Noodles And Spinach With Tofu Recipes

NOODLES AND SPINACH WITH TOFU

Steps:

• For the sauce: Pour 1-2 tbs sesame oil in large frying pan/wok over medium heat. Ad 1-2 tbs of soy sauce, 1-2 tsp minced garlic, 1 tbs peanut butter and 1 tbs tahini. Stir until mixed into a thick consistency, about 30 seconds.
• Immediately add tofu and stir to coat. Stir intermittently, allowing tofu to brown before stirring. When tofu is browned remove from pan and set aside, cover to keep warm.
• Repeat sauce process above, being perhaps a bit more liberal with oil and soy sauce. Add cooked spaghetti and mix through.
• Add spinach and mix again. Heat and taste test for flavor.
• Add tofu when spaghetti is hot, and sprinkle with with sesame seeds.
• Toss and serve.

SPICY RICE NOODLES WITH CRISPY TOFU AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. As the oven heats, press the tofu (you can do this by sandwiching the block in paper towels and placing a cutting board, plus a heavy pot, can or book on top).
• Cut the tofu into 1/2-inch cubes and place in a medium bowl. Add the salt and oils, and toss to combine.
• Sprinkle the cornstarch, panko and sesame seeds, if using, and toss gently so the tofu cubes are coated.
• Spread on the prepared sheet and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, flipping once, until golden-brown and crisp.
• While the tofu bakes, start the noodles: Put the dry rice noodles in a big, wide bowl. Fill a kettle, bring the water to a boil, and pour the boiling water over the noodles to cover. Set aside for 6 to 10 minutes, until the noodles are fully rehydrated and soft. (Time may vary by brand.) Then drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again. Transfer noodles to a large bowl.
• As the noodles soak, prepare the spicy sesame oil: In a small pot, combine sesame oil, peanut oil, garlic, ginger, red-pepper flakes and sesame seeds. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook on the lowest heat for 10 to 12 minutes, until the garlic slices turn golden.
• Meanwhile, on your cutting board, make a small mound with the teaspoon of salt. Place the basil and the scallions on top, and use your knife to furiously chop and smash until you have a rough paste.
• Mix the basil paste into the bowl of rice noodles. Pile the baby spinach on top. Pour at least half of the hot oil immediately over the spinach, tossing so that the heat wilts the leaves slightly. Then add the juice of the 1/2 lime and toss to combine. Taste for salt and lime juice, and add more oil as you see fit.
• Arrange the tofu on top of the noodles, or mix them in so that the cubes hide like little treasures. For extra flair, garnish with additional sesame seeds and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil.

TOFU NOODLE STIR-FRY WITH SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• TOFU: In a small mixing bowl, gently mix together the cubed tofu, tamari, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. We like to cover with a lid and gently shake/toss to coat tofu with sauce. Set aside to briefly marinate.
• SAUCE: If using homemade tahini stir-fry sauce or peanut sauce, prepare at this time. Otherwise, skip to the next step.
• NOODLES: Place the noodles in a large bowl or pot and cover with just boiling water. Stir and let soak according to the package instructions (or for slightly less time). They should be tender but not mushy as they will continue cooking in the stir-fry. We found 2 minutes to be perfect. Drain, drizzle with a little bit of sesame oil to prevent sticking, and set aside.
• STIR-FRY: Heat a large wok or non-stick skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the tofu along with the excess marinade. Sauté for about 8-12 minutes, flipping until each side is browned and the liquid is absorbed. Remove from the pan and set aside.
• With the pan/wok still over medium heat, add the sesame oil, green onions, and minced garlic. Sauté for ~1-2 minutes or until tender and fragrant. Add in the broccoli (or other sturdy vegetables such as onion, cauliflower, or green beans) and sauté until bright green and slightly tender but still crunchy (~3-5 minutes). Mix in the rest of the vegetables (carrot ribbons, baby bok choy, cabbage, and snap peas), and cook for 3-5 more minutes or until tender.
• Add the cooked noodles, tahini stir-fry sauce or peanut sauce, and cooked tofu into the pan. Sauté for a couple minutes, tossing constantly (tongs can be helpful) until the noodles and tofu are heated through and the sauce and vegetables are evenly dispersed.
• FOR SERVING: Optionally, garnish with fresh cilantro, green onion, sesame seeds, lime wedges, and sriracha (or other hot sauce).
• Best when fresh. Leftovers will keep covered in a sealed container up to 3-4 days. Reheat in a skillet until warmed. Not freezer friendly.

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.

MISO UDON NOODLES WITH SPINACH AND TOFU

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook udon in boiling water, stirring occasionally, until noodles are partially cooked, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine butter, miso paste, sesame oil, and honey in a wok over medium heat and cook until sizzling. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tofu and cook for about 1 minute.
• Drain udon noodles and add to wok with water. Cook and stir for 3 minutes. Add spinach and green onions; mix until spinach has wilted. Stir in soy sauce.
• Ladle into two bowls. Drizzle with Sriracha and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

SPINACH DUMPLINGS WITH TOFU AND RICE NOODLES

Steps:

