Quinoa Stir-Fry

I don't often cook with tofu. I do however love cooking with quinoa and a good stir fry so when this recipe popped up in my google reader, I thought I'd give it a shot.

The last time I made a stir fry with tofu it failed miserably, but I followed the directions more closely then I usually do with this and it turned out really great! I loved the flavors, subtle sesame oil and just enough ginger. It was also really quick, always appreciated on a weeknight. I would never have thought of quinoa in a stir fry, but it worked really well! Alex said this was just ok, but he had three plates full, so take that as you like. :-)



Stir Fried Quinoa with Vegetables and Tofu
From the New York Times

Ingredients:
1/2 pound extra firm tofu, drained and sliced thinly
2 broccoli crowns, broken into florets
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon soy sauce (regular or low-sodium)
1 tablespoon fish sauce (may substitute soy sauce)
2 teaspoons dark Asian sesame oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic (grated on a microplane)
1 tablespoon minced ginger (grated on a microplane)
2 tablespoons peanut oil or canola oil
1 medium red bell pepper, cut in thin strips (we used 1 yellow and half a green)
3/4 pound (2 medium) baby bok choy, trimmed, washed and dried, cut in 1-inch lengths
1 bunch scallions, sliced very thin (I used one large scallion sliced thinly)
1.25 Cups quinoa, prepared to package directions


1. Place the tofu slices on paper towels. Place another paper towel on top, and prepare the remaining ingredients.

Cut the tofu slices into 1/2-inch dice. Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of water to a boil, and add the broccoli. Boil one minute, and transfer at once to a bowl of ice water. Drain and dry on paper towels.

2. In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the soy sauce, fish sauce and sesame oil. Combine the garlic and ginger in another small bowl. Have all the ingredients within easy reach of your pan.

3. Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok or 12-inch steel skillet over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two when added to the pan. Swirl in a tablespoon of the oil by adding it to the sides of the pan and tilting the pan. Add the tofu. Reduce the heat to medium, and stir-fry one to two minutes until it begins to brown. Add the garlic and ginger, and stir-fry for no more than 10 seconds. Add the pepper and bok choy, and stir-fry for one minute. Add the broccoli, and stir-fry for one minute.

4. Swirl in the remaining oil, and add the scallions, quinoa and the soy sauce mixture. Stir-fry, scooping the ingredients up from the bottom of the wok, for about one minute until heated through and fragrant. Serve at once.

Enjoy!