Fried Tofu

[jeff]

This dish is pretty simple if you prep your tofu right. if not it will fall apart too easily.

14oz package of firm or extra firm tofu (I used firm in this guide)
3-4 cloves garlic minced or 1 tsp to 1 TBS of garlic (I'm a garlic lover so I use a lot. note the 1TBS ;)
2-3 dried red peppers cut into small bits
1/2 onion sliced into strips
4-5 sliced mushrooms if desired, I used shiitake mushrooms in this guide
Oil for cooking

For the liquid part.

2 TBS Soy Sauce
1 1/2 TBS Rice Wine
1 tsp water
2 tsp brown sugar. you can also use your basic white sugar too.

Open your Tofu and drain out the liquid, place a clean kitchen towel onto a bowl or in my case an old carry out container.
place the Tofu onto the towel and wrap the tofu up in the towel. Place a heavy object on top, in my case I used a 3qt pan.
Place the tofu with heavy object inside the refrigerator for at least an hour. This will help push out any remaining liquid the tofu might be holding.

remove the tofu/heavy object from the fridge and remove the towel from the tofu. place the now somewhat dry tofu on a cutting board and cut it into strips. make sure you CUT the tofu DO NOT RIP IT. Remember kids, sharp knives are your friend! (for cooking at least)

Set cut up tofu aside.

Place about 1 tsp of oil in your pan. add about 1/2 the garlic and red pepper. Once the garlic starts to put off a nice smell add 1/2 your onions, after they start to cook add 1/2 your diced mushrooms. At this point you can add 1/2 of your tofu. I like to use my fingers and lay the tofu in the pan one at a time. once 1/2 of your tofu is added you can add 1/2 of your liquid ingredients. making sure to stir the ingredients before adding it so the sugar will be mixed up rather then sitting on the bottom of the bowl.
after adding your liquid ingredients simple keep an eye on the tofu. Check the bottom of the tofu for a nice brown coat. If it's brown then you can flip the tofu over. once the tofu is cooked on both sides you can either spend extra time by browning the sides, but I dont see a need for this. I like just the top and bottom cooked.

Remove all of your ingredients from the pan and set aside. I like to use a napkin or paper towel and wipe the pan out clean.

Add another 1 tsp of oil and start the process over for the 2nd half of your ingredients.

Once your tofu is done you can plate it on top of some sticky rice =)

[jeff]

.