Crispy Tofu with Spicy Tomato Sauce
Serves: 2 to 3
Golden and Crispy Tofu served with a Vietnamese Spicy Tomato Sauce. This dish will win over both vegetarians and meat-lovers alike! Use either silken tofu or firm tofu.
Ingredients
- vegetable oil, for deep-frying
- 300 g (11 oz) silken tofu
- 125 g (1 cup) cornflour, (US: cornstarch)
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- 1 shallot, or small red onion, finely chopped
- 1 red chilli, finely sliced
- 4 ripe tomatoes, diced
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 pinch sea salt
- black pepper, freshly cracked
- ½ to 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 3 to 5 sprigs spring onions, (scallions) cut into 3 cm (1 inch) lengths
- coriander, (cilantro) finely chopped
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a small wok or saucepan to 180°C/350°F. You will need about 3 cm (1 inch) depth of oil.
- Cut the tofu into about 3 cm pieces and blot them with paper towels.
- Place the cornflour (cornstarch) into a soup plate or bowl.
- Coat the tofu pieces in the cornflour and shake off any excess.
- Deep-fry the tofu for a few minutes until they are crispy and lightly coloured.
- Remove the tofu with a slotted spoon and drain them on a wire rack over a tray or plate.
- In a clean saucepan, heat about a tablespoon of oil and add the garlic, shallot and chilli.
- Cook for a few minutes until the mixture is fragrant.
- Add the tomatoes, sugar, salt, pepper and fish sauce. Cook for about 5 to 10 minutes on medium-high heat until the tomatoes have softened and the sauce has thickened a little.
- Taste for seasoning.
- Add the spring onions and coriander.
- Arrange the tofu on a plate and spoon over the tomato sauce.
- Garnish with some more chopped coriander.
- Serve with steamed jasmine rice.
Kitchen Notes
- OVEN & STOVE TEMPERATURES
All recipes on this website have been tested on an induction stove and/or with a conventional oven (i.e. an oven without fan). All recipes on this website use temperatures for a conventional oven, unless otherwise mentioned. Convection ovens (i.e. fan-forced ovens) are typically 20°C/70°F hotter than conventional ovens, but please check your manufacturer’s handbook. - CONVERSIONS
To convert from cups to grams, and vice-versa, please see this handy Conversion Chart for Basic Ingredients.