sauce and dip the tofu into the sauce then into the scallion and ginger, as preferred, and enjoy.

PEKING-STYLE FRIED BEAN CURD

Steps:

• Cut the bean curd into 1/2 inch slices.
• Before frying, coat with flour then dip into the egg.
• Heat the wok then add 2 T oil.
• Arrange the slices of bean curd evenly on the bottom of the wok.
• Fry over medium heat for about 1 minute, or until golden brown.
• Sprinkle with onion, ginger root and sherry, salt, sesame oil and stock.
• Pierce the bean curd with a fork to allow the liquid to seep through.
• Turn heat to low and cook until the liquid is absorbed by the bean curd.
• Shrimp's eggs may be added to this dish if desired.

MA PO TOFU (SPICY SZECHWAN BEAN CURD)

Steps:

• Place 1 tablespoon of the chopped ginger in a medium-sized bowl, and reserve the remainder.
• Add the remaining marinade ingredients to the bowl (1 sliced spring onion, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 2 tablespoon of Chinese rice wine, 2 teaspoons cornstarch), and mix well.
• Add the ground beef or pork, give it another stir and set aside for approx 30 minutes.
• Place the tree ears or shiitake mushrooms in small bowl, pour over boiling water, and soak for about 15 minutes until they are soft and gelatinous.
• Drain the soaked tree ears, rinse, remove hard stems, and slice finely.
• Blanch the tofu in boiling water for 2- 3 minutes, then drain.
• Combine the garlic with the reserved ginger, and process together with a stick blender or spice grinder until they form the consistency of a thick paste.
• Heat a wok over a moderately high flame.
• Add the peanut oil, and just as it is starting to smoke, add the garlic/ginger paste and stir-fry, stirring continuously, for approximately 30 seconds.
• Next add the brown bean paste, Szechwan chile paste, water chestnuts and tree ears, and stir-fry for a further minute.
• Give the meat mixture a stir, add it to the wok, and continue to stir-fry over high heat for two to three minutes, until it loses its pinkish color.
• Toss in the tofu and the sliced green onions and continue to toss and fry for about 45 seconds.
• Finally, add the sugar and stir-fry for another 30 seconds.
• Pour in the soy sauce& water, bring to the boil, then reduce heat to moderate and cook for a couple of minutes.
• Add the Szechwan pepper corns and stir thoroughly.
• If there appears to be too much liquid in the wok contents, thicken with a little cornstarch and water.
• Add 1 teaspoon sesame oil and season to taste with salt.
• Serve with steamed rice, and garnish with cilantro.

CHINESE TOFU AND SHRIMP STIR-FRY

Steps:

• PREPARATION.
• Remove the shells from the shrimp and devein by cutting a slit along the back of the shrimp (removing the vein), place the shrimp in a bowl, add 2 teaspoons of salt, mix and then rinse under cold water, add another 2 teaspoons of salt, mix and rinse under cold water, pat dry with paper towels and set aside.
• Add to shrimp bowl the following seasonings-1 teaspoon salt, 1 egg white, 1 tablespoon tapioca starch, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 2 teaspoons sesame oil and a dash of white pepper, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour (or longer, when you are ready to cook).
• Cut up the tofu into small pieces about 1 to 1 ½ inch by ½ to 1 inch size (approximately) set aside.
• Wash and clean the scallions and cut at an angle into 1/2 inch pieces, set aside.
• In a cup with the stock, add the following seasonings: soy sauce, rice wine, bean sauce, garlic, chili paste, pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon tapioca starch, mix and set aside.
• .
• COOKING DIRECTIONS.
• In a Teflon pan (or wok) add 2 tablespoons peanut oil and bring to medium heat and then add the cut up tofu, shake pan a little and with a spatula separate the pieces. Cook for 5 minutes and then turn the pieces, cook another 5 minutes, toss as needed and cook until the pieces are a golden brown in color, drain and set aside.
• Next add 2 tablespoons of oil to a clean Teflon pan (or wok) and when medium hot add the ginger, cook for 30 seconds and then add the seasoned shrimp, stir-fry until the shrimps start to turn pink (important to made sure that you do not overcook the shrimp).
• Add back the tofu and gently toss (try not to break up the tofu) and cook for another minute or two.
• Next re-stir the stock mixture and pour into the pan, stir-fry for another minute and again try not to break up the tofu, add 2 teaspoons sesame oil, add the cut up spring scallions, toss to coat all.
• In a big plate add the yellow or white rice around the side (to form well) and in the center add the shrimp and tofu combination.
• Enjoy this Asian dish.
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• NOTE:.
• The Amoy Sichuan Spicy Noodle Sauce (fermented salted soybean, chili, garlic) is a great ingredient for this somewhat spicy dish or use other types of sauce found on Asian food store shelves.