Oh MY goodness. I had to share this recipe as my first post!
HI GUYS!!
Well first, thank you SO MUCH for coming to my page and checking out the dishes I cook at home! I am SOOO excited that my blog is finally complete and I am ready to start sharing all of home cooked meals with you all (for those who know me personally, you KNOW how long I have been working on this- thank you for encouraging me everyday and not losing hope in me!).
SO NOW.. about this DELISH Tofu dish! Let me start by saying that stereotypically, everyone thinks that 1.) If you're a vegetarian, you live on tofu, and 2.) Only vegetarians eat tofu. WELL let me clear up this rumor because this is one of the only dishes I eat that contain tofu (but don't get me wrong- it can be delicious if prepared the right way.. like this ;) ), and this happens to be my Dad's all time favorite meal and he is a not a vegetarian!
**IMPORTANT NOTE: This sauce/dish can be made with basically anything you might eat on a regular basis, or if you just overall don't prefer tofu (ex. Veggies, Shrimp, Chicken, etc.). I usually make this sauce and replace the Tofu with Shrimp and Broccoli, and Ryan swears it is better than the Chinese take-out garlic/brown sauce. But I will let you be the judge of that. :)
Lastly, I was lucky enough to be inspired by one of my all time FAVORITE vegan blogs, The Simple Veganista for sharing this recipe with me! See original recipe here.
ENJOY! xx S.
I N G R E D I E N T S:
1 block of Tofu Extra firm
1-2 tablespoon sesame oil (for frying)
1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
4-6 Tbs of water (to your preference for more/less saltiness)
1-2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 teaspoons cornstarch
4-5 cloves garlic minced
1 inch knob ginger minced (sub with ginger powder if not avail.)
2 stalks of green onions/ scallions, chopped (sub with some onion powder if unavail.)
Black Pepper
Red pepper flakes
Garlic Powder + White pepper (optional)
Sesame seeds (optional: For topping!)
PREPARE THE SAUCE AND ADD-INS: In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, water, maple syrup, and cornstarch, and whisk together. Separately, chop the garlic & ginger and set aside. I usually cut up the scallions at this point too and set aside.
PREPARE THE TOFU: Cut the tofu in half and pat with paper towel to dry up a bit. Then, dice to small cubes.
HEAT: Over medium heat, add the sesame oil and once heated, add the tofu. Sauté until you prefer the texture- I usually fry for about 6-8 minutes until slightly crispy around the edges.
COMBINE ALL AND FINISH: Once the tofu is how you like it, sprinkle a layer of Black pepper, Red pepper, dash of white pepper and Garlic powder (all to your preference- obviously if you want super spicy, add more of all!) over tofu and make sure all coated evenly. Throw in the minced garlic & ginger- sauté for a little- and pour your slurry sauce over tofu. Mix around and stir fry, and you will notice it start to thicken and bubble. Throw the scallions and mix in until complete- let it sit for about 3 minutes on the medium heat so it sautés and thickens to perfection.
Sprinkle sesame seeds, and serve! I always serve over white rice, but you can really put over anything like brown rice, quinoa, noodles, or anything your little heart desires. ENJOY!