Sichuan Style Asparagus And Tofu Salad Recipes

TEMPURA SOFT SHELL CRAB AND ASPARAGUS WITH YUZU-MAUI ONION SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix flour, chile powder and sesame seeds. Whisk in soda water until a pancake batter consistency is achieved. In one hand, grab one crab, 3 asparagus and 2 onions rings and completely coat in the batter. Lightly drop in 350 degree oil and fry for 4 to 5 minutes until golden brown. Season with salt and drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining crabs, asparagus and onion.
• In a food processor, puree everything together until smooth. Check for seasoning. Toss the salad lightly with the vinaigrette.
• PLATING On a large plate, drizzle some remaining vinaigrette. Place a small mound of salad and top with the tempura crab sliced in half.

SICHUAN TOFU GAN AND WARM CELERY SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together the chili oil, chili bean paste and rice vinegar in a small bowl.
• Heat a wok over high heat until smoking and pour in the vegetable oil. Add the peppercorns and garlic and toss briefly, and then add the celery and stir-fry until softened, 1 minute. Stir in the tofu and carefully toss until heated through, about 1 minute. Pour in the chili oil sauce and toss well until warm throughout.
• Stir in the soy sauce and season with sea salt, black pepper and the lemon juice, adding more to taste.
• Transfer to a platter and sprinkle the cilantro and peanuts over the top. Drizzle more chili oil over the salad and serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS AND MANDARIN ORANGE SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add asparagus and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately immerse in ice water until cold to stop the cooking process. Drain.
• Boil balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan until reduced to 1/3 the original amount, about 5 minutes. Pour reduced vinegar into a bowl and whisk olive oil into vinegar; set aside until cool, about 10 minutes. Add asparagus, onion, tomatoes, and olives to vinegar mixture and toss to coat.

ASPARAGUS SALAD, JAPANESE-STYLE

Steps:

• Cut off the woodsy bottoms of the asparagus spears; discard. Cut off the flower ends and set aside.
• Use a vegetable peeler to remove the dark green outer skin of each spear; you should get three or four ribbons from each one. Set aside. Cut the remaining stalks crosswise into 1/4-inch rounds. Combine ribbons, sliced rounds and tips in a bowl.
• Toast the sesame seeds in a small dry skillet over medium-heat, shaking occasionally until they color and begin to pop, but remove from heat before they burn. Combine the seeds with sesame oil, rice vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Taste and adjust as necessary. Spoon over the asparagus and toss gently.

SICHUAN CELERY AND TOFU SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat; when it simmers, add ginger, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, star anise, Sichuan peppercorns and chili flakes. Remove from heat and let sit until cool, at least 1 hour and preferably 2 or 3. Strain oil into a bowl or jar and discard spices.
• Put a pot of salted water over high heat and bring to a boil. Add celery and blanch for about a minute; drain in colander and run under cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Layer celery and tofu on serving plates, drizzle with chili oil and sprinkle with salt.

SZECHUAN ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a wok or large skillet, flash fry asparage and onion in olive oil for about 2 minutes.
• Add garlic, ginger, chili paste, pickled veggies and saute for 1 minute.
• Add oyster sauce and corn starch and saute for 1 minute.
• Add sesame oil and saute for 30 seconds to one minute.

SICHUAN ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat and cook asparagus for 1 minute. Drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Whisk soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, rice wine vinegar, sambal oelek, sesame oil, ginger paste, and garlic together for the sauce.
• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook sauce until thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in asparagus.

ASIAN ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH PECANS

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil, and cook the asparagus until tender but crisp. Drain, and briefly immerse in cold water.
• In a large, resealable plastic bag, mix the rice vinegar, soy sauce, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Seal the asparagus in the bag. Marinate 24 hours in the refrigerator. Sprinkle the marinated asparagus with pecans and green onion to serve.

