Oriental Mushroom And Tofu Recipes

Steps:

• Place dried mushrooms in a bowl or large heatproof measuring cup and cover with 2 cups boiling water. Let sit for 30 minutes. If mushrooms are sandy, agitate from time to time. Line a strainer with cheesecloth and place over a 1-quart measuring cup. Drain through the strainer, then twist mushrooms in the cheesecloth, holding them over the strainer, to squeeze out the last of the flavorful liquid. Discard reconstituted mushrooms or set aside for another use.
• While porcinis are soaking, pull tough stems away from shiitake mushroom caps. Slice caps thin and set aside.
• Combine the mushroom broth with enough water to make 9 cups liquid and place in a saucepan or soup pot. Add shiitake stems, quartered button or cremini mushrooms, halved head of garlic, salt and ginger slices, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes.
• Use a slotted spoon or skimmer to remove mushrooms, stems, garlic and ginger from broth. Add soy sauce to broth. Taste and adjust salt.
• Bring broth back to a boil and add tofu. Reduce heat to a simmer or a gentle boil, cover partly and simmer for 30 minutes. Tofu will puff a little, and texture will become more porous and spongy.
• Add thinly sliced shiitake mushroom caps, cover and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in cilantro and chives. Taste, adjust seasoning and serve.

Steps:

• Drain the tofu and press gently with kitchen paper to remove any excess moisture. Alternatively, you could place the tofu on a clean tea towel, place a clean medium chopping board over the top and leave for 10 mins to press out any excess moisture. Slice into 1.5 x 1.5cm sized chunks.
• Mix all of the sauce ingredients together in a jug.
• Heat a wok over a high heat and drizzle in the rapeseed oil. Add the garlic, ginger and chillies and stir for a few seconds. Tip in the mushrooms and stir-fry for a few seconds, then add the Sichuan pepper and the tofu, gently stirring. Add the chilli bean paste and dark soy sauce, followed by the Shaoxing rice wine or sherry. Pour in the sauce ingredients, stir everything to combine, and bring to the bubble, cooking for 1 min.
• Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle over the ground toasted Sichuan pepper and spring onions to serve.

Steps:

• Combine water, liquid soy seasoning, arrowroot, ginger, and garlic in a jar. Set glaze aside.
• Line a plate with paper towels, set tofu on top, and add another layer of paper towels. Place a cutting board on top of the tofu and set a heavy pot on the board. Let sit for 30 minutes, replacing the paper towels as needed, to press as much liquid as possible from the tofu.
• Place rice noodles into a large bowl, cover with cold water, and soak. Cut pressed tofu into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Heat oil in a wok over high heat. Add tofu and stir-fry until all sides are golden, about 5 minutes. Add all mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes. Mix in bell pepper and onion, and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Pour glaze on top and cook until sauce has thickened, about 2 minutes.
• Remove rice noodles from water, shake off excess liquid, and add to the wok. Stir-fry until heated thorough, about 3 minutes.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a saute pan or wok.
• Add garlic and onion to it.
• Saute for 5-7 minutes until the raw smell of garlic is gone and the onion is softened.
• Add mushrooms (reserving a few mushroom slices).
• Cook for 10 minutes or until tender on medium flame.
• Stir in dill weed, salt and pepper.
• While mushrooms are cooking, put tofu, sour cream, milk and flour in a blender.
• Cover.
• Blend on medium speed until smooth.
• Put this tofu mixture over the mushroom mixture.
• Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thickened.
• Transfer this entire mixture over hot cooked linguini.
• Sprinkle orange peel over this.
• In a separate pan, saute the yellow bell pepper in 2 tsps.
• of oil until tender.
• Dot the top of the linguini mixture with these slices.
• For added colour, place a few orange slices on the platter before serving.