How to Prepare Tofu for Stir-Fry
Tofu is a product made from processed soybeans bound with water or other liquid flavoring agents and molded into blocks. Lacking its own distinctive flavor, tofu can replace meat in certain dishes without drastically affecting the final product, particularly with entrees that include a variety of ingredients and sauce. Tofu is a commonly used ingredient in Asian cuisine, particularly stir-fries that mix together small pieces of protein and vegetables. If you opt to use tofu instead of meat in a stir-fry, you must change the preparation technique or the tofu pieces will fall apart during the process. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- 1 lb. firm tofu
- Paper towels
- Skillet
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Tongs
- 2 tbsp. oil (such as olive, vegetable or sesame)
Instructions
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1
Lay the whole piece of firm tofu on a paper towel. Cover it with another paper towel, then place a skillet or other heavy object directly on top of the covered tofu.
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2
Transfer the covered paper towel and heavy object into the refrigerator. Flatten and chill the tofu for a minimum of 10 minutes or a maximum of one hour--this will help make the tofu even more firm so it won't break apart during the stir-frying process.
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3
Take the tofu out of the refrigerator, then cut the tofu into 1-inch squares and set aside. Add 2 tbsp. of oil into a large skillet on your stovetop.
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4
Set your burner to "medium." Heat the oil until it starts to ripple lightly, then place the tofu cubes in a single layer in the hot oil.
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5
Heat the tofu for 2 minutes. Use tongs to flip the tofu cubes over and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the rest of your preferred stir-fry ingredients and cook until they are cooked through, stirring regularly.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to add more flavor to your tofu, marinate the uncooked tofu cubes in soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice wine or your favorite Asian condiments for 15 to 20 minutes before stir-frying it.
Never roughly stir tofu when you are cooking it. Instead, cook it on one side and gently flip it over to prevent breaking--once it is heated through, then you can add vegetables and stir it.
