Vegetarian Chinese-styled dish packed with Proteins

Yesterday was Tuesday, devotional day to Mata-Di (Ammar in Southern India), it means Universal Mother! It is my wish to create and cook something vegetarian every Tuesday now in Sweet Devotion to Universal Mother!

Only by March, 2009 did I come to know that Tuesday is also Shree Hanuman-ji 's(Monkey God) special day, as well. Never too late to learn something everyday!

Please be aware when one say that one is a vegetarian and eats only vegetables, which are mostly "greens" so one thinks when one tries to become a Vegetarian! To a Taoist/Buddhist, their "Monastery" diet can be quite different and packed with vegetarian proteins.For example one may be eating "Roast Duck, Chicken," and "Prawns" all made from vegetarian origin like soy beans, peas,root starches from lotus roots or tapioca, nuts and pulses etc., and the list goes on and on! For those that may think ,a vegetarian eat"boring" food, like "salads" all the time, please take some time to experiment with this simple dish which I have created for you, which you could serve with Steamed Rice or Boiled Noodles or even Pasta!

Fried Tofu and Soy strips with Chinese Mushrooms

Ingredients;-
600g hard tofu
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 tablespoon Ghee (clarified butter) or vegetable cooking oil
1 cup dehydrated soy strips, soaked in water till it plumps up
2-3 medium-sized dried Chinese/Shintake' mushrooms, soaked in water till it plumps up
3/4 cup chopped fresh coriander
3-4 hot red chillies, finely sliced into strips
1/2 cup light Soy Sauce
1 tablespoon dark Soy Sauce (optional)
1 tablespoon Sesame oil (optional)
Dash of white or black pepper

Method:
Rinse tofu block and slice into 1cmx2.5cm pieces or 1cm cubes. Lightly sprinkle salt over tofu pieces
Heat up oil in a Chinese wok or flat frying pan
Add in tofu and allow it to brown a little before turning them over with spatula till golden brown
Add mushrooms to fry on the side of pan, and mix well with tofu when you detect its fragrant
Add soy strips and chillies, soy sauce and then fresh coriander
Sprinkle in sesame oil and add pepper just before dishing out

Serve with steaming hot Jasmine rice or Par-boiled rice or boiled Noodles or Pasta

Bon Appetite! Enjoy!
Original recipe from Nancy the Mystic
Nancy Tan
P.S.
Please view www.youtube.com/cookingwithnancy for more recipes on Nancy's cooking shows.
Thank you.
Nancy