Malaysian Clay Pot Tofu

Sorry to say that all the great food people brought over after Vegan Daughter's birth has finally run out. That meant back to the kitchen for me. The weather here has taken a jump up into the high twenties, so that got me thinking about food from more tropical climes. You can bake this in the oven, or, if it is too hot to even think about using the oven, on the BBQ. There is not much spicing here, so the key is a fully flavoured veggie broth and a strong soy sauce.

INGREDIENTS

- 1 pkg tofu (firm or extra firm)

- oil

- 1/2 tsp tumeric

- 1/4 cup grated coconut

- 1 onion, diced

- 2 garlic cloves, chopped

- 1 lemon grass stalk, outer husk and end removed, finely chopped

- 1" chunk of ginger, minced

- 1 green chile, seeded and minced

- 1 -2 tbsp vegetarian oyster sauce, or mushroom soy sauce

- 1 can coconut milk, divided into fatty part and thin/watery part

- 1 1/4 cup vegetable stock

- juice of 1 lime

- 1 tbsp sugar

- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar

- 2 tomatoes, diced

- chopped fresh cilantro

- salt, if needed

METHOD

Preheat oven or BBQ to 400 degrees

1. Fry tofu in a bit of oil over medium heat until nicely golden on all sides. Sprinkle tumeric over tofu and mix well. Add a few splashes of veggie broth to help evenly coat the tofu, then remove from heat. Remove tofu from pan and wipe pan dry.

2. Add coconut to the pan and dry fry for a few mins until it begins to turn golden. Add onion, garlic, lemon grass, ginger and chile with a splash of oil and fry for 4-5 mins, until softened.

3. Add oyster sauce with the thin part of the coconut milk and mix well. Add veggie stock, lime juice, sugar, and vinegar and mix well.

4. Pour mixture into a clay baker and add tofu. Cover and bake for 40 mins, stirring after 25 mins. Add in coconut fat and mix well. Bake for 10 more mins.

5. Remove from oven, stir in diced tomatoes. Adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with cilantro and serve over rice.