Pan Glazed Tofu

Drain the tofu: Place the tofu slices between 2 cutting boards. Place by the sink raising one end so that the tofu will drain straight into the sink. Put a weight on the top board to press down on the tofu - I use a full water filter jug. Leave for about 15-20 minutes while you prep and measure all the other ingredients.

Remove the tofu from between the boards and pat dry. Using your index and middle fingers, gently rub sea salt into the cut sides of the tofu. Heat the oil over a medium-high flame in a medium nonstick pan or seasoned skillet. When it is hot, almost smoking, put the tofu in the pan salted cut side down. Cook about 4-5 minutes or until brown. Flip to cook the other side. When browned, set aside on a plate.

Using the same hot pan, add the water, sugar and star anise. It will spit and hiss so be careful. Turn heat down to medium and cook until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is turning amber and starting to caramelize, about 3-5 minutes.

Add the wine, soy sauce, maple syrup, water, chilies, ginger and garlic to the pan. (See Ann’s Tips) Again it will hiss and spit. Raise the flame to medium-high. Cook until the liquid starts to look syrupy, about 5 -7 minutes. While the sauce is cooking down, crumble the reserved tofu into medium size pieces - they shouldn’t be too small. Set aside.

Add the tofu pieces and the white parts of the scallions to the thickened sauce. Stir to coat. Cook about 5-10 minutes or until the tofu looks brown and glazed and the sauce sticky. Sprinkle with the sliced scallion greens and serve immediately.

-Tofu is full of water. Draining it does 2 things: 1) it allows marinades and sauces to penetrate and flavor the tofu when you bake, or as here braise it; 2) it makes the tofu easier to grill or fry since it won't so easily stick.
- Medium-firm or firm tofu work best for this recipe.
-Dry sherry can be substituted for Shaoxing wine.
- Prep for step 4: Stir together in a bowl the measures of wine, soy, maple syrup, and water, then add the chilies, ginger, and garlic. When ready, tip the whole thing into the pan at once
- I sometimes sub the scallions for the tender white parts of leeks, quartered and cut into pieces as per recipe.
- if you want more sauce simply double the sugar and all the wet ingredients.