Braised Bean Curd (Tofu) with Shrimp

A very simple braised bean curd or tofu dish with shrimp. Actually if you will read the ingredients, it looks like it has an Asian influence particularly the Chinese cuisine. It’s because tofu or bean curd is present in many Chinese dishes. Tofu and tokwa has similarities because they are both made from soy bean curd. But the difference is tofu is a lot softer and silky compared to tokwa which is firm and harder. You won’t make a mistake buying the wrong bean curd because they are sold in different shapes. Tofu is larger and sold like a brick whereas tokwa is shaped into smaller squares. Using the term tokwa and tofu is confusing because they are almost the same when they are translated in English. But I think tofu is borrowed from the Japanese word while tokwa (tau-kwa) is from the Chinese.

How to Cook Braised Bean Curd with Shrimp

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

25 mins

 

Author: Manny

Recipe type: Vegetables

Cuisine: Chinese

Serves: 2 to 3 servings

Ingredients

For the fried tofu:

• 2 tofu cakes
• 4 Tbsp. flour
• 2 eggs
• ½ tsp. salt
• cooking oil for frying

For the sauce:

• 100 grams shrimps, peeled and deveined
• ½ cup cooking oil
• 2 Tbsp. leeks, chopped
• 1½ cup broth
• 2 tsp. soy sauce
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1½ Tbsp. white wine
• 1½ tsp. cornstarch
• 3 Tbsp. water

Instructions

How to Cook Braised Bean Curd with Shrimp

1. Drain off liquid in tofu by wrapping it in a cheesecloth and pressing out water or put it between 2 paper napkins and press out the water. Just double the napkins on top and at the bottom.
2. Divide each tofu blocks into 8 pieces.
3. Mix flour, eggs, and ½ tsp. salt to make a batter. Heat half of the oil.
4. Dip tofu in batter and fry until light brown. Drain and set aside.
5. Heat about 3 Tbsp. oil and saute leaks and shrimp.
6. Add tofu, then broth, 1 tsp. salt and the white wine.
7. Mix cornstarch and water in a cup, then slowly pour into the rest of the ingredients until the sauce thickens.

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