What’s Cooking: Scary but Easy Recipe # 2

Oriental Tofu Steak

I saw this recipe on a magazine and it called for mirin and sake. As if most Filipino households have that hanging around in the pantry! I improvised a little and made my own sauce with easier to find and cheaper ingredients.

WhatYahNeed:

The Sauce
2 tsp Lee Kum Kee Ma Po Tofu Sauce (Chill! it’s Php35 per pack & can be found @ Shopwise)
1 Tbsp Oyster sauce (if you don’t have this in your pantry, you should ;-D)
1-2 Tbsp Soy Sauce (depends on how salty you want it)
4 Tbsp sugar (works better with brown sugar)
1 Tbsp Sesame Oil (Cost Php100 per bottle,a little goes a long way & can be stored forever)
1 Tbsp thinly sliced ginger (about as small as half a matchbox)
1 onion diced

The Tofu
1 pack tofu (around 4 squares, best with Japanese Tofu around Php50 @ Shopwise )
1 cup flour or cornstarch (for dredging)
1 egg slightly beaten mixed with a pinch of Salt & Pepper
1-2 cups bread crumbs
Oil for deep frying

WhatYahGottaDo:

1. Deal with the sauce. In a small bowl mix all the ingredients for the sauce except the ginger and onion. You don’t really have to strictly follow the recipe, but there should be more sugar than the salty stuff. It really depends on your taste buds. Saute the ginger and onion in a small pan pour in the sauce,simmer for 3 minutes and set aside.

2. Play with the tofu. If you have kids you can ask them to play along. Cut the tofu into small squares, dredge in flour. Dip in the egg mixture and cover with bread crumbs. I do it like an assembly line. Have 3 big bowls lined up, first with flour, then the egg, then the crumbs. The bread crumb bowl should be nearest your stove so it’s easier to dunk the “all dressed up tofu” for deep frying. Too complicated? Check out this link How to Dredge or Bread Foods.

3. Heat some oil on a frying pan. Deep fry the tofu steak for about 30 second on each side . Remember to keep your stove on low heat to avoid fast burning. “Brown don’t Burn” should be your mantra.

4. Arrange your tofu steak on a plate and pour the sauce on top and enjoy!

*If you don’t want to deal with the sauce, you can find bottled teriyaki or tempura sauce in the grocery or Asian specialty store. But of course its yummier if you make it yourself, love doesn’t come in a bottle.

**You DON’T have to go to Shopwise, you can go to ANY grocery store. It’s just that it’s nicer & cheaper there and there’s a deli,fresh juice & fruit they cut open before your very eyes! Hihihihi!