Family Recipe 08 - Fish and Tofu

Ingredients: Tilapia, firm tofu, green onion, ginger, garlic, chili, sugar, salt, rice wine, soy sauce Instructions: 1. Finely chop green onion, ginger, garlic, and chili (using a food processor makes it easier). 2. Wash the fish, then pat the surface dry with paper towels to prevent oil splattering. Heat oil in a pan over high heat until it smokes, then add the fish. Do not stir the fish at this point; instead, shake the pan to allow the oil to flow to areas without oil. Once the fish slides when you shake the pan, flip it. Repeat the same process until both sides are golden brown, then set aside. 3. Using the remaining oil in the pan, sauté the chopped green onion, ginger, garlic, and chili until fragrant. Add sugar, soy sauce (add salt if you feel it needs more flavor), and a generous amount of water. Once the water boils, add the fish and rice wine, reduce to low heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. 4. Cut or break the tofu into appropriate sizes and add it to the pan to stew. Do not cover at this stage, as the inside of the tofu can easily become honeycomb-like. Continue to simmer over low heat for another 30 minutes. 5. Turn up the heat to high to reduce the sauce. You need to continuously shake the pan during this step to prevent the fish skin from sticking to the bottom and burning. Once the sauce thickens, it's ready.