Tofu With Snap Peas And Scallions Recipes

COCONUT TOFU WITH SNAP PEA SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with foil. Slice the tofu from a short side into 1/2-inch-thick sticks. Press the tofu pieces gently between paper towels to remove the excess water, then season generously with salt.
• Place the flour in a shallow baking dish. Whisk the eggs and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes in another shallow dish. Pulse the coconut and panko in a food processor until roughly chopped; transfer to a third shallow dish and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Dip the tofu pieces in the flour, shaking off any excess, then dip in the egg mixture, letting the excess drip off, and press in the coconut mixture to coat. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until the tofu is golden brown, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk 2 tablespoons vinegar with the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large bowl. Trim the snap peas and halve crosswise, adding them to the dressing as you go. Add the cilantro, season with salt and toss. In a small bowl, whisk the apricot preserves, 3 tablespoons water, the remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar and a pinch each of red pepper flakes and salt. Serve the tofu with the snap pea salad and apricot dipping sauce.

CRISPY TOFU WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Line a large plate with several layers of paper towels. Arrange the tofu slices on top in a single layer, then cover with more paper towels and set another plate on top; let drain 5 minutes. Season the tofu with salt and pepper; rub with 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch. Whisk the lemon zest, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch in a bowl; set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Add the tofu and cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the pan. Add the scallion whites and ginger and cook 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms and carrots and cook until just tender, about 3 minutes. Add the snap peas and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring, 4 more minutes. Whisk the lemon zest mixture, add it to the pan and simmer 2 minutes. Stir in the scallion greens. Meanwhile, prepare the rice as the label directs. Serve with the tofu and vegetables.

HOT AND SOUR SEARED TOFU WITH SNAP PEAS

Steps:

• Drain tofu, wrap it with a clean dish towel or several layers of paper towels and place on a rimmed plate; top with another plate and a weight (a can works). Let drain further.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: In a small bowl, combine garlic, chiles, soy sauce, ginger, lime juice, sesame oil, fish sauce and honey.
• Unwrap tofu and cut crosswise into 3/4-inch-thick slices. Pat slices dry.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat until very hot, about 5 minutes. Add peanut oil and let heat for 30 seconds, then carefully add tofu. Don't touch tofu for 2 to 3 minutes, letting it sear until golden brown. Flip and sear for another 2 to 3 minutes. Move tofu to one side of pan (or stack pieces on top of one another to make room in pan), then add sugar snap peas, scallions and, if needed, a few drops more peanut oil. Stir-fry vegetables until they start to soften, 1 to 2 minutes. Add sauce and stir well, cooking until peas are done to taste, another minute or two. Spoon sauce all over tofu, unstacking it if necessary.
• Sprinkle sesame seeds over tofu and vegetables and serve over rice, sprinkled with cilantro or basil.

CRISPY TOFU WITH CASHEWS AND BLISTERED SNAP PEAS

Steps:

• Slice the tofu in half horizontally, and leave on paper towels to dry any excess liquid.
• In a medium skillet or cast-iron pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high until it shimmers. Season both sides of the tofu with salt and black pepper, place in the pan and sear without moving until tofu is browned and golden on both sides, turning once halfway through, about 8 minutes total. Move the tofu to a plate.
• Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan, and add the snap peas. Cook, stirring occasionally, until blistered and just tender, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and move to a bowl.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, add the ginger and garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the coconut milk, soy sauce and molasses. Simmer, stirring frequently until the sauce reduces and its color deepens to a dark brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. It should coat a spoon without running right off. Stir in the cashews, break the tofu into 1-inch pieces and toss in the pan to coat with sauce. Remove from heat, and taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
• Toss the snap peas with the rice vinegar, scallions, mint and red-pepper flakes, if using. Divide among plates, along with the tofu and cashews. Serve with rice or any steamed grain.

CHILLED SOBA WITH TOFU AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• Simmer mushroom in water in a small saucepan, covered, 15 minutes. Add kombu and barely simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large glass measure, pressing on and discarding solids. Return 2 cups liquid (add water if necessary) to saucepan. Add soy sauce, mirin, ponzu, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat. Stir in sesame oil, then cool in pan in a large ice bath.
• Cook noodles and vegetables:
• Blanch sugar snaps in a large pot of unsalted boiling water until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a large colander set in ice bath to stop cooking. Lift colander to drain. Transfer sugar snaps to a bowl. Meanwhile, return water to a boil. Blanch spinach until just wilted, about 30 seconds, then cool and drain in same manner. Squeeze out excess water. Add to sugar snaps.
• Return water to a boil.
• Add noodles and cook according to package directions, stirring occasionally, until tender. Drain in colander and rinse with cold water. Cool in ice bath until very cold (add more ice to water as necessary). Drain well.
• Carefully drain tofu and pat dry. Cut into 3/4-inch cubes.
• Whisk sauce, then pour 1 1/2 cups sauce into a large bowl. Add noodles, sugar snaps, spinach, and half of scallions and toss. Serve in shallow bowls, topped with tofu, remaining scallions, and ginger. Drizzle with some of remaining sauce and serve remainder on the side.

NOODLE BOWL WITH SOBA, ENOKI MUSHROOMS, SUGAR SNAP PEAS AND TOFU

Steps:

• To make the broth, combine dried mushrooms, scallions or leek, kombu, carrots, and water in a saucepan or soup pot and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 20 minutes. Place a strainer over a bowl and line with cheesecloth. Drain broth and return to pot. Season to taste with soy sauce, salt or both.
• Bring broth to a simmer. Add enoki mushrooms, tofu and sugar snap peas and simmer 2 to 3 minutes. If noodles have been refrigerated, warm by placing them in a strainer and dipping strainer into the simmering broth.
• Distribute noodles among 4 deep or wide soup bowls. Add the white and light green parts of the scallions and chopped cilantro, cover and turn off heat. Allow to sit for 3 minutes.
• Ladle soup into bowls, taking care to distribute tofu, sugar snap peas, enokis and scallions evenly. Sprinkle dark green parts of the scallions over each serving, garnish with cilantro sprigs, and serve.