Beef Vegetable and Tofu Stir Fry

Beef Vegetable Tofu StirFry (01) by MeetaK 

So tell me – have you gone out and taken a big deep breath? I mean a BIG breath – really filling your nostrils and lungs with the air outside. Can you smell it? It may be distant but it is there – at least for us folk in the Northern Hemisphere. Spring is in the air.

It’s March! Already! Wasn’t I just writing my Retrospective for 2009? Boy I am glad winter is finally in it’s closing chapter. It’s been the coldest winter here in Germany in 50 years! It has snowed perpetually since the middle of December. It has melted again now – there was a lot to go but it is gone and although I know it could come back I am trying to be an optimist.

Time to unravel Spring in all it’s beautiful glory. I am getting impatient though. Can’t wait for the first rhubarb, apricots, asparagus and of course later the strawberries, raspberries and cherries. I sing this song every year! My step is lighter as I literally dance my way to the markets. Oh the flowers and the produce. Ideas upon ideas – wish I could transport the entire market into my back yard so I could experiment at free will with all the produce at my finger tips.

Phlox Flowers (01)by MeetaK

I am so looking forward to my CSA man bringing me a weekly box packed full of lovely organic produce again. It might sound weird - but I go into an “oooh!” and “ahhh!” delightful ecstasy at the sight of all the good stuff in the box. OK as you all are food mad too – it’s not weird but picture the poor CSA man leaving, probably thinking how a few vegetables and fruit can make a gal that excited. But what he does not know - I am seeing tarts, quiche, crumbles and other delectable things I will be preparing in my kitchen.

Beef Vegetable Tofu StirFry (02) by MeetaK

While I am waiting for all this to happen I tend to rely on a mix of fresh winter vegetables and frozen spring/summer vegetables I put away last year. Then I use them in a quick light way. Not overcooking them, but instead preparing them to provide their fullest aromas. Like this simple but comforting beef and tofu stir-fry with colorful mixed vegetables. Makes the waiting game a little easier.

Beef Vegetable and Tofu Stir-Fry

Printable version of recipe here

Ingredients

500g beef – rump, thinly sliced
250g tofu, cut into strips
250g mixed vegetables of choice, cut into strips
4 spring onions, thinly sliced
small piece of ginger, cut into strips
1 1/2 teaspoon cornflour
2 tablespoons soy sauce
Drizzling of sesame oil
1 red chili, deseeded and finely chopped
65 ml stock
2 tablespoons peanut oil
ground black pepper
fresh Thai basil, chopped – to garnish

 

Method

  1. Mix cornflour, 3 teaspoons soy sauce, ginger and a good drizzling of sesame oil in a bowl. Add the beef strips and marinate for at least a few hours.

  2. Heat about 2 teaspoons of the peanut oil in a wok until just smoking. Add a portion of the beef and stir-fry until brown. Remove with slotted spoon. Heat another 2-3 teaspoons of peanut oil and brown the rest of the beef.

  3. Heat the rest of the peanut oil and stir-fry the tofu, then add the vegetables, spring onions and chili. Continue to stir-fry for approx 2 minutes, until the tofu has heated through and the vegetables are soft but not over-cooked.

  4. Pour the stock and remaining soy sauce, then add the beef back to the wok and cook through for another minute, until the sauce boils and thickens. Season with pepper and serve sprinkled with chopped Thai basil and steamed rice.

 

 


Verdict

Beef Vegetable Tofu StirFry (03) by MeetaK

Yes it makes the waiting easier. It’s not entirely spring but with all the good hopes that it will be coming around the corner. I do not use garlic in this as I want the vegetables and tofu to present themselves in all their perfect flavor. Ginger adds a slight tang and complements the entire dish perfectly.


H2Ope For Haiti update

The deadline for entering the H2Ope for Haiti charity raffle has been extended until midnight GMT on Sunday 7 March. The event is raising money for Concern Worldwide, a well-established charity that was already operating in Haiti at the time of the January 12th quake, meaning they could mobilize faster than most to receive and distribute aid to those in the greatest need, including hundreds of thousands of liters of clean drinking water. So, please take a moment to browse through the prizes and bid. My prize is the sensational Ottolenghi cookbook and 2 color prints of choice from my photo collection. Enter HFH18 while giving your bid and you have the chance to win this great prize!

You might like these Asian style dishes from WFLH:

Szechwan Pepper and Ginger Mixed Sprouts Root Vegetable Stir-Fry on Quinoa Asian Style Tilapia

 


All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2010 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

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32 comments:

  1. Gorgeous flowers honey, and such an uplifting post - we had sun and blue skies all day today and yesterday and I'm feeling very energised because of it - bring on spring!

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  2. I don't think I've ever been so glad for winter to be over, it seemed never ending this year.

