Asian-Style Tofu with Cashews

I originally made this recipe with chicken (see the recipe for Cashew Chicken in 7 Minutes), but decided to try it with tofu because I was fixing lunch for my friend Bob, who is a vegetarian. Both he and Michael loved it. Success! Feel free to experiment. Leave out the peppers if you or your guests don’t like them. Substitute red or yellow onion, sliced thin for the green onion. Throw in some mushrooms or some snow peas. Have fun with it!

Read the whole recipe before you begin. It has two cooking phases (both are in the microwave; one before the peppers and cashews and one after).

Ingredients:

Start with:

• 2 1/2 cup tofu, sliced into strips or triangles
• 1 Tbsp. Carbquik (or corn starch)
• 1 Tbsp. peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
• 1 Tbsp. of minced garlic
• 2 Tbsp. of soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp. of sherry
• 1/4 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
• 1/2 cup cashews

Plus:

• 2 Tbsp. sliced green onions
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced colorful peppers
• 2 packets of Splenda
• 1/2 tsp. chili garlic paste (optional)

Directions:

Assemble your ingredients so you know for sure you have everything you need. You’re going to place all the ingredients into a microwave safe dish. I use a pretty oval casserole dish.

Coat the tofu with Carbquik (or corn starch). Add soy sauce, sherry.

Add the chili garlic paste and the garlic.

Grate the fresh ginger in. Stir well. Here’s the tricky part. Place the dish of thoroughly stirred ingredients into the microwave. You’re going to microwave it 1 minute at a time for a total of 3 to 4 minutes. The reason you’re going 1 minute at a time is that you need to stir after each minute.

While you are waiting for that first part to be done, go ahead and cut up your colored peppers and green onions. I like to cut the peppers into matchstick-sized pieces. For the prettiest appearance, use whole cashews. (What’s with them selling cashew bits and pieces these days?) Add your cashews. Throw in your Splenda (or sugar). Add the colored peppers. Add the green onions. Then microwave again – 1 minute at a time – for another 2 to 3 minutes. Once it’s cooked, let it sit for 2-3 minutes after it’s cooked. Serve and eat!