Tofu Tuesdays #2: Tofu & Veggie Chow Mein

While perusing the tofu section of my local overpriced grocery store this past week in anticipation of this post, I was confronted by a selection of tofus that looked quite a bit more interesting than the regular stuff - soft, firm, etc. There was a flavoured tofu that was red in colour, but the packaging didn't say what the flavouring was. Then I spied this package of fried tofu that piqued my interest. Yes, it's higher in fat, but I thought it would be more interesting than the pedestrian tofus next to it.

I also had most of a package of fresh egg chow mein noodles left over from my last Tofu Tuesday installment, and on the back there was conveniently printed for me a chow mein recipe. Hence, this week's Tofu Tuesdays idea was born!

Fried Tofu & Veggie Chow Mein

1 package fried tofu, cubed
1/2 bag coleslaw mix (I love this stuff; it's perfectly chopped for stir fries, and it contains both green & purple cabbage, as well as carrots)
1/2 onion, sliced
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 can sliced water chestnuts
1 package fresh egg chow mein noodles
2 tbsp oyster sauce
1/4 cup broth (I used beef, which I admit seems contrary since this is a vegetarian dish, but sue me - it's what I had on hand)
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 cloves garlic
2 tsp sesame oil

1. Boil chow mein noodles until soft; drain. (The package claims all I had to do was run them under hot water. The package is a liar. Running them under hot water was inadequate, and I found that boiling the noodles for a few minutes worked much better). After draining, I cut my noodles with my kitchen shears to make them a manageable length.

2. Heat some oil wok, and when it's hot, add veggies and stir fry until tender. Add tofu. Add noodles.

3. Combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl and add to the stir fry. Combine well.

The fried tofu had a chewy exterior that was a bit more pleasant than its unfried counterpart, and the flavour was mild enough to blend in well with the other ingredients in the chow mein. I'd definitely use this again (and it was cheaper, too). All in all, this was a great meal!

Bon appetit!