Springtime Delight: Tofu Rice with Wild Chive Sauce
Springtime Delight: Tofu Rice with Wild Chive Sauce
A Delicious Tofu Rice Recipe Using Fresh Wild Chives
Spring brings an abundance of wild chives and shepherd’s purse! This recipe features a flavorful wild chive sauce paired with soft tofu. It’s a delightful dish that can also be made with shepherd’s purse for a similar delicious taste. The mild yet fragrant wild chive sauce complements the savory tofu perfectly, creating a unique and satisfying meal. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy the fresh flavors of spring.
Main Ingredients- 1 block of tofu
- 1 bowl of brown rice (or white rice)
- 1 handful of wild chives (cleaned and trimmed)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Slice the tofu into triangular sandwich shapes, about 1.5 cm thick. Make a shallow cut in the center of each piece to help the sauce penetrate later. Be careful not to cut too deep.
Step 2
Place the sliced tofu on paper towels or a clean kitchen cloth. Sprinkle 1 tsp of salt evenly over the tofu slices. Let them sit for about 10 minutes to draw out excess moisture. This step helps firm up the tofu so it doesn’t break apart when cooking.
Step 3
Wash the wild chives thoroughly and pat them dry. Chop them into approximately 1-2 cm lengths and place them in a small bowl. These will be mixed with the sauce ingredients.
Step 4
Add the sauce ingredients – 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp soup soy sauce, and 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil – to the bowl with the chopped wild chives. Mix everything together well. Even with just soy sauce and sesame oil, you’ll create a wonderfully flavorful sauce!
Step 5
This aromatic wild chive sauce is not only perfect for topping the tofu rice but also delicious mixed into a bowl of warm rice. It’s truly a ‘rice thief’ – you’ll want more rice!
Step 6
After salting the tofu, carefully pat the surface dry with paper towels or a clean, dry cloth. Any remaining moisture can prevent the starch from adhering well and make the tofu soggy when fried.
Step 7
Lightly coat both sides of the dried tofu with 1 Tbsp of starch powder. This step is key to achieving a wonderfully crispy texture when the tofu is pan-fried.
Step 8
Heat 1 Tbsp of sesame oil in a non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Once the pan is warm, carefully place the starch-coated tofu slices in the pan. Pan-fry until golden brown on both sides. Adjust the heat as needed to prevent burning.
Step 9
Once the flat sides of the tofu are golden brown, stand the pieces on their sides and cook until all edges are also golden and slightly crispy. This ensures every part of the tofu is perfectly cooked.
Step 10
Now, let’s prepare the rice. Take 1 bowl of brown rice (or your preferred rice) and season it lightly. Since the overall dish is quite mild, you might want to add a pinch of salt to the rice for extra flavor, if you prefer. (Optional)
Step 11
Allow the pan-fried tofu to cool down completely. If you try to stuff the rice into hot tofu, it may tear or lose its shape. Patience is key here – let the tofu cool to a manageable temperature.
Step 12
Once the tofu is sufficiently cooled, gently fill the cut pocket with the prepared rice. Spoon a generous amount of the prepared wild chive sauce over the rice and tofu. Garnish with a few fresh wild chive leaves. Your delicious Tofu Rice with Wild Chive Sauce is now ready to enjoy!