    I love tofu and the composition in these pictures is really neat. I need to make mine a bit simpler - I am learning a lot from you!!

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  3. I'm so happy your winter is ebbing away! :-) The flowers are so cheery and make me smile. :-) The stir-fry is wonderful comfort food and I wish you MUCH joy as you receive your first box of veggies SOON! :-)

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  4. Gorgeous flowers - love that shot! I love spring and I have primrose flowering in my garden already. My daffodil in my front garden just flowered. :)

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  5. A great combination! That dish looks really tasty and pleasant!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  6. Completely agree with your thoughts! I love warmer weathers too! Delicious dish..

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  7. Yaay for spring. I want to cook more tofu around here too, just bought some at the store.

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  8. Just what I needed today Meeta, A springtime post. Thank you so much for sharing..It won't be long now:)

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  9. OK, so until I read your post I really hadn' t felt at all like spring was on its way. It's still cold and wet and dark here. But your talk of rhubarb and asperagus made me go outside and take a deep breath - and you're right! It kinda sorta almost smells like spring!

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  10. Spring will be there before you know it! Along with all those goodies it brings :) Meanwhile that stir-fry is indeed delicious!

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  11. I am yearning stir-fries..your post looks so tempting...

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  12. Oh my, I love the photos of the flowers. If only my hubby is not allergic to pollen, I will decorate my entire house with fresh flowers!
    Glad spring has come to your door. I am soo happy autumn is here. The summer has been great, but I am also missing colder weather ;).

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  13. Winter seems like it's gone so fast this year, that I'm almost not ready for Spring! I am definitely ready for Spring vegetables, though. Especially asparagus, which is so great with beef in stir fries.

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  14. Am glad to hear a change in weather - I know winter has been tough on everyone and looking forward to more delicious recipes like this one to celebrate the season!

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  15. Oh yeah I am also waiting for the strawberry and other delicous fruits. yhe sun god has been kind to us for the last few days and hope it stays like that.
    Love the stir fry.

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  16. I am embarrassed to say that I have never cooked tofu before, but I sure am inspired now!!!

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  17. Did you nick those chopsticks from a Chinese restaurant?! Very beautiful dish and i like those little leaves you used as props. A good stirfry is such a comforting homey dish that helps you recover from a crappy day. You make miss my mum's cooking Meeta x

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  18. thanks everyone for your comments. Yes it time to sing the praise of spring. i am sure if we all do it it will come around much faster. glad you are liking this dish! loved the soft tofu with the ginger.

    davina - no i did not (shhhh)

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  19. My sentiments exactly!!! :)) I can't wait for CSA season. this is my first year.. so really looking fwd to it! I really do wish they'd have winter CSAs..

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  20. Ah, now I'm feeling it! We've had our first bright sunny days (well hours anyway) and I love it! Makes planning summer in Florida that much better. And I am waiting for the berries and the peaches and plums! It seems ages since we've eaten them! Love the bright, colorful, yummy stir fry. That is a great dish while waiting for fruit and veg season!

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  21. I love this sort of dish & like the addition of tofu.

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  22. It's been raining cats and dogs in San Francisco. We've been having weird stormy weather pattern here. I look forward to spring and I hope this year spring will be warmer than last year. We don't have four seasons in SF. Our spring can be foggy and chilly :(

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  23. Boo for Spring, I'm a Fall/Winter gal, but they Stir Fry looks awesome.

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  24. I am so excited for you, Meeta. It sounds like every day you were being tormented over at Twitter! (Comes from coming from Dubai?)
    Anyway, I'm always in the mood for a good stir fry- any season!

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  25. I've got some tofu and beef sitting in he fridge right now... bring on Spring I say! Coldest winter in Britain for years too.

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  26. Hi Meeta, this looks like lunch at our house. I like the way you mixed tofu with beef-we don't actually do that but maybe we should.

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  27. Great idea to mix tofu in with meat, never thought of that...and those flowers looks so stunning!

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  28. thank you so much for your comments and feedback. in the meantime it has snowed again BOOO! LOL! need to keep thinking spring! glad you like the mix of beef and tofu it adds a lovely different texture paired with the meat. works really well! you must try!

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  29. Looks gorgeous and yummy! We finally smelt Spring here for the first time yesterday - and hubby rushed out to barbecue for lunch! Hope we don't get a late dump of snow as you did...

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  30. I like it that you use tofu in this dish!

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Thank you for visiting What's For Lunch, Honey? and taking time to browse through my recipes, listen to my ramblings and enjoy my photographs. I appreciate all your comments, feedback and input. I will answer your questions to my best knowledge and respond to your comments as soon as possible.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy your stay here and that I was able to make this an experience for your senses.

Hugs
Meeta