Asian Fusion Noodles with Smoked Tofu

Warm weather and more activity make me crave some healthier alternatives with a more refreshing flavor theme.  This dish has multiple influences: 

1.     Some new delicious spices I acquired at Penzeys Spices.  There is a Penzeys Spices 10 minutes from my house and I finally got a chance to stop there.  This store is heavenly.  Jars of fine spices to smell-a foodie’s aromatherapy.  Also, their cumin is not cross-contaminated with peanuts (some other brands are).  Penzeys Spices smell and taste delicious.  

https://www.penzeys.com/

2.     A local ramen restaurant called Tochi-they blend some great flavors.  Their Smoked Miso ramen is delicious (all their ramens are).  The tofu is smoked and the broth is a great blend of flavors.  My goal was not to replicate the flavor, but to produce a flavor that is in the same family.  Asian fusion is one way to describe this flavor.

http://www.tochimke.com/

3.     Vegan Black Metal Chef – his videos are truly inspiring.  He has some great and easy techniques to add flavor to tofu and sauces and other vegan dishes. The preparation and videos are motivating. His technique of dredging tofu in flour  and pan frying results in a great textured and flavorful tofu.  Valkyries and warriors feast on tasty and healthy food too.  After all, they need to be around for Ragnarok. Watch his YouTube videos for inspiration.

http://veganblackmetalchef.com/

Recipe:

Note:  This looks like a lot of ingredients.  It is, but you can lay out all the spices on the counter and add as you stir fast.

Tofu (prefer Wildwood Sproutofu – super firm)

Sliced carrots (4-5)

1 large red onion cut in half then sliced

2 tbs. chopped garlic

2 tbs. chopped ginger

½ pack of oriental style noodle size S Erawan (cook 6 minutes and rinse with cold water to prevent from cooking further)

water chestnuts slivered

baby corn chopped in 1/3

Colgin Liquid Smoke

1 tsp. Smoked Spanish Paprika

¼ tsp Hungarian Paprika

¼ tsp. Orange peel (dried)

½ tsp. roasted garlic spice

¼ tsp. chilli powder

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

2 tsp.  chili garlic sauce

2 tsp. black bean garlic sauce

2 tsp . hoisin sauce

¼ tsp sugar

2 cups organic chicken stock – vegetable stock if vegetarian (have to just visually watch)

2 tsp. corn starch with a little water – slurry

flour to dredge marinated tofu in

Canola oil or another oil with a high smoking point

Marinate chopped tofu for at least one hour in:

1 cup  Olive Oil

¼ cup liquid smoke

½ tsb garlic powder

¼ tsp sugar

¼ tsp corn starch

½ tsp Smoked Paprika Spanish Style

(mix ingredients in a bowl-put tofu in a ziplock bag and pour marinade over it and gently work it in).

You can cook the carrots separately to speed up the cooking

Dredge tofu in flour and pan fry. 

Toward the end of the frying process, sprinkle some smoked paprika on top.

You can also bake the tofu on 400, but pan-frying tastes the best

Add Oil to the wok and heat

Use a wok and fry onion for about 8 minutes

Add mostly cooked carrots, baby corn, dried orange peel, slivered water chestnuts and chopped ginger, fry for about 4 minutes

Add chopped garlic and stir for one minute

Add smoked Spanish paprika, Hungarian paprika, and Asian sauces

Stir, let it cook for a few minutes and add chicken stock, 1 tbs liquid smoke, 3 tbs of tofu marinade

Bring to a boil, and thicken with cornstarch slurry

Add roasted garlic

Add cooked rice noodle – gently mix (to not break the cooked rice noodles)

Add tofu and gently mix and serve and eat fast (rice noodles have a tendency to absorb liquid fast).

Marinate super firm tofu

dredge marinated tofu in flour

Pan fry in oil (you can also bake but this is the optimal flavor)

These spices are essential

another delicious spice I discovered

Pan fried tofu

Note the onion is almost caramelized-red onions are the best for this type of stir frying

after adding chicken stock - before thickening

Lots of spices and flavors - true fusion

The result (note: the onion are slightly caramelized)

don't let the number of these ingredients intimidate

the firmest tofu and more nutritious than most

This size seems to work well

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