Garlicky Green Beans and Tofu

Green beans are hoarding at the farmers markets recently. They are fresh, slender, crisp and cook up so beautifully! I have been making green beans in different ways off late while they are in season. They come in 2 colors at our market – green and yellow.

Apparently green beans are easy to grow but I have never tried it in our backyard. I find it easy to just get it from the market! 

I prepare green beans the Indian way with Indian spices and potatoes – just like my mother used to make it. I need to put that recipe on the blog. It is such a simple dish. The effort is in cutting the green beans but that is something that can be done in advance.

And I have been making green beans in a Chinese style as well, – a very simple preparation – with a simple sauce and crispy baked tofu. The idea is to use less oil as possible.

Tips on how to make Crispy Baked Tofu?

• Firstly ensure to get Extra Firm Tofu from the grocery store. I use this brand from House Foods. WholeFoods carries their own brand too which is good.
• You have to press the tofu, by firmly wrapping it in a paper towel, placing it on a cutting board, and then pressing a heavy object on it, like a cast iron pan. That will help to release all the water from the tofu.
• Then cut the tofu into small cubes, and toss it in a mixture of cornstarch, salt and pepper. Then it is tossed in the sesame oil.
• Place it on a baking sheet, into the oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. That is all it requires. It crisps up nicely and does not even require much oil.

This tofu recipe has become my go to for any dish with tofu. I let the oven do the job and I can focus on other things. I do not like the splattering of the oil around the stove as well, so it helps to prevent it as well.

Greens beans:

The green beans are literally shallow fried until charred, crispy and slightly softened so that you can get a nice bite into it.

The Sauce for the Green Beans:

The sauce is really simple and just a few ingredients:

• Soy sauce
• Dark Soy sauce – it gives that dark color to the end result and also good flavor! I get this brand from the Asian supermarket – Lee Kum Kee.
• Rice Wine Vinegar
• Cornstarch : it helps to thicken the sauce
• Granulated Sugar: adds the touch of sweetness which is great
• Chili flakes : to give it some level of heat!
• Water: To dilute the sauce ever so slightly.

It’s all about combining the ingredients in a bowl. As simple as it gets!

To put all the components together, we saute a ton of garlic in the same saucepan as the green beans until fragrant and slightly brown. Then simply add the green beans and tofu. And finally the sauce. Saute it all together for a few minutes and you have your dish ready. 

Garnish it with sesame seeds and serve hot with jasmine rice!

I love the simplicity of this dish and it makes for a great weeknight meal. In my opinion it is balanced with greens and protein.

Other Popular Asian Dishes on my blog are linked here:

• Asian Inspired Tofu Veggie Bowl
• Asian Salad with Grilled Tofu Skewers
• Foldable Kimbap

If you do make it, please do not forget to tag me #thejamlab on Instagram and/or leave a comment on the blog.

Hope you are all enjoying the last few days of summer! Fall has already hit the Bay Area, the lighting has changed, and it is just beautiful all around with that chill in the air, in the morning and evening, and the birds migrating south. Enjoy!

XO

Amisha

Garlicky Green Beans and Tofu

September 21, 2023

by Amisha

Category Asian inspired Dinner Lunch Vegan Vegetarian

Persons

4

Serving Size

1 person

Ingredients

• Crispy Baked Tofu:
• 7 ounces extra-firm tofu
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• ½ teaspoon table salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 500 grams green beans
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• Sauce:
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 ½ tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon chili flakes
• ¼ cup water
• 7-8 garlic cloves, grated
• Garnish:
• 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Crispy Baked Tofu:
2. Wrap the tofu in a paper towel and place on a cutting board. Place a heavy skillet on the top, to drain out the excess water, for about 30 minutes.
3. Cut tofu into ½-inch cubes.
4. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
5. In a medium bowl, add the tofu and the cornstarch, salt and pepper. Toss the bowl two to three times to gently coat the tofu with the cornstarch.
6. Add the sesame oil, and continue tossing to coat the tofu with the oil.
7. Place the tofu on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring the cubes don’t touch each other.
8. Bake for about 30 minutes, until tofu is golden brown in color. Set aside.
9. Green Beans:
10. While the tofu is baking, make the green beans.
11. In a large saute pan, on medium heat, add the vegetable oil and sesame oil.
12. After about a minute, add half the green beans in the pan, separated from each other. Cook for about 3 to 4 minutes and then turn each green bean and cook for about 3 minutes, until slightly charred. Stir it occasionally.
13. Remove onto a plate that has been set aside.
14. Repeat with the second batch of green beans. Remove them on the plate.
15. Sauce:
16. Meanwhile, while the green beans are cooking, make the sauce.
17. Add all the sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.
18. Assembly:
19. In the same pan, on medium to high heat, add the garlic, and saute for a minute.
20. Add the green beans and tofu and saute for 30 seconds to evenly coat the green beans and tofu in the garlic.
21. Add the sauce and saute until all the components are evenly coated, about 2 to 3 minutes.
22. Garnish with sesame seeds.
23. Serve immediately with jasmine rice.

Tags

asian,

chinese,

green beans and tofu,

lunch,

lunch box,

vegan,

weeknight meals

https://thejamlab.co/2023/09/21/garlicky-green-beans-and-tofu/