Tamarind Tofu With Vegetables And Soba Recipes

GREEN TEA AND TAMARIND-MARINATED TOFU WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Place garlic, ginger, tamarind sauce, rice vinegar and tea leaves in a container with a tight fitting lid. Add tofu cubes and toss well. Marinate all day or overnight, shaking the container occasionally to distribute the marinade.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain the tofu and reserve the marinade. Add tofu and tamari to taste to hot oil and cook, stirring almost constantly for 5 to 7 minutes, or until tofu is very hot. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Add additional oil to the hot skillet if needed, followed by the vegetables and remaining marinade. Again, season to taste with tamari. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, or until broccoli is crisp-tender and pan juices have evaporated. Return tofu to skillet and toss to combine. Drizzle with sesame oil and serve.

SWEET AND SPICY TOFU WITH SOBA NOODLES

Steps:

• Drain the tofu in a colander, or dry on paper-towel lined plate while you prep the remaining ingredients, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a small pot of water to a boil for the soba noodles.
• Cut tofu into 1-inch cubes. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil. When the oil shimmers, add the tofu in a single layer, in batches if needed and cook until golden on all sides, turning as needed when the tofu releases easily from the pan, about 8 to 10 minutes total. Lift the tofu out of the pan with a spatula and transfer to a new paper-towel-lined plate.
• Meanwhile, cook the soba in boiling water for 5 to 8 minutes (or according to package directions), until just al dente, stirring frequently. Drain and rinse in cold water until the noodles no longer feel sticky.
• Add garlic, ginger and whites of the onions to the skillet, along with the remaining tablespoon sesame oil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the oil is fragrant, stirring constantly, about 1 minute.
• Add cooked and drained soba noodles to the pan, along with soy sauce, sugar, black pepper, red pepper and reserved green onions; toss together until the noodles are coated. Gently toss in the tofu until all the pieces are covered in the sauce.
• Remove from the heat, and sprinkle cucumber, radish and cilantro on top. Serve warm or at room temperature, with lime.