toona with boiled tofu
Spring ,Vegetables ····
Source: Life
Main Ingredients
- Chinese toon (Toona sinensis)
- Northern tofu (firm tofu)
Seasonings
- Sichuan peppercorns, oil, fine salt
- Chili powder (optional)
Cooking Steps
- Cut the northern tofu into cubes, and remove the tough stems from the Chinese toon, keeping only the tender leaves.
- Blanch the tofu cubes in boiling water for 30 seconds, then drain and transfer to a mixing bowl.
- In the same pot, blanch the Chinese toon for 15 seconds, then drain, finely chop, and mix with the tofu cubes. Sprinkle with a little salt and toss gently, then add 1 tablespoon of chili powder.
- In a cold pan, add oil and Sichuan peppercorns. Heat over low flame to slowly infuse the oil with the peppercorn aroma. Remove the peppercorns, heat the oil until hot, and pour it over the chili powder.
Tips
Both the tofu and Chinese toon need to be blanched briefly. This step removes the beany taste from the tofu and enhances the fragrance of the toon while reducing some of the nitrites and oxalic acid, making it healthier to eat. However, the blanching time should not be too long. "Cold pan, cold oil" refers to adding oil and ingredients to the pan before turning on the heat. This cooking method minimizes smoke from high-temperature oil, preserves the nutrients in the oil, and reduces harmful chemical byproducts.