Enjoy this delicious, vegan, Meaty Tofu and Stir-Fried Bok Choy over Udon Noodles recipe.
Preparation Time: 12 minutes
Cooking Time: 8 minutes
Servings 4
Serving Size:
Ingredients:
8 ounces udon noodles (thick Japanese buckwheat noodles)
2 tablespoons seasoned black bean paste
2 tablespoons mirin
10 ounces firm style tofu, such as White Wave brand
3 teaspoons dark sesame oil, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 small head or 1/2 large head bok choy, sliced 1/4-inch thick, stems and leaves separated
2 cups julienned carrots (packaged or from the supermarket salad bar)
1/4 cup julienned daikon or red radish (optional)
Directions:
Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, combine black bean paste and mirin; mix well. Press the block of tofu between paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Cut tofu into 3/4-inch slices; cut slices into 1-inch squares. Toss tofu with 2 tablespoons black bean mixture and set aside. Heat a large deep nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the oil, garlic and the bok choy stems; stir-fry 2 minutes. Add bok choy leaves, carrots and tofu mixture; stir-fry 2 minutes or until the vegetables are crisp-tender. Add salt to taste to the vegetable mixture. Drain noodles; toss with remaining black bean mixture and remaining 2 teaspoons sesame oil. Transfer to serving plates. Spoon tofu mixture over noodles; garnish with radish if desired.
Tips:
Pickled ginger, also located in the ethnic section of your supermarket adds a new, sweet-sour dimension to this dish. Sprinkle a little on, or just drizzle the juice from the jar to make this dish really pop—that juice is usually just vinegar, with a little salt and a little sugar, and it makes a lot of flavor difference.
Substitutions:
Hoisin or teriyaki sauce may replace the black bean sauce—both will make the dish much sweeter, but still tasty. Whole wheat wide ribbon pasta—like a fettuccine—can replace udon, which is made from buckwheat. Black bean garlic sauce can replace the black bean sauce here—look for it, mirin and udon noodles, in the Asian section of your supermarket.