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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 1 |
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Notes: This Vietnamese dish was adapted from Pleasures of the Vietnamese Table, by Mai Pham (Harper-Collins, NY, 2001). Ingredients:
1 package (12 to 16 oz.) water-packed firm tofu |
2 stalks fresh lemon grass (each 10 to 12 in. long) |
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce |
1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons minced fresh hot chili such as thai bird or serrano |
2 teaspoons sugar |
1 teaspoon ground turmeric |
about 1/2 teaspoon salt |
1/2 cup thinly sliced onion |
2 tablespoons minced shallots |
1 teaspoon minced garlic |
1 teaspoon salad oil |
2/3 cup fresh thai or regular basil leaves |
3 tablespoons chopped unsalted roasted peanuts |
4 cups hot cooked rice |
Directions:
1. Rinse tofu, drain in a colander for about 5 minutes, then pat dry with paper towels. Cut into 3/4-inch cubes and lightly blot with more towels. 2. Rinse lemon grass. Cut off and discard tough tops and root ends; peel off and discard tough, green outer layers of stalks down to tender white portion of bulbs. Finely chop tender portions; you should have 4 to 7 tablespoons. 3. In a bowl, mix lemon grass, soy sauce, chili, sugar, turmeric, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gently stir in tofu. Let marinate for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 4. In a 10- to 12-inch nonstick frying pan over high heat, stir onion, shallots, and garlic in oil until fragrant, about 1 minute; push to one side of pan. Add tofu mixture. Gently turn cubes occasionally and stir onion mixture until tofu is browned around the edges and onion is soft, 5 to 7 minutes. 5. Stir in basil leaves and half the peanuts. Add salt to taste. Pour into a serving dish. Garnish with remaining peanuts. Serve with hot cooked rice. |
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