QUICK MEAL IDEA: TOFU AND CUCUMBER SALAD

Last month I was in Shanghai visiting Grandma and this is the salad she taught me how to make. Hubby and I had it again for dinner and I really love the taste. So here I am, sharing Grandma's wonderful but very quick and easy TOFU AND CUCUMBER SALAD recipe.

WHAT YOU NEED:
A block of firm or super firm tofu (organic is better)
A couple of cloves of garlic
2 stalks of scallions
1 med cucumber
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Soy sauce
Black vinegar
Salt
Chinese white powder pepper
Sesame Oil



WHAT YOU DO:

STEP 1: Chop garlic and scallions and set aside in different bowls



STEP 2: Peel cucumber and chop off each end


STEP 3: Half the cucumber in the middle



STEP 4: Cut each half of the cucumber length-wise into 2 pieces. (Now you have 4 pieces of cucumber)

STEP 5: For each piece of the cucumber, use a spoon and scrape off the middle, where all the seeds are. You don't need this part.



STEP 6: Slice each piece of the cucumber (again, length-wise) into thin noodle-like slivers. Pile into a bowl and set aside

STEP 7: Cut tofu into pieces of squares (like picture below)


STEP 8: Fry each piece of tofu in a heated pan with oil until each tofu square is golden on each side. Spread a pinch of salt and pepper to each side if you wish.

Set the fried tofu square aside to cool.



STEP 9: While the tofu is cooling, fry up the chopped garlic and scallions in a heated pan with oil, until they are also golden


STEP 10: At this point, tofu should be cooled. Cut each piece into thin slices just like the cucumbers.



STEP 11: In a large mixing bowl, pour in the sliced cucumber and fried tofu.



STEP 12: Add the following ingredients in:

Salt (Add by the pinch. Use your own judgment on how much.)
1 pinch of Chinese white pepper powder
1 teaspoon of soy sauce (add more if it's not enough)
1 teaspoon of black vinegar
1 teaspoon of sesame oil


STEP 13: Add the fried garlic and scallions and MIX, MIX, MIX


DONE!!!! Delicious, nutricious TOFU AND CUCUMBER SALAD...Straight from Grandma's kitchen :O)