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Deep-Fried Tofu with Peanut Sauce

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Submitted by abstractor815

Crispy fried tofu served with a Thai-style peanut dipping sauce made from garlic, cilantro root, chili, and rice vinegar. A spicy, tangy vegetarian appetizer or snack ready in 25 minutes.

YIELD

6 servings

PREP

20 min

COOK

5 min

READY

25 min

If you’ve ever had street food in Thailand, you know this combo: golden, crunchy tofu cubes with a punchy peanut dipping sauce that hits every note at once.

The sauce is where the magic lives. Garlic, cilantro root, and dried red chilies get pounded into a paste, then loosened with rice vinegar and sweetened with sugar water. Chopped peanuts give it body, and a scattering of red pepper flakes on top adds heat that builds with every bite.

Serve it hot from the wok or at room temperature. Either way, it’s gone fast.

Kitchen Tips

  • Use firm or extra-firm tofu and press it well before cubing. The drier it goes in, the crispier it comes out
  • If you can find pre-fried tofu at your Asian grocery, just give it a quick one-minute dip in hot oil to refresh the crunch
  • The peanut sauce keeps well in the fridge for a few days, so double up if you want leftovers for dipping veggies or spring rolls

Ingredients

1 453.6
POUND G TOFU
pressed
2 2
CLOVES CLOVES GARLIC
chopped
1 1
EACH EACH CILANTRO ROOT
chopped *
3 3
EACH EACH DRIED RED CHILE
soaked, chopped, seeded *
½ 2.5
TEASPOON ML SALT
¾ 177
CUP ML RICE VINEGAR
¼ 59
CUP ML SUGAR
½ 118
CUP ML PEANUTS
finely chopped
2 473
CUPS ML PEANUT OIL
or vegetable oil
Garnish
2 10
TEASPOONS ML CILANTRO
chopped
2 10
TEASPOONS ML RED PEPPER FLAKE

Directions

Cut the tofu into cubes 1” X 1” X 1 ½". Set aside.

Make a paste of the garlic, cilantro root, chili peppers and salt.

Add the vinegar and mix.

Dissolve the sugar in ¼ cup hot water and add it to the paste along with the peanuts.

Sprinkle with cilantro leaves and red pepper flakes.

Put the oil in a wok and heat until hot.

Deep-fry the tofu for 5 minutes until it becomes light brown.

Drain on paper towels.

Place tofu on a serving plate with the peanut sauce next to it.

Use the sauce as a dip.

Serve either hot or at room temperature.

NOTE: Apparently you can buy tofu already deep-fried. If using this product, then only deep-fry it again for 1 minute.

* not incl. in nutrient facts Arrow up button

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 202g (7.1 oz)
Amount per Serving
Calories 858 89% from fat
 % Daily Value *
Total Fat 85g 130%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 211mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 5%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Sugars g
Protein 31g
Vitamin A 5% Vitamin C 2%
Calcium 54% Iron 15%
* based on a 2,000 calorie diet How is this calculated?
Low Cholesterol, Cholesterol-Free, Trans-fat Free, Good source of fiber
 
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