Best Spicy Thai Eggplant Tofu Recipes

SPICY STIR-FRIED EGGPLANT, TOFU AND WATER SPINACH (ONG CHOY)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise and score down to but not through the skin. Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil, lightly oil the foil and place the eggplant on it cut side down. Roast for 15 minutes, until the skin begins to shrivel. Remove from the oven, transfer to a colander and let the eggplant drain, cut-side down, while you prepare the other ingredients. Then cut the eggplant in half down the middle and into 3/4-inch pieces.
• Meanwhile, drain and dry the tofu slices on paper towels and prepare the water spinach. Cut or break away the bottom 2 inches of the stalks. Break off the thicker, bottom part of the stems and wash thoroughly in 2 changes of water. Cut into 2-inch pieces. Spin in a salad spinner, then place on several thicknesses of paper towels to dry. Wash the leafy top part of the greens in 2 changes of water, spin dry twice, and chop coarsely. Place separately on paper towels to drain.
• In a small bowl or measuring cup combine the soy sauce, rice wine or sherry, and stock or water. Add the salt and sugar and stir until dissolved. Combine the garlic, ginger and chiles in another bowl. Have all the ingredients within arm's length of your pan.
• Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok or 12-inch steel skillet over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two when added to the pan. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil by pouring it down the sides of the pan and swirling the pan, then add the tofu and stir-fry until lightly colored, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove to a plate.
• Swirl in the remaining oil, add the garlic, ginger and chiles and stir-fry for no more than 10 seconds. Add the red onion and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add the eggplant and stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes, until all of it is tender. Add the water spinach stems and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add the spinach leaves, stir-fry for about 30 seconds and add the soy sauce mixture. Stir-fry for 1 minute, until the spinach has wilted, return the tofu to the wok along with cilantro. Stir together for a few seconds to amalgamate and remove from the heat. Serve with rice or noodles.

SPICY THAI EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Combine the ground pork with the salt, pepper, and cornstarch. Marinate the pork for 15 minutes.
• While the pork is marinating, prepare the remaining ingredients.
• In a small bowl, combine the chicken broth, soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar.
• Cut the eggplant lengthwise into 1 inch strips or into 1-inch squares. Mince the garlic.
• Heat the wok over medium-high to high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil. When the oil is hot, add the eggplant. Stir-fry the eggplant until it is softened (about 5 minutes). Remove and drain on paper towels.
• Add 2 tablespoons oil to the wok. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and bean sauce. Stir-fry until aromatic. Add the ground pork. Stir-fry until it changes color, using cooking chopsticks or a wooden spoon to separate the individual pieces.
• Push the pork up to the sides of the wok. Add the sauce in the middle and bring to a boil, stirring quickly to thicken. Add the eggplant slices and the Chile paste and Thai Peppers. Cook for a few more minutes and stir in the sesame oil. Serve hot.

SPICY THAI EGGPLANT & TOFU

Steps:

• Put water on to boil according to rice noodle directions.
• Food prep: Slice tofu into bite sized pieces, cut eggplant into bite sized pieces, dice onion & mince garlic.
• In a large skillet, add EVOO, garlic and onions. Allow to cook for 2 minutes to soften.
• Add tofu, eggplant, brocoli, spice & enough peanut sauce to coat (this should all simmer for about five minutes).
• When noodles are finished, add noodles to mix and toss in peanuts and/or cashews as well as more peanut sauce if needed to coat.
• Bon apetit!
• *I use the microwave bags of brocoli to keep from dirtying another dish. Also, my husband likes chicken in his, so I will sometimes cook a chicken breast in the EVOO before preparing the meal and then slice that up to add to his bowl.

CHINESE EGGPLANT WITH TOFU AND THAI BASIL

Steps:

• Place tofu on a paper towel-lined plate. Cover with another paper towel and place a heavy pot on top. Allow to sit until extra moisture has released into the paper towels, about 30 minutes.
• Heat peanut oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add tofu, onion, and garlic and saute until onions are soft, about 5 minutes, adding water if tofu sticks to the pan. Add eggplant, cover, and cook until eggplant starts to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Add soy sauce and chili sauce, lower heat to medium, and continue cooking until eggplant becomes translucent, 7 to 10 minutes. Add basil and stir until wilted, about 1 minute.

CRISPY SZECHUAN-STYLE EGGPLANT AND TOFU

Steps:

• In a shallow dish, combine 2/3 cup of the cornstarch, the salt and pepper. Toss the eggplant pieces in the cornstarch mixture to coat, shaking off the excess; set aside. Repeat the process with the tofu.
• Heat 1/2 inch of the peanut oil in a large, deep, straight-sided skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Working in batches, cook the eggplant first, tossing gently until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with the remaining eggplant and the tofu.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken stock, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, lime juice and remaining 2 teaspoons cornstarch.
• Carefully drain the oil from the skillet, and wipe out any residue using paper towels held with tongs. Add 1 tablespoon of peanut oil to the skillet and heat it over medium heat. Add the ginger, about 1 teaspoon of the minced chiles (or to taste) and the garlic. Cook, stirring, until just fragrant, about 30 seconds; pour in the chicken stock mixture and bring it to a simmer. Simmer until slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the cooked eggplant and tofu to the skillet and toss gently to combine. Stir in the sesame oil and remove from the heat. Serve immediately over rice and garnished with the remaining minced chiles if desired and chopped cilantro.

THAI EGGPLANT CURRY WITH TOFU

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok or skillet and saute eggplant in batches on both sides until browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side, adding more oil as needed.
• Combine cilantro roots, onion, chile peppers, garlic, sugar, lime juice, and fish sauce in a mortar; crush with a pestle into a soft paste.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok or skillet over high heat, add curry paste and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add eggplant, cover, and cook for 3 minutes. Mix in tofu and Thai basil.