Chinese language stuffed tofu, or “Niang Dou Fu” (釀豆腐), is a beloved dish in Cantonese and Hakka delicacies, that includes silky tofu full of a flavorful meat combination. It’s a homestyle dish you don’t typically see on restaurant menus, and there are a lot of variations on it relying on every household’s preferences and habits.

Why this recipe

Immediately I need to introduce to you the stuffed tofu model I like essentially the most. 

1. I used floor pork as a substitute of the pork and shrimp filling to make the prep simpler. 
2. A really detailed solution to carve and stuff tofu is included, that can assist you put together this delicate dish.
3. The sauce is barely influenced by Northern Chinese language cooking, utilizing a bit extra aromatics to make it extra aromatic.

What kind of tofu to make use of

Medium tofu is one of the best kind to make stuffed tofu.

In China, it’s fairly widespread to make use of smooth, even silken tofu to make this dish. But it surely requires very mild dealing with, so the tofu doesn’t disintegrate throughout cooking. Alternatively, I discovered agency and additional agency tofu onerous to work with too. Each have a grainier texture and the tofu crumbles in the course of the scooping course of. 

Medium tofu nonetheless has the sleek and silky texture, so that you protect the good mouthfeel of the unique dish. But it surely’s barely simpler to deal with than smooth and silken tofu. 

In case you can’t discover medium tofu, you can also make the dish with agency tofu. I don’t suggest utilizing additional agency tofu for this dish.

Some key elements

• Shiitake mushrooms: They add a wealthy umami to the pork filling, which is crucial for the dish.
• Cornstarch: Retains the pork filling juicy and tender in the course of the pan frying.
• Oyster sauce: It provides additional depth of taste to the sauce.
• Contemporary aromatics: Contemporary ginger, garlic and scallion are the important elements for making the sauce aromatic. 

make Stuffed Tofu

Put together the pork filling

Merely combine the pork, mushrooms, aromatics, soy sauce and cornstarch collectively right into a paste-like combination. 

Stuff the tofu

Reducing and stuffing the tofu correctly is a necessary half and it may be difficult.

Be sure that the tofu is massive sufficient to carry a superb quantity of filling, however not too large to take a chew out of.

1. Cut up the tofu into two massive thinner items.
2. Lower every bit additional into 4 rectangular items.

To scoop out the filling, I discovered that it’s best to:

1. Use a small paring knife to carve alongside the tofu, leaving about 1/4” (3 mm) on the perimeters, to make a body.
2. Then use the deal with of a spoon to softly elevate the middle rectangle out. 

As soon as the tofu is carved, stuff the tofu with the pork filling till the highest is leveled. That is to make sure the tofu can brown on the similar fee because the pork.

Cook dinner the stuffed tofu

To cook dinner the tofu, place the tofu pork aspect down into chilly oil, to stop any scorching oil splatter. Cook dinner till the pork is browned, then flip to brown the opposite aspect.

Then transfer the tofu to the opposite aspect of the pan, cooking the aromatics on the opposite aspect. Then pour within the sauce. Stir the sauce to thicken it and let the tofu braise in it to soak up taste. 

As soon as the sauce thickens, switch the tofu items onto a plate first, then pour the remainder of the sauce onto the tofu. 

serve stuffed tofu

Serve stuffed tofu with steamed rice for a hearty and nutritious meal. To accompany the dish, think about including a vegetable aspect or appetizer, and a soup. For instance:

Afterthoughts

Stuffed tofu is a comforting and satisfying dish that showcases the fantastic thing about easy elements. Additionally it is a fantastic instance of how Chinese language cooking incorporates tofu as a key ingredient for its texture and taste, not only a meat alternative for making vegetarian dishes. In case you make this dish at dwelling, please go away a remark and let me understand how you prefer it!