Hakka Stuffed Tofu (客家酿豆腐）

Stuffed tofu is a very common in Hakka dishes. Me as Hakka used to eat since I was little. Besides tofu my mum used to stuff the pork filling into brinjal (her favourite!) and chilies. Sometimes I use ladies fingers and bittergout too. At first the stuffed tofu or vegetable are being fried. Then cook and braise in sauce for more flavour. 

Normally I use oyster sauce and sugar in braising sauce. But in 快乐厨房magazine, authentic Hakka stuffed tofu only use soya sauce as seasoning. So I tried its version. Hope you like this humble Hakka stuffed tofu dish. 

Reference from 快乐厨房magazine 

Hakka stuffed tofu
Ingredients:
2-3 firm tofu (豆干）

Some corn flour for dusting

~Filling
100g minced pork
1 teaspoon grated ginger
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon soya sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon corn flour

~Braising sauce
1 teaspoon soya sauce
150ml water

Methods:

~Preparation

1. Cut firm tofu into 4 equal squares. Cut a square in center (but not cut through) with a knife. Use a small spoon scoop out tofu to make a square hole for stuffing. Keep the tofu pieces and use as part of filling. 

2. For filling, put tofu pieces, minced pork and all the seasoning into mixing bowl. Stir till well combine. Set aside.

3. Before stuffing, sprinkle some corn flour inside tofu. Get some minced pork mixture and fill the hole as stuffing. Repeat till all finish. By doing this the stuffing will stick well and not fall apart.

*I shape the extra minced pork mixture into meat balls. 

~Cooking

1. Heat up wok, add in vegetable oil (about half way cover tofu square). Once oil is hot, gently put in stuffed tofu. Fry till golden brown in all side. Remove and set aside.

*turn tofu squares to get all sides evenly brown.

2. Pour out all oil. Prepare sauce by adding water and soya sauce into wok. Bring to boil. Return fried stuffed tofu back into wok. Cook till all the sauce absorbed by tofu. Serve!

I am submitting this post to Aspiring Bakers #29：Heirloom and Local Dialect Recipes 家传菜/ 籍贯菜 (March 2013 ) hosted by FHL of Faith Hope Love