Tofu Puffs With Mushrooms And Round Rice Noodles Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. As the oven heats, press the tofu (you can do this by sandwiching the block in paper towels and placing a cutting board, plus a heavy pot, can or book on top).
• Cut the tofu into 1/2-inch cubes and place in a medium bowl. Add the salt and oils, and toss to combine.
• Sprinkle the cornstarch, panko and sesame seeds, if using, and toss gently so the tofu cubes are coated.
• Spread on the prepared sheet and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, flipping once, until golden-brown and crisp.
• While the tofu bakes, start the noodles: Put the dry rice noodles in a big, wide bowl. Fill a kettle, bring the water to a boil, and pour the boiling water over the noodles to cover. Set aside for 6 to 10 minutes, until the noodles are fully rehydrated and soft. (Time may vary by brand.) Then drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again. Transfer noodles to a large bowl.
• As the noodles soak, prepare the spicy sesame oil: In a small pot, combine sesame oil, peanut oil, garlic, ginger, red-pepper flakes and sesame seeds. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook on the lowest heat for 10 to 12 minutes, until the garlic slices turn golden.
• Meanwhile, on your cutting board, make a small mound with the teaspoon of salt. Place the basil and the scallions on top, and use your knife to furiously chop and smash until you have a rough paste.
• Mix the basil paste into the bowl of rice noodles. Pile the baby spinach on top. Pour at least half of the hot oil immediately over the spinach, tossing so that the heat wilts the leaves slightly. Then add the juice of the 1/2 lime and toss to combine. Taste for salt and lime juice, and add more oil as you see fit.
• Arrange the tofu on top of the noodles, or mix them in so that the cubes hide like little treasures. For extra flair, garnish with additional sesame seeds and a drizzle of toasted sesame oil.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high until hot. Cook tofu in a single layer, undisturbed, until golden brown on one side, about 8 minutes. Turn and continue to cook until golden on the other side, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Cook peppers in same skillet, stirring frequently, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions.
• Whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, fish sauce, and lime juice in a medium bowl to combine.
• Toss tofu, noodles, peppers, peanut butter sauce, and spinach in a large bowl. Transfer to a platter. Top with cilantro and peanuts. Serve with lime wedges alongside.

Steps:

• Bring mushrooms, sugar, 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/2 cup vinegar, and 1 cup water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon. Let brine cool, then pour over mushrooms. Cover and chill at least 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, rinse rice until water runs clear (this removes surface starch and keeps rice from getting gummy). Combine rice and 2 cups water in a medium saucepan, season with salt, and let sit 30 minutes.
• Bring rice to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until tender, 30-35 minutes (you can also use a rice cooker). Remove from heat and let sit, covered, 15 minutes; fluff with a fork. Keep warm.
• Soak wakame in 1/2 cup cold water in a small bowl until softened, 6-8 minutes. Drain and mix in a clean small bowl with black bean paste, honey, oil, remaining 5 tsp. soy sauce, and remaining 5 tsp. vinegar. Add tofu to spicy black bean shoyu, season with salt, and gently toss. Let sit 10 minutes to let flavors meld. Taste and season with more salt if needed.
• Divide rice among bowls and spoon tofu mixture on top of rice. Arrange drained pickled shiitake mushrooms, scallions, peanuts, and some tobiko, if using, around tofu mixture.
• Mushrooms can be pickled 5 days ahead. Keep chilled.

Steps:

• Combine water, liquid soy seasoning, arrowroot, ginger, and garlic in a jar. Set glaze aside.
• Line a plate with paper towels, set tofu on top, and add another layer of paper towels. Place a cutting board on top of the tofu and set a heavy pot on the board. Let sit for 30 minutes, replacing the paper towels as needed, to press as much liquid as possible from the tofu.
• Place rice noodles into a large bowl, cover with cold water, and soak. Cut pressed tofu into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Heat oil in a wok over high heat. Add tofu and stir-fry until all sides are golden, about 5 minutes. Add all mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes. Mix in bell pepper and onion, and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Pour glaze on top and cook until sauce has thickened, about 2 minutes.
• Remove rice noodles from water, shake off excess liquid, and add to the wok. Stir-fry until heated thorough, about 3 minutes.

Steps:

• Place the shitake mushrooms in a heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water and cook for 20 minutes. Drain and remove the stems, squeezing out any excess water. Meanwhile, place the noodles in a heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water and soak briefly. Gently separate the noodles with your hands and drain well.
• Place the chicken stock in a large saucepan, cover and slowly heat over low heat.
• Add the noodles to the simmering stock along with the carrot, tofu puffs, shitake mushrooms and bok choy. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the carrot and noodles are tender and the bok choy has wilted slightly. Stir in the soy sauce and sesame oil and season to taste with white pepper.
• Divide the noodles,vegetables, tofu puffs and enoki mushrooms among four serving bowls, ladle the broth on top and serve immediately.
• (Another option is to keep the broth boiling in the pot, then put the noodles, mushroom, carrot and bok choy into the bowls, and pour the broth over the top, that way the bok choy doesn't get too overcooked if you plan to keep some for later).

Steps:

• Heat half the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. When hot, add the tofu and cook for 5 mins on one side. Turn, then fry for another 3 mins. Continue cooking for 10 mins more, turning regularly - make sure you scrape up any bits that are stuck. Don't worry if it falls apart a little, these pieces become crispy. Remove to a plate and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, cook the noodles following pack instructions. Drain and set aside. Make the dressing by mixing ½ tbsp oil, tamari, five-spice and honey. 3 Heat the remaining ½ tbsp sesame oil in the frying pan and cook the pepper for 1 min, then add the onions and pak choi. Toss together for 3 mins, until just wilted. Add the noodles and half the dressing and mix well. Heat through and divide between 4 bowls. Top with the tofu and drizzle remaining dressing over.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. Add the broccoli to the boiling water and blanch for 1 minute. Remove to the ice water. Allow to cool, then drain and dry on paper towels. Cover the pot of water and keep hot.
• Heat a wide, heavy skillet or wok over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of the oil. When it is rippling hot, add the mushrooms and sear for 5 minutes, stirring from time to time. Turn the heat to medium, add the garlic, ginger, scallions, and red pepper flakes and cook for another 30 seconds to a minute, until fragrant. Remove from the heat and transfer the contents of the pan to a bowl.
• Return the pan to medium-high heat and heat the remaining tablespoon of oil until rippling. Add the tofu and sear on both sides until it begins to color, about 1 minute per side. Add 1 teaspoon soy sauce and stir together. Return the mushroom mixture and the broccoli to the pan. Add the stock and soy sauce, bring to a simmer and turn the heat to low. Simmer uncovered for a minute or two, until the broccoli is crisp-tender, then turn off the heat.
• Meanwhile, bring the pot of water back to a boil and add the pasta. Cook soba or udon noodles until al dente, about 5 minutes. Cook softened rice noodles for 1 minute. Drain and toss with the mushrooms and the broccoli. Heat through, add the cilantro and sesame oil, toss together, and serve.