Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Mabo Dofu

Well, the school year has started in Japan and so I've gone back to my regular teaching schedule. The break was fun while it lasted! Started off yesterday morning at the nursery school and met some of the new kids in the three year old class. Came home to do a little sewing but didn't get enough done to report on anything. Taught in the afternoon and again in the evening. A nice way to start the school year.

I'm really racking my brain to find something to post on today but I took pictures as I was cooking last night so how about a recipe (that I can't imagine anyone is going to try...) Last night's meal was Mabo Dofu which I suppose is actually Chinese. This is a no brainer for me. It is one of my family's favorites. I don't need a recipe since I can make it with my eyes closed. Usually I have ground meat on hand and tofu so I don't have to go shopping special, and I can make it in 15 minutes or less. Here goes...

Mabo Dofu

150 gms ground meat
2 green onions (big thick ones. Maybe called leeks in some countries)
1 piece of fresh ginger about the size of your thumb
1 clove of garlic
Red pepper flakes (or a dried red pepper. The really spicy one)
Tofu
1 Tbsp miso (fermented bean paste)
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp sake
1 Tbsp sugar
1 boullion cube
chili oil or sesame seed oil
corn starch

  1. Brown ground meat, add chopped green onions, ginger, garlic and red pepper.
  2. Add 1 cup water and flavorings
  3. Simmer 5 minutes
  4. Add tofu cut into cubes and heat through
  5. Thicken slightly with corn starch and add chili oil to desired spicyness
Serve with rice.

I'm assuming no one wants the recipe for jellyfish salad!
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7 comments:

  1. Connie12:11 PM

    Tanya, I received your email so I knew to expect the recipe. You must have remembered from reading my blog that I don't eat much Chinese food. Maybe it's because I have only had it in American restaurants that say it's Chinese food and if I ate something homemade I might feel differently.
    Good luck with the new school year! Connie

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  2. Nancy9:07 PM

    You're right. I'm going to pass on the jellyfish salad!

    I had no idea that the academic year was so different in Japan. Do you have some kind of a long break at some point equivalent to our June-July-August?

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  3. Mrs. Goodneedle5:04 AM

    My husband lived in China (on assignment) for two and a half years, we ate food much like this whenever we visited and it was always fresh(!) and delicious. I'll pass on the jellyfish salad, too; like Nancy- but I've learned that if I don't know what it is I am quite often surprised that I do like it very much!

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  4. Laurie Ann7:19 AM

    That recipe looks good. I am printing it out to give it a try one day.

    We have Japanese students from Seikei University visit with us a week each summer and I just love all the great food they introduce us to.

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  5. Tazzie8:32 AM

    Ohhh yes, that looks yummy!
    *hugs*
    Tazzie
    :-)

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  6. atet2:06 PM

    The recipe looks delicious! I may have to print it out and give it to my husband to try. (as far as he knows I don't cook -- and we're going to leave it that way)

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  7. QuiltingFitzy9:11 AM

    Goodness, this is my FAVORITE dish! Except I cheat by buying the little packet of already mixed spices and things. I guess this is kinda of like making Kraft Macaroni & Cheese out of the box as opposed to making it from scratch.

    We had it last night, oh yum.

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