Country-Style Vegetable Stew with Tofu Puffs

2 min read

Tofu puffs, also known as bean curd puffs or bean kow, are golden squares of soybean curd that have been deep-fried. Their super-absorbency makes them highly popular in stews and braised dishes. Look for them in the refrigerated section of Asian markets, next to the regular tofu products. For a saucier stew, use 11⁄2 packages, or 6 ounces, of tofu puffs. Serve over rice to catch all the delicious sauce.

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth, plus additional, as needed

1 cup water, plus additional, as needed

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons peanut oil

2 medium onions (about 6 ounces each), each cut into 8 wedges

1 medium carrot (about 2 ounces), peeled, cut into 1⁄2-inch-thick slices

1⁄4 cup chopped celery

1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger

2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 medium sweet potato (about 6 ounces), peeled and cut into bite-size pieces

1 cup green beans, trimmed, cut diagonally in half

1 teaspoon Chinese chili paste, or to taste

1⁄2 teaspoon salt, or to taste Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

2 (4-ounce) packages deep-fried tofu puffs, each piece halved

1 cup frozen peas, thawed

In a small container, whisk together the broth, water, and flour until thoroughly blended; set aside.

In a medium stockpot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions, carrot, celery, and ginger and cook, stirring, until fragrant and softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the broth mixture, sweet potato, green beans, chili paste, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in the tofu puffs, cover, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the peas and cook, covered, until all vegetables are tender, about 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally and adding additional broth or water for a soupier consistency, if desired. Serve warm.

{PER SERVING} Calories 272 • Protein 12g • Total Fat 12g • Sat Fat 2g • Cholesterol 0mg • Carbohydrate 33g • Dietary Fiber 7g • Sodium 429mg