One of our new go-to dinners is this. This sizzling hot plate of spiced tofu stir-fry with fresh garlic chives is a scrumptious treat that will make your taste buds dance with joy. Every bite is a flavor explosion that will leave you craving for more!
What are Chives?
Chives commonly found in grocery stores are not the same as garlic or Chinese chives.
The leaves are bigger, and they taste slightly garlicky. Not only do I enjoy the aroma of chives in dumpling fillings like our Pork & Chive Dumplings, but I also enjoy them in stir-fries.
The allium family, of which garlic chives are a part, also includes garlic, onions, scallions, and other similar vegetables and plants; TCM holds that eating these foods after a cool and damp spring can help to strengthen the body’s defenses.
What is Spiced Tofu?
This recipe calls for pressed tofu, which has already been cooked, spiced, and dried to remove excess moisture. The spiced variant is dark brown on the outside and white within.
There could also be a more straightforward, lighter version available. In Chinese, we refer to this style of tofu as “doufu gan”. You can find it with the other tofu products that need to be kept cold in the refrigerator case at your local Chinese supermarket.
Ingredients:
- 3 slices of julienned ginger
- 3 cloves of minced garlic
- 3 pieces of julienned spiced tofu
- 300g of garlic chives (cut into 1.5 inch lengths)
- 3 tablespoons of oil
- 2 tablespoons of light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
- 1/2 teaspoon of sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon of white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil
- salt
Instructions:
- First, make the sauce for the stir-fry. Add the wine, light soy sauce, sugar, white pepper, and sesame oil to a bowl and mix well. Put aside.
- (Now, if using pork or chicken, heat the wok until it is smoking, add a tablespoon of oil, and sear the meat until it is just cooked.
- Put in a separate dish and set aside. If not, continue on to the following section.
- Start by heating up a wok on the stove. Add the oil and ginger when the wok is hot.
- When the onion is done, add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Add another 30 seconds of cooking time. Stir-fry for an additional minute after adding the tofu.
- Toss in the garlic chives and stir-fry them for a full minute at high heat (at this point, you can also add your pre-cooked meat, if using).
- Stir-fry for an additional 30 seconds after adding the sauce.
- Sprinkle salt on to taste.
- When the chives become wilted, the dish is finished.
- Serve right away.