Stir Fried Tofu with Shitake Mushroom

Stir Fried Tofu With Shitake Mushroom

This easy and simple stir fry dish can be prepared anytime. I had learnt about this dish in a Chinese Cookbook about 10 years back. I was not aware of the Shitake Mushroom at that time. I searched in regular stores and was disappointed to find that they don't keep Shitake mushrooms. I tried this dish with only Button Mushrooms, but just for the fact that both Tofu and button mushrooms are bland, the dish did not turn out perfectly. Then someone told me about Chinese Speciality stores. Shitake mushroomsare easily available at any Chinese Speciality store in all the Metros. This time it tasted simply great. The meaty flavour of Shitake mushrooms goes perfectly well with the Tofu. Now this has become a regular dish in any Chinese dinner/lunch.

Preparation Time  : 10 minutes
Cooking Time       :  20 minutes
Difficulty               : Easy
Serves                   :  4

Ingredients :

• 1 kilo of Firm Tofu
• 1/4 cup Soy sauce
• 1/2 cup Water or stock
• 2 tablespoons Hoisin sauce
• 2 to 3 teaspoons Hot bean paste (chili paste)/ Red chili powder mixed in water 
• 2 teaspoons Sugar
• 2 tablespoons Rice wine or Dry Sherry
• Salt to taste
• 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
• 2 to 3 tablespoons Oil (any Vegetable Oil, I use Peanut Oil)
• 3 to 4 Scallions/ Green Onions sliced into 1/4" pieces on the diagonal
• 1 cup Button mushrooms, quartered
• 4 to 6 Dried Shitake mushrooms, soaked in hot water, stemmed and cut in strips

 

 

Method :

 1) In a medium bowl, mix together the water or stock, soy sauce, hoisin, hot bean paste/Chili paste, sugar, rice wine or sherry, salt and cornstarch to make prepare sauce. Adjust seasoning to your taste and set aside.

 

 2) Heat the oil over high flame in a wok or large pot.

 

 3) Once the oil is sufficiently hot, add the scallions and stir fry until just heated through.

 

 4) Add the mushrooms and continue to stir fry for 2 to 3 more minutes.

 

 5) Reduce heat to low. Give the sauce a good stir and add to the mushrooms and scallions.

 

 6) Stir in well and bring to a simmer to thicken.

 

 7) Fold in the tofu gently and let simmer until heated through.

 

 8) Add a little stock or water if the sauce becomes too thick.

 

 9) Serve this dish hot with rice. You can also sprinkle some green onions from the top, to make the dish more appealing.

 

Note : Add 2 tablespoons of minced garlic when you stir fry the scallions.