Chilli Tofu and Happy Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year to all. I knew that Chinese New Year was this week but wasn’t aware that it was today until I checked my twitter. I felt like eating some Chinese today but since there is  no descent Chinese near our place and I had to satisfy with my comfort food, rice and dal instead!! Anyway since its Chinese New Year I am here with a recipe which was in my drafts and which  may fall into a Indo Chinese category perhaps?

I cannot really say Tofu is a delicious thing, it’s quite bland and the first few times I cooked with Tofu it was a disaster. I gave up on Tofu in spite of its health benefits until I came across my friend’s recipe. Nupur was confident that I will like it and gave me few tips to enhance the flavour too. It was so yummy like she said and Tofu started coming with me often in my shopping bag!  I started adding baby corn to it and  liked it even more as it gave a crunch to the recipe.  This is a healthy alternative when you crave for some Manjurian and it’s quite quick to make too.

Ingredients

Tofu (extra firm) – 300 gm

Baby corn – 200 gm ( cut )

Capsicum/pepper – 1

Corn flour – 1 ½ tbs for Tofu + 1 1/2 for baby corn

Plain flour/ Maida – 3 tbs

Ginger garlic paste-  1 tsp

Salt

Pepper

Water – 1/8-1/4 cup

Oil for shallow frying

For the sauce

Onion -2 medium

Ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp

Ginger minced – 1tsp

Garlic minced – 1 tsp

Green chillies- 2 (cut diagonally)

Tomato sauce/ tomato ketchup - 3 tbs

Soya sauce - 2 tbs

Chilly garlic sauce - 2  tbs

Cornflour - 1 tbs

Water - 3 tbs

 Sesame seeds – 1 ½ tbs (roasted)

Method

• Take the extra firm tofu and gently squeeze the water and then remove the excess water with a kitchen tissue.cut them into cubes and dust them with 1 ½ tbs corn flour, salt and pepper.
• In other add1 ½ tbs corn flour, 3 tbs plain flour, salt, pepper, ginger garlic paste. Add some water and make a batter ( not too thin) . Add the cut baby corns and coat in well in the batter.
• In a pan add some oil and shallow fry both tofu and baby corns flipping the sides until they are golden brown. Drain it and transfer into a plate with kitchen tissue.
• In the same pan add minced ginger, minced garlic and fry for 1-2 minutes.            
• Add cubed onions and chopped green chillies and saute until onions are soft.     
• Add tomato sauce, soya sauce, chilly garlic sauce and cook for few minutes until oil starts to separate.  
• Add chopped capsicum and stir for 1-2 minutes.    
• Now add the fried tofu cubes and baby corns and coat it in the sauces and cook it covered for 3- 5 minutes.
• Finally dissolve 1 tbs of corn flour in 3 tbs of water and pour this to the paneer and mix well. Cook for another 1-2 minute and turn of the flame.      
• Sprinkle with freshly roasted sesame seeds and serve hot.