Pork And Tofu Stir Fry With Soba Recipes

TOFU AND PORK STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Cook the tofu: Heat a large heavy-bottomed skillet or wok over high heat. Add 3 tablespoons oil. When the oil begins to smoke, remove the skillet from the heat and quickly (and carefully!) add the tofu in a single layer. Return the skillet to high heat and cook, stirring from time to time, until the tofu is lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully remove the tofu to a plate. Add the coriander seeds and toast for 15 seconds. Add the ground pork in a single layer, then sprinkle with salt and the red pepper flakes and brown over medium-high heat until cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the pork to the tofu.
• Cook the vegetables: Return the skillet to the heat and add the remaining tablespoon oil. Stir in the garlic and scallions and cook over medium heat for about 1 minute. Add the snow peas and peppers and cook until they become tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the soy sauce, honey, ginger and lemon zest and juice. Simmer for an additional minute. Taste for seasoning.
• Finish: Add the pork and tofu back to the skillet and gently stir to reheat and combine, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a platter and add the vinegar and additional soy sauce to taste.

SWEET AND SPICY TOFU WITH SOBA NOODLES

Steps:

• Drain the tofu in a colander, or dry on paper-towel lined plate while you prep the remaining ingredients, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a small pot of water to a boil for the soba noodles.
• Cut tofu into 1-inch cubes. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil. When the oil shimmers, add the tofu in a single layer, in batches if needed and cook until golden on all sides, turning as needed when the tofu releases easily from the pan, about 8 to 10 minutes total. Lift the tofu out of the pan with a spatula and transfer to a new paper-towel-lined plate.
• Meanwhile, cook the soba in boiling water for 5 to 8 minutes (or according to package directions), until just al dente, stirring frequently. Drain and rinse in cold water until the noodles no longer feel sticky.
• Add garlic, ginger and whites of the onions to the skillet, along with the remaining tablespoon sesame oil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the oil is fragrant, stirring constantly, about 1 minute.
• Add cooked and drained soba noodles to the pan, along with soy sauce, sugar, black pepper, red pepper and reserved green onions; toss together until the noodles are coated. Gently toss in the tofu until all the pieces are covered in the sauce.
• Remove from the heat, and sprinkle cucumber, radish and cilantro on top. Serve warm or at room temperature, with lime.

STIR-FRIED PORK AND GREENS WITH NOODLES

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with water, and bring to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the greens. Cook the greens 1 to 2 minutes, until just tender, and transfer with a slotted spoon or deep-fry skimmer to the ice water. Drain and squeeze out the water (you don't have to squeeze them completely dry). Chop coarsely.
• Cook the noodles. Bring the water in the pot back to a boil, add the noodles, and stir to separate the strands. Add a couple of tablespoons cold water, just so the water doesn't boil over. Boil somen noodles for two minutes, rice vermicelli for five to seven minutes, until tender. Drain and rinse with cold water. Place in a bowl of cold water, then drain and toss with the sesame oil. Set aside.
• Heat a large, heavy skillet or wok over high heat until hot enough to evaporate a drop of water on contact. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil, swirl to coat the pan, and reduce the heat to medium-high. Add the pork, and stir-fry for two to three minutes, until the meat is cooked through and there are no longer any traces of pink.
• Add the remaining oil, ginger and garlic, and stir-fry until fragrant and beginning to color, about 20 to 30 seconds. Stir in the greens, noodles, soy sauce and stock or water. Stir together until heated through, and serve.

SOBA NOODLES WITH SHIITAKES, BROCCOLI AND TOFU

Steps:

• Combine stock, soy sauce, rice wine or sherry, sugar and salt to taste in a small bowl. Stir until sugar and salt dissolve. Combine garlic, ginger, and pepper flakes or minced chile in another bowl.
• Bring a large saucepan or pot of water to a boil, add salt to taste and baby broccoli. As soon as water comes back to a boil (about 1 minute), use a skimmer to remove broccoli and transfer it to a bowl of cold water. Drain in a colander, then on paper towels. Cut stems away from florets and slice about 1/2 inch thick. Bring water back to a boil and cook soba. Drain and toss with 2 teaspoons sesame oil.
• Place all ingredients within reach of your wok. Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two when added. Swirl in 1 tablespoon of the oil and add tofu. Stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes, until it begins to color, and remove to a plate. Add remaining oil and garlic, ginger and chile. Stir-fry for no more than 10 seconds and add mushrooms. Stir-fry for 1 minute and add broccoli and the light parts of the scallions. Stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes. Add the noodles, tofu and the stock mixture. Reduce heat to medium and stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes. Add cilantro and the dark green part of the scallions, stir-fry another 30 seconds to a minute, until well combined, and serve.

MA-PO TOFU (SIMMERED TOFU WITH GROUND PORK)

Steps:

• Put oil in a deep 10-inch skillet or wok, preferably nonstick, and turn heat to medium-high. A minute later, add garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes, and cook just until they begin to sizzle, less than a minute. Add pork, and stir to break it up; cook, stirring occasionally, until it loses most of its pink color.
• Add scallions and stir; add stock. Cook for a minute or so, scraping bottom of pan with a wooden spoon if necessary to loosen any stuck bits of meat, then add tofu. Cook, stirring once or twice, until tofu is heated through, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the soy sauce; taste, and add salt and red pepper flakes as necessary. Garnish with cilantro if you like, and serve.