The Legend of Pipa Tofu & My Birthday!

• Blackswan

  10 Nov 10, 21:43

  

  Yes, it's my birthday today! To thank all my friends & bloggers for their warmth wishes @ Facebook & to reward readers for their support to this site, I’m gonna introduce you to one of my family's favourite dish.
  
  This is also the fave food of one of the China’s Four Great Beauties, Xi Shi (西施). She is said to be “so entrancingly beautiful that fish would forget to swim & sink away from the surface when she walks by”.
  

  

  Legend has it that Xi Shi loved Tofu, beancurd made locally known to be the best in the China; & Pipa Tofu was her fave. The name derived from a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument. Sometimes called the Chinese lute, the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body.
  

  

  There’re many versions of Pipa Tofu in the market. Readers who have been following my recipes will know that I love to incorporate both East & West ingredients to come up with fusion dishes. I’ve fine-tuned mine to include Bacon bits in this Oriental Tofu. Well, you’re gonna to learn how to make this legendary dish!
  
  Here’s what you need to play the beautiful piece:
  
  Music:
  300g Pressed Tofu
  1 Fish fillet
  50g Minced pork/chicken
  5 Chinese mushrooms
  1 Egg-white (lightly beaten)
  1 tsp Chopped carrots
  1 tsp Bacon bits
  1 tsp Oyster sauce
  ½ tsp Cornflour
  Pinch of pepper & salt
  
  Tune
  (to add a royalty touch, I’ve used Premium Abalone Sauce instead of Oyster to make the sauce):
  Stock from steamed Tofu
  1 tbsp Mixed Vegetables
  ½ tsp Premium Abalone Sauce
  ½ tsp Sesame oil
  1 tsp Cornstarch
  Dash of Chinese wine
  
  The Sonata:
  

  1. Chop fillet & mash with Tofu. Mix thoroughly with all other ingredients.
  
  2. Using a Chinese soup spoon, gently mould the Tofu into Pipa shape. Pinch one end of Tofu to make a sharper end.
  
  3. Steam Tofu for about 5 mins. Remove from steamer & drain stock into small pan to make stock.
  
  4. Coat Tofu with flour. You may want to wait for it to cool down a little.
  
  5. Heat oil & deep-fry Tofu till golden brown. Turn gently to avoid breaking them. Drain oil & dish onto serving plate.
  6. Heat pan & add mixed vegetables to stock. Cook till soft & add cornstarch to thicken sauce.
  
  7. Dribble sauce over Tofu & serve hot.

  I’ve used Press Tofu here which is good for pan fried & deep fried dishes. If you dislike fried food, simply skip step 4 & 5. Buy the Extra Smooth Silken Tofu to get a softer texture if you’re only going to steam. Check out the featured Cute Little Steamed Tofu for another healthier choice!