How to Cook Asian Food

Most traditional Asian food is cooked with a wok. The practice started as a way to cut down on fuel usage when there was a shortage. The woks shape allows it to heat very quickly, and use less fuel. Asian food includes Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Malaysian dishes. The spices used will vary dependent on the region, but they all have stir fry dishes in common. You can use the steps for this Thai stir fry to create any Asian stir fry, while also cutting down on the fuel you use.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup rice 1 cup water Mixing bowl 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon brown sugar Sharp knife Extra firm tofu 4 cups of mixed vegetables of your choice Wok 2 tablespoons peanut oil 2 cloves of garlic 1 teaspoon red peppers Mortar and pestle Extra firm tofu

Instructions

1. Boil your water on high. Reduce the heat to low once the water comes to a boil. Add the rice and let it sit until it fluffs.

2. In your mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, water, soy sauce, lemon juice, and brown sugar until it's smooth. Set aside your sauce for later use.

3. It's important to have all the ingredients prepared before the wok is heated when cooking Asian food. Woks heat very quickly. Prepare the tofu by slicing it into thin strips. Soak the tofu in half the peanut marinade and set aside.

4. Dice the garlic into small pieces by crushing it with the side of your sharp knife and pressing down. Set aside the garlic when you are done.

5. Crush the red peppers with the mortar and pestle until they are finely ground. Set the pepper aside.

6. Clean and cut all the vegetables into small pieces. Set aside for later use.

7. In your wok, heat the peanut oil with the garlic and red peppers. Its important to use peanut or soybean oil to prevent smoking when the wok reaches high temperatures.

8. Let the oil heat for 30 seconds on high heat, and then add the marinated tofu to the wok. Cook until each side of the tofu is seared.

9. Add all the remaining vegetables once the tofu is done. Stir and cook for five minutes or until the vegetables are slightly tender. Add the remaining sauce and cook for a couple more minutes. Remove your stir fry from the heat.

10. Fluff the rice with a fork, and serve the stir fry over top.

Tips & Warnings

• cook Asian food Thai Chinese

References

• Asian Recipes
• Wok & Fuel Reduction