Red-Cooked Tofu
by Mark Scarbrough, Bruce Weinstein
Red-cooking is a traditional Chinese braising technique that uses soy sauce, sugar, and rice wine to flavor the food and give it a dark red color. This easy, aromatic stew is delicious served over cooked rice or mustard greens.Serves four.
4 medium scallions, thinly sliced (white and green parts separated)
2 medium carrots, cut into small dice
1 cup lower-salt chicken broth or (preferably homemade) vegetable broth
6 Tbs. reduced-sodium soy sauce; more as needed
1/4 cup Shaoxing (Chinese cooking wine) or dry sherry
1-1/2 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
2 tsp. granulated sugar
Freshly ground black pepper
2 14-oz. packages firm tofu, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 Tbs. seasoned rice vinegar
2 tsp. arrowroot or cornstarch
In a large saucepan, combine the scallion whites, carrots, broth, soy sauce, Shaoxing, ginger, sugar, and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring once or twice. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Add the tofu, cover, and continue to simmer gently until the tofu is heated through and has absorbed some of the other flavors, 10 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk the vinegar and arrowroot until smooth and then stir the mixture into the stew, taking care not to break up the tofu. Stir gently until thickened, about 1 minute. Add more soy sauce to taste, sprinkle with the scallion greens, and serve.
nutrition information (per serving):
Calories
(kcal):
350;
Fat
(g):
18;
Fat Calories
(kcal):
160;
Saturated Fat
(g):
2.5;
Protein
(g):
34;
Monounsaturated Fat
(g):
4;
Carbohydrates
(g):
20;
Polyunsaturated Fat
(g):
10;
Sodium
(mg):
960;
Cholesterol
(mg):
0;
Fiber
(g):
6;
photo: Scott Phillips
From Fine Cooking 97, pp. 89
December 31, 2008