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In Chinese cooking, smoked tofu is a block of extra-firm tofu that has a smoky taste and is lightly seasoned. I used liquid smoke and black tea powder to mimic the smoky flavor, which makes it taste much better than the store-bought version. You can use it in dishes with tofu, but I prefer to serve it on rice or noodle bowls. For this recipe, you have the option of making it in an oven or an air fryer.
1 block (16 ounces, or 454 grams) extra-firm tofu, cut into 3/4-inch-thick (two-centimeter) rectangles
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
1/4 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon black tea powder (from a tea bag)
If using an oven, preheat it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius; gas mark 4). If using an air fryer, preheat it to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (120 degrees Celsius). Pat the tofu dry thoroughly with paper towels. Place the pieces on a baking sheet (or the tray of the air fryer) without overlapping.
In a small bowl, combine the light and dark soy sauces, liquid smoke, five-spice powder, sugar, and tea powder for the sauce and stir to mix well. Carefully spoon half of the sauce over the tofu. Use the back of the spoon to spread the sauce to cover the entire top of the tofu, without too much pooling on the baking sheet.
If using an oven, bake for 20 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Flip over the tofu and spoon the rest of the sauce on top. Bake for another 20 minutes, until the sauce is fully absorbed. You can serve the tofu now or, if you prefer a firmer texture, you can flip over the tofu again and bake for another 10 to 20 minutes.
If using an air fryer, cook for five minutes. Flip over the tofu and spoon the rest of the sauce on top. Cook for another five minutes, until the sauce is fully absorbed. You can serve the tofu now or, if you prefer a firmer texture, you can flip over the tofu again and bake for another five minutes.
Recipe excerpted from Chinese Homestyle: Everyday Plant-Based Recipes for Takeout, Dim Sum, Noodles, and More with permission from the publisher. Buy the book on Amazon!
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the tea powder—- should I grind the tea leaves… my tea bags do not con
I think you would need to grind the tea leaves.