Szechuan Stir-Fry with Fiery Peanut Sauce

Szechuan Stir-Fry with Fiery Peanut Sauce  SERVES 6



Serve this delicious Szechuan Stir-Fry with Fiery Peanut Sauce over brown rice. Topping off this dish with roasted peanuts will give your extra-firm tofu some added crunch. Can you say yum?!

Ingredients
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup tamari (soy sauce)
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons natural sugar
1 teaspoon ketchup
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon neutral oil (e.g., vegetable oil)
2 cups broccoli florets, blanched
1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
2 cups thinly sliced napa cabbage
1 cup thinly sliced fresh shiitake mushrooms
8 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained, pressed, and cut into 1/2-inch strips
1 large yellow onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
4 cups cooked brown rice
1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts (optional)
Directions
Szechuan sauce

1. In a bowl (or food processor or blender) combine the water, peanut butter, tamari, vinegar, sugar, ketchup, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes, and blend well.

2. Pour the mixture into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the cornstarch mixture and cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens. Remove the saucepan from the heat and set aside.

Tofu and veggies

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the tofu and stir-fry until golden brown (about 3 minutes). Remove the tofu strips from the oil with a slotted spoon and set aside.

2. Add the onion, broccoli, and bell pepper to the wok and stir-fry for 3 minutes. Add the cabbage and mushrooms and stir-fry 3 minutes more, or until the vegetables soften, adding a little water if the vegetables start to stick.

3. Return the tofu to the skillet. Add the sauce and stir-fry to coat the vegetables. Serve the tofu-vegetable mixture over rice and top with the chopped peanuts, if using.

Tips

- Vary the vegetables according to your personal taste and their availability.

- The amount of heat in this dish can be controlled by the amount of red pepper flakes added.

- Strips of extra-firm tofu are a pleasant foil for the spicy sauce.

- *If sodium is a concern for you, use low-sodium tamari or decrease the amount.
Recipe from "Nut Butter Universe"

Nutritional info per serving:
Calories: 353
Fat: 11 g
Fiber: 7 g
Protein: 13 g
Carbs: 49 g
Sodium: 917 mg

by Robin Robertson. © 2013 Robin Robertson. Used by permission from Vegan Heritage Press.