Tofu with Beef
You can use this sauce whenever you're preparing a beef stir-fry. Serve this dish with basic stir-fried noodles for a complete meal.
INGREDIENTS | SERVES 2 to 4
- ¼ pound flank or sirloin steak, cut across the grain into thin strips
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- Black pepper to taste
- 1¾ teaspoons cornstarch, divided
- ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon water, divided
- 1½ tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon chile paste, or to taste
- 2 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon minced ginger
- ½ pound firm tofu, drained, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
Place the beef strips in a bowl and add the light soy sauce, black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon cornstarch. Marinate the beef for 15 minutes.
Combine ½ cup water, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, granulated sugar, and chile paste in a bowl. In a separate bowl, dissolve 1½ teaspoons cornstarch into 1 tablespoon water. Set aside.
Heat a wok or skillet over medium-high heat until it is nearly smoking. Add 1 tablespoon oil. When the oil is hot, add half the garlic and ginger. Stir-fry for 10 seconds, then add the beef. Let sear briefly, then stir-fry the beef until it is no longer pink and is nearly cooked through.
Push the beef to the sides of the pan. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in the middle. Add the remainder of the garlic and ginger. Stir-fry for 10 seconds, then add the tofu cubes. Stir-fry the tofu cubes for 1 to 2 minutes, until they begin to brown.
Push the tofu to the sides and add the sauce in the middle. Bring to a boil. Stir the cornstarch and water mixture and add to the sauce, stirring to thicken. Stir in the green onions. Stir-fry for 1 to 2 more minutes to mix together all the ingredients. Serve hot.
Pairing Tofu with Meat
Don't feel you need to limit your use of tofu to vegetarian dishes. In Asia, tofu is frequently paired with meat to provide an interesting contrast in texture. A well-known dish combining the two is Grandmother Bean Curd, or Mapo Doufu, where tofu and ground pork are stir-fried with fermented black beans, chile paste, and other spicy seasonings.
