[CH] Tofu
Doug Irvine (dirvin@bc.sympatico.ca)
Mon, 20 Jul 1998 08:19:38 +0000
Several have asked me how to get the excess moisture out of tofu blocks,
so here is how I do it: I start with a 1 lb package of medium firm
tofu...these are usually packed in water, in a plastic square tub with a
see through top...remove the clear top, invert the tub on a plate, drain
all the water and cut the tub about half way down and then all around,
making a smaller tub with a complete bottom, then simply place this on
top of the tofu block, it will fit in it's original place,likely, and
put a weight on top of it...I use a half of a red building brick,
because it fits just fine, however, a rock, a big can of whatever,
tomatoes, beans, anything heavy enough to weight it down, but not squash
it completely! Let it sit for about 10 minutes and then drain the water
from the plate, wrap the tofu in a paper towel, and do it again for
about another ten minutes....do this while you are doing something
else....it should then be dry enough to cut into small squares or blocks
to deep fry, or put in soup, or in a meat sauce like in ma po tofu, and
because it is now much drier,it will take on the flavour of whatever it
is put with....if you are to deep fry it..make sure that the oil is HOT
and do only about one third of the tofu at a time, removing it and
letting the oil re-heat before doing the rest, this will ensure a crisp
skin, such as is had in a chinese restuarant. I know that this sounds
like a lot of work, it really isnt
and the results are worth it...once you have done the trick with the
package, you will find it easy to do, and it works! Cheers, Doug in BC