SESAME ASPARAGUS AND TOFU

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon soy sauce, mustard, sesame oil, vinegar, and chives. Bring a large stockpot of water to boil. Blanch asparagus just until tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a colander, and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
• Pour sesame seeds onto a small plate. Place remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce and tofu in a medium bowl. Turn tofu in soy sauce to coat; let sit 30 seconds. Remove a baton; dip one side in sesame seeds. Transfer to a clean plate. Repeat with remaining batons.
• Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Coat with cooking spray. Arrange tofu, with sesame seeds down, in pan. Cook until golden brown on the bottoms, about 5 minutes. Brown remaining sides, about 2 minutes per side; remove from skillet.
• In a large bowl, toss the asparagus in vinaigrette. Divide the asparagus and tofu among four plates, and drizzle with any remaining vinaigrette. Serve.

P F CHANG'S SICHUAN-STYLE ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• The day prior to making this dish, drain and rinse 1 tbsp diced green chilies. Add to a bowl the drained chilies, soy sauce, chili-garlic sauce and rice vinegar. Refrigerate overnight.
• When ready to make the dish, add the content of the bowl to a food processor and pulse once or twice. Set aside.
• Slice the onion and trim and cut the asparagus spears into thirds. Grate the ginger and chop the garlic.
• Heat a dry wok or heavy frying pan on medium-high heat. It will be hot enough when water evaporates almost immediately after hitting the pan.
• Pour in the oil making sure to rotate the wok or pan to get all sides coated evenly as you pour.
• Toss in the ginger and garlic and stir-fry for one minute. Add the asparagus, onion and pureed green chili paste and stir-fry for another 2 minutes.
• Add the oyster sauce and cornstarch, continuing to fry for about another minute so the cornstarch thickens the sauce.
• Remove from heat and place into a serving dish. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

SOY GLAZED TOFU AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat sesame oil and red pepper flakes in nonstick skillet or wok.
• Cut asparagus spears into 1 1/2 inch pieces.
• Add asparagus and tofu to heated sesame oil and stir-fry for 5 minutes.
• Add mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes.
• Add garlic, saute, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds.
• Mix sugar and soy sauce together in small bowl until combined and add to pan.
• Mix well to coat and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes.
• Asparagus should be crisp-tender at this point.
• Serve.

SPINACH AND TOFU SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Slice tofu into 1-inch-by-2-inch pieces about 1/4-inch thick and place in a deep bowl or on a platter.
• Make the marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, sake, brown sugar, ginger and cayenne. Pour marinade over tofu slices to coat well. Leave in marinade for at least 15 minutes. (You may marinate the tofu up to 24 hours in advance.)
• While the tofu marinates, pick over spinach leaves and remove any tough stems. Swish the spinach in a deep bowl of cold water. Lift leaves from water into a colander. If you see any sand in the water, repeat up to 3 times, using fresh water each time. Drain well and dry spinach, then wrap in a kitchen towel and refrigerate until ready to use. (You may wash the spinach up to 24 hours in advance.)
• Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, brown sugar, sesame oil, vegetable oil, soy sauce, miso, garlic and ginger.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and arrange the tofu pieces in a single layer. Spoon remaining marinade over tofu. Bake, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes, until slightly crisped. Remove and leave at room temperature.
• To make the salad, arrange spinach in a low, wide salad bowl or on a deep platter. Scatter cucumber, daikon and edamame over spinach, then sprinkle with sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and peanuts. Tuck slices of tofu here and there.
• Sprinkle a pinch of salt over everything, then drizzle salad with dressing and serve.

ASIAN ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• In a saucepan, cook the asparagus in a small amount of water until crisp-tender, about 3-4 minutes. Drain well and place in a large bowl. , Combine the soy sauce, oil, vinegar, sugar, sesame seeds, ginger and cumin; pour over asparagus and toss to coat. Cover and chill for 1 hour. Drain before serving.

ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH SOY-MUSTARD DRESSING

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook asparagus just until bright green but tender, up to 4 or 5 minutes for thicker spears. Drain and immediately rinse with cold water (or, better still, plunge into ice water). Drain again and set aside. (You can wrap asparagus and refrigerate for up to a day at this point. Bring to room temperature before serving.)
• Whisk together mustard, egg yolks, soy sauce, lemon juice and just enough olive oil (start with a tablespoon) to make a smooth dressing. Toss with asparagus and serve.