• Spinach dumpling skin dough:
• Wash the spinach well. Drain and pat dry. Add the spinach, salt, and 1 cup (240 ml) water to a blender or food processor and blend until it forms a smooth puree. Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth, reserving the liquid in a measuring cup, which should yield at least 1½ cups (360 ml). Put aside the drained spinach for the filling.
• In a large bowl, add the flour and gradually stream in 1 cup (240 ml) of the reserved spinach liquid, using one hand to mix.
• Then gradually add the remaining spinach liquid a little at a time, using both hands to knead for about 5 minutes, until it all comes together and forms a smooth dough. You may not use all the liquid. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.
• After resting, remove the plastic wrap and knead the dough in the bowl a few more times. Cover again with plastic wrap and let rest for another 10 minutes. You may repeat this process one more time for a chewier dough, but the chewier the dough is, the stickier and trickier it will be to work with.
• Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap while you prep your fillings.
• Do Ahead: The dumpling skins are best used day of, but if you can't make the dumplings right away, it's best to store the dough in unrolled pieces, generously dusted on all sides with flour to prevent sticking. Cover with plastic or place in a covered container and store for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.
• Spinach dumpling filling:
• Prep a bowl of ice water. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil over medium heat and add the carrot. Cook for about 5 minutes, then immediately remove the carrot to the bowl of ice water to shock them and stop the cooking process. Meanwhile, marinate the green onion in the sesame oil for 5 minutes.
• Add the bok choy to the boiling water and cook for about 1 minute, then remove and add to the ice water. Once cooled, squeeze the bok choy between your hands or in a dishcloth to drain it of all water.
• Finely chop the carrot and bok choy, then add them to a bowl and combine with the reserved spinach.
• Add the vermicelli noodles, fried tofu, ginger, green onion in sesame oil, salt, and white pepper powder to the bowl of vegetables and mix to combine by stirring in one direction to promote better cohesion of the filling.
• Set a small pan over low heat and add the vegetable oil. Add the Sichuan peppercorns and fry until fragrant, about 8 minutes. Carefully strain and discard the peppercorns and pour the infused oil into the bowl of dumpling filling. Stir to combine.
• Allow the filling to cool slightly, then crack in the egg and mix in one direction to combine.
• Do Ahead: Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use, up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
• Roll out your dumpling skins:
• Using your hands, roll the dough into a long and even snake-like cylindrical shape until it is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter.
• On a large wooden board or a clean work counter, use a knife to cut even, 1-inch (2.5-cm) segments of the dough. (Note: You can also rip pieces off by hand, but it requires a certain experience, accuracy, and speed. Cutting with a knife is definitely easier.)
• Sprinkle a little flour on the board or work surface to prevent sticking (but don't go overboard). Place each segment on the board with the cut part facing up (like a little stubby piece of firewood), and use the heel of your palm to flatten it slightly on the board.
• Hold a small cylindrical roller with your dominant hand. With your other hand, hold the piece of dough by the edge. From the opposite edge, gently roll the piece of dough with your roller toward the center and then back, then turn the dough slightly and roll again toward the center and back. Repeat this several times until the dough becomes an almost-perfect circle, 2½ to 3 inches (6 to 7.5 cm) in diameter. The idea is to roll the dough out evenly from the sides so it is smooth and round, with the center slightly thicker than the edges (around 1⁄8 inch/3 mm thick overall).
• Repeat this process for all pieces of dough and use immediately in folding dumplings.
• Wrap the dumplings:
• Prep a tray or a plate by sprinkling flour on the bottom to prevent sticking.
• Put a dumpling skin on the palm of your hand.
• Use a spoon (or chopsticks) to scoop 1 to 2 tablespoons of your filling mixture into the middle of the skin. Fold the skin in half so the two sides meet and can be pressed into each other to bind. Squeeze the rest of the sides together as well. Make sure the sides are pressed fully into each other to avoid the dumplings breaking, and avoid any filling touching the edges, as the oil in the filling could prevent the sides from sticking properly. (Note: If you're using store-bought skins, wet the rim of the wrapper with a little bit of water to help the edges seal. The goal is to maximize the amount of filling in your dumpling, but not put so much that the dumpling breaks or cannot be pressed together.)
• Place the finished dumplings in your prepared tray or plate, being careful to space them apart so they don't stick.
• Do Ahead: These are best cooked and eaten fresh, but you can also place the entire tray of folded dumplings in the freezer, covered carefully with plastic wrap. Once the dumplings are frozen solid, transfer them to an airtight zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
• Boil dumplings:
• Bring a large pot of water to a simmer, with the water on the verge of boiling. Right before the water boils, gently add the dumplings-this timing is crucial to prevent cracking. Keep the dumplings moving so they don't stick. When the water comes up to a boil again, add ½ cup (120 ml) cold water and stir. Repeat two more times. Once it comes up to a boil the fourth time, the dumplings should be floating and ready to eat, but if you're nervous, go ahead and cut one open to check. The entire process should take 10 minutes. Fish out the dumplings with a slotted spoon and serve with dumpling sauce, chili oil, sesame oil, and roasted sesame seeds.

LIGHT SPINACH PASTA WITH TOFU

Steps:

• Boil pasta according to package directions but only till its almost done.
• Wash and clean the spinach and steam with a little water for 4 minutes in the microwave.
• Once it is steamed, blenderize it with the same water to get a spinach paste which is kind of watery
• In a large non stick skillet, heat oil.
• When oil gets hot, add the chopped garlic.
• When the garlic is slightly browned add the onions and stir fry till the onions turn brown.
• Add the tofu and stir fry till the tofu changes color a bit and looks slightly as if it has been fried.
• At this point add the red pepper flakes/powder and stir. Immediately add the the spinach paste
• Let it simmer.
• Add salt.
• When the water from the spinach reduces add the semi cooked pasta and let it cook completely. If you think more water is needed add that.
• I don't add cheese, but can also do the last step in the oven with mozzarella on top.
• I like this hot and cold--tastes good every way.