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stir-fried tofu with green beans
If you’ve never cooked tofu before, now is the perfect time to give it a try! Cornstarch helps give the tofu a crispy crust.
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Prepare Ingredients
Gather Cooking Equipment
- Cutting board
- Chef’s knife
- Ruler
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Paper towels
- 2 medium bowls
- Whisk
- Rubber spatula
- 12-inch nonstick skillet with lid
- Large plate
- Oven mitts
Use chef’s knife to cut tofu into ¾-inch cubes. Line rimmed baking sheet with three layers of paper towels. Spread tofu cubes on baking sheet and let drain for 20 minutes.
Cutting Tofu
Slice block of tofu lengthwise (the long way) into four ¾-inch-thick slabs.
Lay slabs flat and cut each slab in half lengthwise to make 2 long fingers (about ¾ inch thick).
Cut tofu fingers crosswise (the short way) into ¾-inch cubes.
While tofu drains, in medium bowl, whisk together broth, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, and sesame oil.
Gently pat tofu dry with more paper towels. Transfer to second medium bowl. Add remaining ⅓ cup cornstarch to bowl. Use rubber spatula to gently stir tofu to coat until there is no dry cornstarch remaining.
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over medium heat for 1 minute (oil should be hot but not smoking). Carefully add tofu to pan and use rubber spatula to spread it into even layer. Cook, stirring often, until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Turn off heat. Transfer tofu to large plate lined with paper towels.
Add remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and green beans to skillet and return to medium heat. Cover and cook until green beans are bright green, about 3 minutes. Use oven mitts to remove lid. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until green beans are spotty brown all over, about 3 minutes.
america’s test kitchen kids newsletter
We share fun and engaging resources to help kids learn in the kitchen—and make something delicious along the way.
Food for Thought
Trimming Green Beans
To make trimming green beans quick and easy, line up several green beans on a cutting board and cut off tough ends. Do same thing on other side of beans.
How to Mince Garlic
Follow the steps on the next two slides when you need to mince garlic cloves for a recipe. Garlic is sticky, so you may need to carefully wipe it from the sides of the knife to get the pieces of garlic back onto the cutting board, where you can cut them. (You can also use a garlic press to both peel and mince garlic—so easy.)
Crush garlic clove with bottom of measuring cup to loosen papery skin. Use your fingers to remove and discard papery skin.
Place one hand on handle of chef’s knife and rest fingers of your other hand on top of blade. Use rocking motion, pivoting knife as you chop garlic repeatedly to cut it into very small pieces.
