| Grandma's Kitchen: Soybean Magic (continued)
|
|
| One soybean product is the well-known tofu.
Grandma used to make her tofu from beans when she lived in a small Midwestern town years ago where it was not available in any supermarket. The step-by-step description of her tofu-making process will give you some idea of how much she did to turn beans into the jelly-like block of tofu. The first recipe, Shrimp Hui Tofu uses the soft but firm tofu (the perfect outcome), and the second recipe, Tofu Bubble and Chinese Cabbage, uses a more firm tofu which required an additional step from the procedure on the previous page. If the tofu is hard, the block can be cut into small pieces each about 1 inch by 1 inch. Each block is then deep fried. The pieces will expand a little in the hot oil and produce a cavity, hence they acquire the name "Tofu Bubble" (literally from Chinese). They look like small pockets and can be stuffed with anything (especially meat). The cooking method for both recipes is called "Hui," which involves low heat, medium cooking time (15 to 20 minutes), and requires some water while cooking. |
There are several other standard methods of cooking, including: Tsao (stir fry), Gan-Shau (dry cooking with very spicy ingredients), Hoon-Shau (roast with soy sauce), Kau (bake), Tzeng (steam), Zoo (boil), Duen (low heat long hour boiling), Za (fry), Wei (very low heat), Tan (quick cooking in boiling water), Shuan (very quick cooking in very hot, boiling water), and refinements of these methods. This time, we will introduce two dishes both using "Hui." A warning: Grandma’s cooking, by nature, is somewhat ambiguous; hence in places where the instruction is not clear, use your own judgment and imagination. The resulting dish then will have your personality and uniqueness. Shrimp Hui Tofu Bubble and Chinese Cabbage This is the beginning of our series from "Grandma's Kitchen." Future articles will focus on cooking from different Asian countries, with an emphasis on traditional home cooking -- the kind that brings forth memories of love and warmth from day's past. |
| Archive List Jade Dragon About Us Contact Us Table of Contents Home |