Crispy Tofu Fried Rice
A rainbow coloured fried rice with golden nuggets of crispy tofu
Ingredients
- 180 g cooked, fridge-cold,1-day old, short grain rice
- 200 g firm tofu, drained and cut into 1"x1" cubes
- 5-6 topped, tailed and diced small
- 1 large carrot, peeled and diced small
- ½ red bell pepper, diced small
- ½ green bell pepper (capsicum) diced small
- A handful red cabbage, chopped small
- 1 spring onion, chopped small, white and green parts separated
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 1-inch piece of ginger, minced
- 1 fresh red chilli, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp light soy
- 2 tbsp olive or peanut oil
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil (optional)
Marinade for the tofu
- ½ tbsp light soy
- ½ tbsp dark soy
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- 1¼ tsp five spice powder
- ¼ tsp salt
To make five-spice powder
- 1 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns
- 4 star anise
- 1 tsp cloves
- 1 tbsp cassia bark powder (also called Chinese cinnamon)
- 2 tbsp fennel seeds
Instructions
- To make the five spice powder, lightly toast the spices in a dry pan on low heat till fragrant. Cool and grind to a fine powder in a spice grinder.
- To marinate the tofu, mix all the ingredients into a smooth mixture, toss the tofu cubes in it and set aside for 30 mins.
- Heat a tbsp of oil in a pan (or wok) on medium high heat. fry the tofu cubes, in a single layer (take care not to overcrowd the pan or the tofu will stem instead of frying), turning them after a few seconds to brown on all sides. Do this in a couple of batches till all the tofu is fried. remove and set aside. You can flash fry the tofu if you're using a wok, since it is wider and has a larger surface area.
- Heat the remaining oil in the same pan or wok till hot. Add the vegetables and fry for 4-5 minutes, stirring to prevent them from burning. The vegetables should be cooked yet crunchy without changing colour.
- Now drop in the garlic, ginger, chilli and white parts of the spring onion. Fry for a minute till aromatic .
- Add the rice, breaking up and lumps and fry for 2 minutes, stirring vigorously till the rice is lightly fried.
- Add the sauces and sesame oil, followed by the fried tofu. Combine everything till it's mixed evenly. check and correct the seasoning and add the spring onion. Serve hot.