Budget cooking part 3 (twice – cooked chicken and tofu)

November 19, 2009 • Hello. I am currently out of the country and unable to respond to comments and e-mails. Rest assured, however, that future posts have been scheduled so new recipes will go live almost everyday during my absence. I'll be back soon with lots of stories and photos. Ciao for now! ~ Connie

I had six small chicken thighs and four people to feed. That’s enough meat for four people? Well, sure, if no one minded feeling like lunch was a ration. I really don’t like that feeling. The trick? I cut each chicken thigh in two, added cubes of tofu and cooked everything with a flavorful sauce.

Probably the most valuable lesson I learned in Chinese cooking is that by cutting meat in smaller pieces and adding vegetables and sauce to them, one comes up with a whole lot more. Meat is expensive, vegetables much less so. Tofu is healthy and has this fantastic ability to absorb flavors. By putting them together in one dish, not only is it economical, it is healthier too.

Serves 4.

Ingredients :

a 330 g. cake of firm tofu
about a cup of cooking oil for deep-frying
6 chicken thighs
salt
pepper
1 small carrot
a handful of fresh cilantro
a thumb-sized piece of ginger
3 tbsps. of light soy sauce
3 tbsps. of honey
1 tsp. of sesame seed oil

Cut the tofu into 12 cubes of equal sizes.

In a wok, heat the cooking oil to smoking point and fry the tofu cubes until golden. Drain on paper towels and set aside.

Cut each chicken thigh through the bone into two pieces. Place the cut chicken in a bowl, season with salt and pepper and mix thoroughly, working the seasonings into the meat.

Reheat the cooking oil. Fry the chicken pieces until they are golden and nicely seared. They need only be partially cooked at this point.

Transfer the chicken (minus the oil) and tofu in a heatproof dish.

Peel the carrot and ginger cut into matchsticks. Slice the cilantro as finely as you can. Scatter everything over the chicken and tofu.

Mix together the soy sauce, honey and sesame seed oil. Pour over the chicken, tofu and vegetables. Steam over simmering water for 20 to 30 minutes.

Serve hot with rice.

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