STIR-FRIED TOFU AND ESCAROLE

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Stir-Fried Tofu and Escarole image

This stir-fry has hot (red pepper flakes), sour (vinegar), sweet (honey) and bitter (escarole) elements. Escarole goes by a few names, including broad-leafed endive and Batavia endive. (In France it is just called Batavia). It tastes a lot like curly endive, though not quite as bitter. It looks a bit like a ruffled leaf lettuce, with tougher leaves. The inner leaves are lighter and more tender than the outer leaves, and they are great in salads. I add them later than the outer leaves to this stir-fry.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories     dinner, vegetables, main course

Time 6m

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 13

One 14-ounce box firm tofu, drained and cut in 1/4-inch thick, 2-inch by 3/4-inch dominoes
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon cider vinegar or rice vinegar
1 tablespoon honey, agave nectar, or raw brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable stock, chicken stock or water
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)
1 teaspoon cornstarch or arrowroot dissolved in 2 tablespoons vegetable stock or water
2 tablespoons peanut, canola, rice bran, sunflower or grape seed oil
2 to 3 teaspoons minced garlic
2 to 3 teaspoons minced ginger
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or 1 minced serrano
1 generous bunch escarole (1 to 1 1/4 pounds), leaves separated, washed and dried
1 bunch scallions, white and green parts separated, chopped

Steps:

  • Drain and dry tofu slices on paper towels. In a small bowl or measuring cup combine soy sauce, vinegar, sweetener and stock or water. In another bowl or ramekin, dissolve cornstarch or arrowroot in stock or water.
  • Separate dark outer escarole leaves from lighter inner leaves. Cut all of the leaves crosswise into 1-inch pieces and keep in separate containers. Have all ingredients within arm's length of your pan.
  • Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two when added to wok. Swirl in 1 tablespoon of oil by adding it to the sides of the wok and swirling the wok, then add tofu and stir-fry until lightly colored, about 2 minutes. Remove to a plate.
  • Swirl in remaining oil, add garlic, ginger and chile flakes or minced chile, and stir-fry for no more than 10 seconds. Add dark escarole leaves and stir-fry for 1 minute, until wilted. Add salt, toss together and return tofu to the wok. Add inner escarole leaves, white part of the scallions, and soy sauce mixture. Stir-fry for 1 minute, until the inner leaves are crisp-tender, and add scallion greens and the cornstarch mixture. Stir just until lightly glazed and remove from heat. Serve with hot grains or noodles.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 226, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 18 grams, Fat 11 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 19 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 683 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams

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