Braised Egg Tofu and Mushrooms Clay Pot

The egg tofu is fried until crispy. Then it’s braised with mushrooms. I’d like to also share with you a cooking trick so the egg tofu won’t break apart easily. All you need is 20 minutes! Let’s get started with Braised Egg Tofu and Mushrooms Clay Pot!

Recipe

Serving: 2 to 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes

For the tofu:
2 packages egg tofu, cut into 1/2 inch rings
1 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 cups oil, for frying

For the clay pot:
1 tablespoon oil
10 slices carrots
3 slices ginger
6 fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1 bunch white beech mushrooms
3 cloves garlic, smashed
1 1/2 tablespoons of scallions, minced

For the sauce:
1 cup vegetable stock
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 tablespoon dark soy sauce
2 tablespoons vegetarian oyster sauce, or regular oyster sauce
1 teaspoon for cornstarch
1 tablespoon water

Instructions

To make the sauce:

• In a bowl, mix in the vegetable stock, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and vegetarian oyster sauce. Whisk.

To prepare the tofu:

• Cut the egg tofu into about ½ inch rings.
• Dip each piece of egg tofu in the cornstarch. Do the same with the rest. (So how do you prevent the egg tofu from breaking apart easily? The trick is to use cornstarch and fry them. So they will have a protective layer on the outside. You could also pan-fry them.)

To fry:

• In a pan over high heat, add the oil, and heat it up to about 350 degrees F (177 degrees C).
• Place the egg tofu inside, and fry until crispy for about 3 minutes. Remove and drain.

To braise:

• In a wok over high heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil, carrots, ginger, garlic, shiitake mushrooms, and beech mushrooms. Stir-fry until aromatic for about 30 seconds.
• Pour in the sauce, return the egg tofu, and mix together. Bring it to a boil, and pour in the cornstarch slurry (1 teaspoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water). Stir until it is thickened.

To serve:

• In a preheated clay pot, transfer everything inside, top with scallions, and serve!

At the end of this recipe:

Let’s take a moment and enjoy the little things in life. Focus on righteous thoughts and let go of negativities. Sit back, relax, and share this delicious braised egg tofu with your friends and family. Let this little moment become what we will remember and cherish. Happy cooking and enjoy!