Abura - Age (deep Fried Tofu)

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 2
• 1 (250 g) package of regular firm tofu
• 600 ml vegetable oil

Recipe

• 1 remove the excess moisture from the block of tofu by wrapping it in a clean towel and placing it between 2 cutting boards, let stand for an hour or two.
• 2 now cut the tofu block into triangle shapes, about two inches long.
• 3 pour the oil into the wok and heat, when you dip a chopstick into the heated oil and bubbles rise from it the oil is ready for use.
• 4 if the oil smokes it is too hot.
• 5 using the wok's spatula, slide the tofu triangles one at a time into the hot oil.
• 6 fry on both sides until golden brown.
• 7 scoop the triangles out of the wok and allow them to drain on the wok's draining grill (or place on paper towels).
• 8 once the triangles are drained and cool, it's a good idea to give them a second deep frying.
• 9 this deepens their golden color and makes them nice and crisp.
• 10 place once again on the grill to drain and cool.
• 11 the final step requires that you place the fried tofu triangles in a colander and run very hot water over them. i put the colander in the sink and allow the hot water from the faucet to run over the tofu, while i simultaneously pour boiling water from a pot over the triangles. this hot water bath completely leeches all remnants of oil from the tofu, resulting in tofu that you would never imagine as having been deep fried.
• 12 pat dry the tofu and serve with rice or noodles and a little shoyu, or use the fried tofu in another recipe.