Spicy Thai Tofu With Spinach, Basil, and Peanuts From 'Everyday Thai Cooking'

Name: Spicy Thai Tofu With Spinach, Basil, and Peanuts From 'Everyday Thai Cooking'
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons high-heat cooking oil, divided; One 16-ounce (500g) block ﬁrm tofu, drained, patted dry and cut into 1/2-inch (1.25 cm) cubes; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tablespoon minced galangal or fresh ginger; 8 ounces (250g) spinach, washed and trimmed; 1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce (nam pla); 2 teaspoons cooking sherry; 1 tablespoon oyster sauce; 1 tablespoon palm or brown sugar; 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice; 2 teaspoons Asian chile sauce, preferably Sriracha; 1/2 cup (10g) ﬁnely chopped fresh Thai or Italian basil; 1/3 cup (50g) crushed roasted peanuts plus more for garnish; Fresh Thai or Italian basil leaves for garnish

This simple stir-fry from Katie Chin's new cookbook, Everyday Thai Cooking, is a true Chin original. She brings together Thai staples—fish sauce, palm sugar, lime juice, and peanuts—with easy-to-find ingredients—spinach, tofu, basil—for a spicy, crunchy, veggie-based main that comes together faster than you can cook a pot of rice. The tofu is transformed from its spongy, bland beginnings as it soaks up the umami-filled sauce.

Why I picked this recipe: I wanted to try out a vegetarian recipe in the book, and this one was definitely the most unique.

What worked: The mixture of oyster sauce and sherry were a great foil to the mineral-y spinach, and a reminder of the link between Chinese and Thai cuisine.

What didn't: I prefer to sear tofu in a nonstick skillet to allay any fear of sticking. Guessing that it would stick in only 1 tablespoon of oil, I seared it off separately before adding it back into the stir fry at the end.

Suggested tweaks: You could certainly sub out the tofu for any other protein, or else cut it out completely and add more spinach. For a truly vegetarian take, you could use a mixture of sweet soy sauce and regular soy sauce for the fish and oyster sauce.

Reprinted with permission from Everyday Thai Cooking: Quick and Easy Family Style Recipes by Katie Chin. Copyright 2013. Published by Tuttle Publishing. All rights reserved. Available wherever books are sold.

Active: 20 mins

Total: 20 mins

Serves: 4 to 6 servings

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2 tablespoons high-heat cooking oil, divided
One 16-ounce (500g) block ﬁrm tofu, drained, patted dry and cut into 1/2-inch (1.25 cm) cubes
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon minced galangal or fresh ginger
8 ounces (250g) spinach, washed and trimmed
1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce (nam pla)
2 teaspoons cooking sherry
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon palm or brown sugar
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
2 teaspoons Asian chile sauce, preferably Sriracha
1/2 cup (10g) ﬁnely chopped fresh Thai or Italian basil
1/3 cup (50g) crushed roasted peanuts plus more for garnish
Fresh Thai or Italian basil leaves for garnish

Heat half of the oil in a wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tofu pieces and stir-fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Heat the remaining oil in the wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and galangal and stir-fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the spinach, fish sauce, sherry, oyster sauce, palm sugar, lime juice, and chile sauce; stir-fry until the spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the basil leaves and peanuts and stir-fry for 30 seconds until basil is wilted. Dish out and garnish with basil leaves and peanuts. Serve with jasmine rice.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
185	Calories
13g	Fat
8g	Carbs
12g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	185
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g	17%
Saturated Fat 2g	11%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 563mg	24%
Total Carbohydrate 8g	3%
Dietary Fiber 3g	9%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 14mg	68%
Calcium 292mg	22%
Iron 3mg	18%
Potassium 445mg	9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.