Chinese Bourbon Tofu Recipes

BOURBON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Start by marinating the chicken. Mix 3 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon soy sauce with the chicken chunks, working it with your hands until the chicken has absorbed all of the liquid. Adding water and soy sauce to the chicken (especially true if using chicken breast) results in a moist and tender chicken experience!
• Once the chicken has absorbed the liquid, mix 2 teaspoons of cornstarch into the chicken until well combined and set aside.
• Mix the sauce ingredients by combining the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, rice vinegar, dark brown sugar, chicken stock or water, sesame oil and white pepper and set aside.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan on high heat until just smoking, and spread the chicken evenly. Let the chicken sear on one side for 1 minute. Use a metal wok spatula (you can also use a rubber spatula if you can't use metal utensils on your pan) to turn the chicken and sear another minute. Turn off the heat and move the seared chicken to a plate. Set aside.
• Return the wok to medium heat and immediately add the ginger (if using), garlic, and minced onion. Stir-fry for 20 seconds or until the onion is translucent, taking care not to burn the mixture.
• Stir in the bourbon to deglaze the wok, most all of the alcohol will cook off leaving the flavor behind. After 30 seconds or so, pour in the sauce mixture and stir to further deglaze the sides of the wok. Once the sauce comes to a simmer, add the chicken back to the wok. Stir until the sauce comes back to a simmer and gradually stir in the cornstarch and water mixture (stir it up first, as the cornstarch may have settled).
• Continue to stir and cook until the sauce has thickened enough to coat a spoon. At this point, you can remove the smashed piece of ginger or warn your guests so there are no surprises! Stir in the scallions and serve with steamed white rice!

CHINESE BOURBON TOFU

Steps:

• Drain the tofu, and then remove excess moisture by cutting it in half lengthwise and microwaving on high, uncovered, for two minutes. Gently squeeze out and wipe off excess moisture, then throw tofu in the freezer for one or two hours before removing to thaw in the fridge -- this will give the tofu a slightly heavier texture.
• Cut tofu into bite-sized pieces. Combine garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, apple juice, brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, water, and soy sauce in a small bowl. Pour half of the mixture over the tofu and reserve the other half for later. Marinade tofu for at least 30 minutes.
• Drain any excess marinade from tofu (into your reserve marinade for later). Coat tofu pieces in flour. Heat oil over medium heat in a large frying pan and fry tofu until golden brown on all sides. (Add more oil as needed, but cook it all out before proceeding).
• Add reserved marinade to pan, bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve over rice.

CHINESE TOFU AND SHRIMP STIR-FRY

Steps:

• PREPARATION.
• Remove the shells from the shrimp and devein by cutting a slit along the back of the shrimp (removing the vein), place the shrimp in a bowl, add 2 teaspoons of salt, mix and then rinse under cold water, add another 2 teaspoons of salt, mix and rinse under cold water, pat dry with paper towels and set aside.
• Add to shrimp bowl the following seasonings-1 teaspoon salt, 1 egg white, 1 tablespoon tapioca starch, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 2 teaspoons sesame oil and a dash of white pepper, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour (or longer, when you are ready to cook).
• Cut up the tofu into small pieces about 1 to 1 ½ inch by ½ to 1 inch size (approximately) set aside.
• Wash and clean the scallions and cut at an angle into 1/2 inch pieces, set aside.
• In a cup with the stock, add the following seasonings: soy sauce, rice wine, bean sauce, garlic, chili paste, pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon tapioca starch, mix and set aside.
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• COOKING DIRECTIONS.
• In a Teflon pan (or wok) add 2 tablespoons peanut oil and bring to medium heat and then add the cut up tofu, shake pan a little and with a spatula separate the pieces. Cook for 5 minutes and then turn the pieces, cook another 5 minutes, toss as needed and cook until the pieces are a golden brown in color, drain and set aside.
• Next add 2 tablespoons of oil to a clean Teflon pan (or wok) and when medium hot add the ginger, cook for 30 seconds and then add the seasoned shrimp, stir-fry until the shrimps start to turn pink (important to made sure that you do not overcook the shrimp).
• Add back the tofu and gently toss (try not to break up the tofu) and cook for another minute or two.
• Next re-stir the stock mixture and pour into the pan, stir-fry for another minute and again try not to break up the tofu, add 2 teaspoons sesame oil, add the cut up spring scallions, toss to coat all.
• In a big plate add the yellow or white rice around the side (to form well) and in the center add the shrimp and tofu combination.
• Enjoy this Asian dish.
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• NOTE:.
• The Amoy Sichuan Spicy Noodle Sauce (fermented salted soybean, chili, garlic) is a great ingredient for this somewhat spicy dish or use other types of sauce found on Asian food store shelves.