Tofu Au Poivre Recipes

TOFU AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Slice the tofu into thirds lengthwise (?) to make 'steaks'. layer with paper towels in a colander and a heavy weight on top. Let sit for 30 minutes to drain.
• Grind 1/4c peppercorns & coat both sides of the tofu steaks with approximately 1tsp pepper per side. Reserve any additional pepper for another use.
• Heat oil in heavy skillet on medium high heat. (I used my cast iron) Fry tofu until browned & crispy on both sides. This will take about 10 minutes or so. When done, set aside.
• Add butter to pan. When melted, add shallots & cook just a few minutes until softened. Add cognac or brandy & cook on high a few minutes until reduced to a few tablespoons.
• Add the stock & reduce by half. Add the cream & heat just to boiling.
• Crush 1/2TB mixed peppercorns in a mortar & pestle. Add to sauce. Taste for seasoning & add salt as desired.

AU POIVRE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a large nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add the butter. When the butter has melted, add the shallots and sauté, stirring occasionally, until they are nearly translucent, about 2 minutes.
• Raise the heat to high, and add the pepper and brandy to the pan. Simmer the brandy for one minute. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Cook until the mixture has reduced to about 1/3 cup, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the evaporated milk into the cornstarch.
• Whisk the cornstarch mixture into the sauce. Cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce has thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt to taste, and serve.
• healthy tips
• Got (evaporated) milk? Try replacing heavy cream with evaporated skim milk in cooked foods like sauces, custards, pies, and cakes. At 25 calories per 2-tablespoon serving, compared to 40 calories for cream (and none of those coming from fat), you can have your custard and eat it, too.
• nutrition information
• Fat: 14g (before), 0.6g (after)
• Calories: 152 (before), 23 (after)
• Protein: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 2g
• Cholesterol: 2mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sodium: 51mg

SIMPLE STEAK AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Put steaks in a shallow dish and season well on both sides with salt. Sprinkle black pepper and Sichuan pepper evenly over steaks. Press pepper into both sides with hands and leave for 10 minutes.
• Put a large cast iron skillet over high heat. When surface is nearly smoking, swirl 1 tablespoon butter in the pan and add steaks. Adjust heat as necessary to keep steaks sizzling briskly.
• Cook for 2 minutes on first side; seared side should be nicely browned. Flip and cook for 2 minutes more. Transfer steaks to a warm platter.
• Make the sauce: Add 1 tablespoon butter to the pan. Add shallots and sauté for a minute or so, stirring, until they begin to brown. Add broth and bring to a brisk simmer. Add Cognac and continue to simmer until reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in crème fraîche and cook until sauce is lightly thickened.
• Return steaks to pan to warm, spooning sauce over them and turning once. Arrange steaks on platter or individual plates and top with more sauce. Garnish with bouquets of watercress and serve immediately.

PORTOBELLO 'STEAK' AU POIVRE

Steps:

• Brush the mushrooms all over with olive oil. Sprinkle the pepper evenly over the gill sides (about 1/2 teaspoon per mushroom). Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high, then add the mushrooms gill side up and sear until the underside is browned and the gill side looks wet, 3 to 6 minutes. Flip and cook until golden and the pepper is fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low. Flip the mushrooms so they're gill side up, then add the butter and garlic, and season with salt. While stirring the garlic to keep it from scorching, tilt the skillet to spoon up the melting butter and baste the mushrooms until tender, 2 to 5 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to a plate, leaving the butter in the skillet.
• Add the shallot and stir until softened, 2 to 4 minutes, adding a little more butter if the pan is dry. Stand back, and carefully add the Cognac. (It might flame.) Stir until the Cognac has nearly evaporated. Add the heavy cream and mustard, season with salt, and stir to combine. Return the mushrooms to the pan gill side down, and cook until the cream is thickened and the color of a latte, 2 to 4 minutes. Eat the mushrooms with a drizzle of the sauce.