Shaking Tofu

Tofu, or bean curds, is made by pressing curdling soy milk into a solid block. Some tofu is firm while others are more soft and smooth. It can be sliced into different shapes and cooked in lots of ways.

People in Japan have made tofu for more than 2,000 years. It’s gotten popular in other places more recently. Some people complain that it's bland, but it nicely takes on the flavor of the sauce or seasonings you prepare it with. Also, it’s got a lot of health benefits going for it. Tofu is almost an indispensable food in vegetarian dishes besides vegetables, beans, and mushrooms. This is a healthy plant-based protein source made entirely from soybeans. Vegetarian dishes made with ingredients from tofu are quite diverse, rich in flavor, delicious, and nutritious for vegetarians.  I will introduce you to a very simple recipe to make a very interesting and delicious dish from tofu. Shaking tofu with a combination of tofu and bell peppers will surely bring you a unique experience.

Ingredients:

16 oz. firm tofu

1/2 cup cornstarch

Vegetables:

1 white onion, cut into big chunks

Combination of red, green, and yellow bell peppers (about 2 cups)

Green onion and cilantro for garnish 

Sauce ingredients:

2 tbs soy sauce

1 tbs vegan oyster sauce

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tbs honey or sugar

1 tbs vegetarian seasoning

Serve with rice

Directions:

Have all the ingredients ready,

Cut the tofu into small cubes and place into a small bowl. Then add the cornstarch and mix well. Immediately afterwards, empty the mixture into a sieve, which will help to remove excess cornstarch.

In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients and mix well.

Put the pan on the stove, add the cooking oil, and heat it up. In the hot oil, fry the tofu over medium heat until the tofu is golden, then take it out.

Remove the oil from the pan and then add ½ of the red onion to the pan and fry until fragrant. Add bell peppers and stir well. Season with ½ tablespoon of vegetarian seasoning and stir-fry for 2 minutes, then turn off the heat and scoop out.

In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. When the oil is hot, add the rest of the minced shallots and sauté until fragrant, then turn off the heat. Add the sauce and ground pepper and stir well.

Put the fried tofu in the pan and stir over low heat so that the tofu clings to the spices, then add the bell peppers. Continue to stir a little. Then sprinkle green onions to taste and turn off the heat.

Serve with hot rice and enjoy.

With only a few ingredients that are easy to buy and a little time to prepare, we have a delicious shaking tofu dish for vegans. I hope that with this delicious dish, you will have one more entry to include in your family's vegetarian menu. 

Stir-fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts

Cashews for many people are thought of as a snack. However, cashews are also a popular ingredient of many exotic dishes, contributing to the deliciousness. One of these dishes is Stir-fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts - a famous delicacy of many Asian street food vendors. Each Asian country will have slightly different ways to make a sauce, but the method is very much the same. If spicy taste is your choice, then choose the Thai style. For this recipe, I like to use the sauce balanced between the Chinese and the Thai sauce. I am Vietnamese, but I think this dish is originally from China. The roasted cashew nuts recipe is such a combination, bursting with flavors and adding more protein for this dish. Of course, this dish can be easily turned into a vegetarian dish by using tofu instead of chicken. Because we live in America and not in other countries, such as Vietnam or other Asian countries, we can use the already roasted cashew nuts sold in the supermarket to save time for making this dish . This dish is rich in nutritional value and not only favored for its delicious taste.  The effects of cashews are extremely diverse. They are not only rich in protein, cashews are also a rich source of fiber that is effective in improving constipation. The fiber in cashews helps you feel full for a long time, thereby reducing the amount of starch and hunger pains, which is good support for the weight loss process. What's better than when a meal is both delicious and healthy?

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast, washed and diced

1/2 cup roasted cashew nuts

Marinade ingredients:

1 tsp. cornstarch

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. sugar

1/4 tsp white pepper

1 tbs oil

Vegetables:

1 carrot, sliced into 1/2 thick coins (about 1/2 cup)

Red and green bell pepper diced same size as chicken (about 1 cup)

Spices:

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 piece fresh ginger peel and smashed

1/2 cup diced white onions

2 green onions separate the white part and sliced.

Sauce ingredients:

1/3 cup water

1 tsp cornstarch

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp white pepper

1 tbs soy sauce

1 tsp black strap molasses

1 tsp black vinegar

1 tsp cooking wine

1 tsp mushroom seasoning or chicken powder

Other requirements:

Chopped cilantro and oil for cooking

Cooked rice

Directions:

Add the chicken with the marinade ingredients and mix well. Let the mixture marinate for 30 minutes.

Bring a pot of water to boil and blanch the carrot in the boiling water for 1 minute. Drain.

In a wok, add 1 tbs oil and heat until hot. Add chicken and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink or gets brown. Remove and set aside.

In the same pan, add 1 tsp oil and add spices. Stir and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).

Stir in carrots and bell pepper. Cook for 2 minutes. 

Return the chicken to the wok and add the sauce. Stir and cook until the sauce has thickened; Stir in the cashew nuts. Adjust the seasoning to your liking. Turn off the heat and add the green parts of scallion and cilantro.

Serve with rice.