At this time of year, in the tunnel between the final warmth of summer season and the uncompromising cold of winter (let’s get in touch with it autumn?), I just want to take in curry. But not the oily, wealthy type that wants to be mopped up with naan. As a substitute, I want a thing sharp, fresh new, incredibly hot, sour and salty that will make me sense alive – such as today’s recipe, which borrows flavours from Thai cooking. It is packed with chilli, ginger, turmeric and lime, with tofu and coconut thrown in to round things out. I hope it will awaken your senses, clear your sinuses and put a hop in your stage and a skip in your hop.
Tofu and coconut curry with turmeric and Thai basil
I use a manufacturer of tofu (Tofoo) that does not need urgent, but if you use any other company or extra-organization tofu, it may nicely have to have to be.
Prep 15 min
Prepare dinner 30 min
Serves 4
450g additional-firm tofu
Rapeseed oil
300g green beans, topped and tailed
1 onion, peeled and finely sliced
5cm x 4cm piece fresh new ginger, peeled and grated
2 red bird’s eye chillies, finely sliced
1 ½ tsp caster sugar
½ tsp ground turmeric
1½ tsp high-quality sea salt (or to taste)
1 x 400ml tin coconut milk
1½ tbsp fresh new lime juice (ie, from 1 lime)
25g Thai basil leaves
Jasmine rice, to provide
Holding it in excess of the sink, flippantly press the tofu block amongst your arms to get rid of as substantially drinking water as attainable. Wrap in kitchen paper, press yet again, then unwrap and cut into 2½cm cubes.
Place a massive plate to a single facet of the stove – you will use this later for the cooked tofu and beans – and have prepared a pair of tongs (or two forks) with which to convert the tofu. Heat three tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan over a medium-large heat. When extremely hot, increase the tofu and fry for six to eight minutes, turning every single moment or two, until eventually golden brown all above. Maintaining the pan on the heat, meticulously transfer the tofu to the plate.
Include the environmentally friendly beans to the warm pan, shake to settle them into a solitary layer, and depart them to blister in the warm oil for two minutes. Switch more than the beans, repeat on the other aspect and, the moment they’re all flecked with brown, transfer to the tofu plate.
Set the pan again on the heat and incorporate a tablespoon or so much more oil. Once which is fantastic and warm, insert the onion and fry, stirring, for six minutes, until eventually it is turning translucent and commencing to capture at the edges. Incorporate the ginger and chilli, stir-fry for two minutes, then stir in the sugar, turmeric and salt. Incorporate the coconut milk, the cooked tofu and beans, and the lime juice, bring almost everything up to a simmer, then go away to prepare dinner for five minutes.
Stir in the Thai basil leaves, cook dinner for a final moment, until finally they wilt, then stir once again and flavor – change the lime and salt if will need be. Serve in bowls more than some freshly steamed jasmine rice.