The ultimate dinner party or date night dish with our crispy tofu and napa cabbage recipe, paired with homemade satay sauce. This meal combines the perfect blend of flavors and textures, guaranteed to impress and make any evening unforgettable. Whether you're cooking for a special someone or treating yourself, have a vegan or plant based guest coming over. This recipe is your ticket to an extraordinary dining experience.
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NAPA CABBAGE SATAY
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients:
2 whole napa cabbages (use 1 cabbage for serving 2-3 people)
2 blocks firm tofu
2 cups raw peanuts (or any kind of raw nuts)
5-6 lime leaves
2 lemongrass stalks (reserve some for garnishing)
Handful of fresh coriander/cilantro
Handful of fresh mint leaves
4-5 dried chilies
4-5 fresh bird's eye chilies
2 cups frying oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil
Preparation:
GARNISHES
Prepare all garnishes: fried shallots, garlic, and peanuts first for ease of assembly.
CRISPY TOFU
2 blocks firm tofu, previously frozen and thawed
½ teaspoon white peppercorns, toasted and ground
1 tablespoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground
2 tablespoons white sesame seeds, toasted and ground
1 teaspoon fennel seeds, toasted and ground
1 tablespoon granulated garlic
Pinch of salt
Pinch of black pepper
2 cups cornstarch
Frying oil
Method:
Break the tofu into bite-sized chunks.
Coat the tofu pieces with the toasted spices and cornstarch.
Fry in hot oil until crispy and set aside until ready to serve.
CRISPY FRIED SHALLOTS AND GARLIC
Ingredients:
5-6 garlic cloves, sliced into thin wafers
5-6 shallots, thinly julienned
Frying oil
Method:
Add sliced shallots to a pan, then add oil to cover.
Turn on the heat to medium-high and stir consistently in one direction until they start to brown.
Strain and save the oil. Spread the shallots on paper towels to cool and crisp up.
Repeat the process with the garlic slices.
TAHINI SATAY:
¼ cup Tahini
1 thumb-sized piece of ginger
1 garlic clove
2 bird's eye chilies
¼ cup soy sauce
½ cup of water (or more if needed to thin the sauce)
1 lime
1 tablespoon lemongrass
Method:
Blend all the ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth and the desired consistency is achieved.
Notes:
The entire process is demonstrated in the accompanying video.
Reserve some lemongrass to add as a garnish at the end for an extra flavor boost.
See you soon!