Sichuan Celery And Tofu Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat; when it simmers, add ginger, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, star anise, Sichuan peppercorns, and chili flakes. Remove from heat and let sit until cool, at least 1 hour and preferably 2 or 3. Strain oil into a bowl or jar and discard spices.
• Put a pot of salted water over high heat and bring to a boil. Add celery and blanch for about a minute; drain in colander and run under cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Layer celery and tofu on serving plates, drizzle with chili oil and sprinkle with salt.

Steps:

• Whisk together the chili oil, chili bean paste and rice vinegar in a small bowl.
• Heat a wok over high heat until smoking and pour in the vegetable oil. Add the peppercorns and garlic and toss briefly, and then add the celery and stir-fry until softened, 1 minute. Stir in the tofu and carefully toss until heated through, about 1 minute. Pour in the chili oil sauce and toss well until warm throughout.
• Stir in the soy sauce and season with sea salt, black pepper and the lemon juice, adding more to taste.
• Transfer to a platter and sprinkle the cilantro and peanuts over the top. Drizzle more chili oil over the salad and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add red chile peppers; cook and stir until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Let cool and transfer to a spice grinder; pulse until coarsely ground.
• Mix ground chile peppers, soy sauce, spring onion, sesame oil, hot chile oil, brown sugar, garlic, black vinegar, and sesame seeds together in a bowl to make dressing.
• Place cucumbers on a serving plate. Pour dressing on top and toss well. Let sit before serving, about 3 minutes.

Steps:

• Rinse tofu and pat dry, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange slices in 1 layer on a triple thickness of paper towels, then cover with another triple thickness of paper towels. Put a small baking sheet on top of tofu and weight with 3 (1-lb) cans (this removes excess moisture), 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together oils, vinegar, soy sauce, and pepper in a large bowl. Trim celery, then peel with a vegetable peeler and slice very thin diagonally. Cut tofu crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide sticks and transfer to a bowl. Toss gently with dressing, celery, sesame seeds, and salt to taste.