Chilled Soba With Tofu And Sugar Snap Peas Recipes

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.

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.

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.