Lightly Fried Tofu with Chili Infused Peanut Oil

If you regularly include tofu in your diet, this simple yet delicious recipe can be tried next time you use it in your kitchen. We've used hot and spicy chili infused peanut oil with a garnish of sharp red onion slices to flavor this recipe. Use a fresh brick of tofu with homemade chili oil to get the authentic taste. One can also use cottage cheese as a substitute. Use the sharpest red chili available in your locality to liven up the taste buds. In case, you can prepare chili oil a day before, nothing can be better than that. After adding few drops of white vinegar, you can keep this tofu preparation for up to 2 to 3 days. So, get your frying pan ready to make this quick fried tofu recipe with a zing of hot chili and onion.

Lightly Fried Tofu with Chili Infused Peanut Oil
Author: Shoshanna Lee



Relish this fried tofu preparation which is flavored with hot and zingy chili infused peanut oil and is enhanced with sharp red onions for added taste.

Preparation Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• a brick of tofu (approx. 800 gm)
• 20 to 25 sharp semi-dried red chilies (coarsely chopped)
• 2 tsp light soy sauce
• 1/5 cup sesame oil
• 1/2 cup peanut oil
• peanut oil for shallow frying
• sliced red onion (for garnish)
• salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Cut 1" thick slices from the tofu cube.
2. Sprinkle pinch of salt on the slices and drizzle light soy sauce on them.
3. Rub with your hands and keep aside for 15 minutes.
4. Meanwhile heat sesame oil and 1/2 cup peanut oil in a sauce pan with a thick base.
5. Bring it to a high temperature and switch off the flame.
6. Immediately add coarsely chopped dried red chilies.
7. Once the sizzling chilies settle down, once stir well for half a minute and cover the lid keeping the pan aside for an hour.
8. After an hour, strain the chili infused oil through a fine mesh and keep aside.
9. Heat ample peanut oil in a separate nonstick pan on a medium flame.
10. Add seasoned tofu slices in it and lightly fry from both the sides for a minute each.
11. Place the fried tofu pieces in a serving plate.
12. Pour chili infused oil on top with some chopped red chilies left earlier.
13. Finally, garnish with fresh red onion slices and serve hot.