Be my Guest Dassana # Pan fried tofu with peanut sauce

                                             
I am highly honoured to introduce the Guest Blogger for this month on my Blog. Dassana,  the lady behind the hugely popular site –“Veg recipes of India” is one of the very few Indian Bloggers in this blogosphere whose blogs are immensely popular and have followers in thousands and yet so humble to realize it.  Since the day I have started Blogging,  I have looked up to her for the amazing variety her Blog has, her informative write ups and simplicity of her Photographs. I love the way she associates the recipe/dish with her experiences and life. If you are looking for a grand vegetarian site, with an array of assorted Indian Cuisines and flavours, you know where to go now :)  

Dassana lives in Pune, and  is a home science graduate, which evidently compliments her other hobbies  like gardening, reading and meditation. She started blogging in 2009 and wanted to reflect her blog as a vegetarian Indian specialty site and hence the apt name. She is fond of south Indian and Mumbai street food, but the most popular posts on her blog are - paneer butter masala, kadai paneer, idli and hyderabadi veg biryani which is no surprise considering her tempting pictures and in-depth narration. I specially love her post on Idli, which really gives you step by step insight on how to make soft idlis. 

I just could not believe when I got to know that she is a Vegan. With so much variety and hundreds of Indian Desserts' recipes on her blog its just so amazing that she manages to be  strictly Vegan. Hats off! In her own words “it’s the creative fire within as well as the positive feedback received from my readers that keeps me motivated. Whatever you do in life, do it with totality and be creative about it. be yourself and find your intrinsic talent.”

Thank you again Dassana for doing this guest post for me, over to her now :)

When Nupur asked me to write a guest post for her, i could not refuse. generally, I don't do guests posts, but when I read Nupur's mail, i just could not say no. since her blog has a variety of recipes, be Indian or world, I decided to share this pan Asian recipe of fried tofu with peanut sauce. 

This is an easy tofu recipe and can be had as a snack or appetizer. The tofu is batter coated and pan fried. Yes, it does take some effort to pan fry than deep frying, but the results are healthier. These crisp fried tofu are served with sweet and mildly spiced peanut sauce. the peanut sauce is prepared with smooth peanut butter. 

I have adapted the basic recipe from the complete book of vegetarian cooking. the original recipe is made with eggs and deep fried. I have veganized and pan fried. also i omitted some ingredients like barbecue sauce & rice vinegar in the peanut sauce as I did not have them. I have used my own proportions and included quite a few ingredients which were not in the original recipe. 

prep time: 5 mins
cooking time: 30 mins
serves: 2-3

For the peanut sauce:
3 tbsp smooth peanut butter
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
1/2 to 1 tbsp organic cane sugar or as required - depends upon the sweetness of the peanut sauce
1/2 tsp red chilli powder or red chili flakes
1/4 tsp soy sauce
salt as required

For the pan fried tofu:
250 gms plain tofu
3 tbsp all purpose flour 
3 tbsp cornflour/cornstarch
1/2 tsp red chilli powder or red chili flakes
1/2 tsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 or 2 sichuan pepper, crushed (optional)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup water
2 to 3 tbsp oil for pan frying
salt as required

Preparing the peanut sauce:
First combine the vinegar, sugar and salt in a pan.
Keep on flame and bring to boil,  simmer for 1-2 minutes.
remove from heat and add peanut butter, chili powder or flakes, soy sauce.
stir and mix well, pour in a serving bowl and keep aside.

Preparing tofu:
Chop the tofu into cubes or rectangles or triangles.
Take the all purpose flour, corn flour, red chili powder, sichuan pepper, soy sauce, baking powder, water and mix to a smooth batter.
Heat oil in a frying pan.
Dip the tofu pieces in the batter and place them one by one in the pan.
When one side becomes opaque and done, flip and cook the other side. 
Pan fry till the tofu are crisp and light golden and done.
Serve the pan fried tofu with the peanut sauce. 

For my event - Be My guest. If you want to be a part of this event please write to me at nupurs.kitchen@gmail.com