Fried Tofu with Meat Sauce

This is a simple and easy dish for an everyday meal if you like tofu. I like to use fresh tofu rather than the pre-packed ones that you find in the Asian supermarkets. Tofu is great for stir-fry, braised or even fresh with seasoned hot oil. To test for freshness, take a sniff and if it smells stale, taste sour, or feels slippery it is bad.
Ingredients:
4 slices of firm white tofu, dry well with paper towel
1 small bunch sweet basil, chopped finely
¼ lbs lean pork, minced or chopped finely
5 dried mushrooms, soaked and chopped in pieces
2 tsp. oyster sauce
2 tsps. cornstarch
1/4 cup stock or water
1 tsp. minced garlic and ginger
salt and pepper to taste
oil for frying
Method:
1. Heat a saucepan with enough oil on high. Gently add a piece of tofu to the oil and deep fry on both sides till golden brown. Drain well with paper towel. Do the same to the rest of the tofu. Arrange cooked tofu on a plate.
2. Season meat with salt and pepper and some cornstarch. Heat a wok with a little oil, fry mushrooms till fragrant for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic/ginger and mix with the mushrooms, follow by the pork. Cook until meat is no longer pink in color about 10-15 minutes. Mix cornstarch, oyster sauce with stock/water to dissolve and add to the pork mixture. Stir in basil and season to taste. Pour the hot mixture on top of tofu and garnish with basil. Serve hot with rice.
Printable Recipe