Dried tofu and celery stir fry is a popular homestyle dish in China. It uses dried tofu, a type of extra firm tofu product that holds very well together, to create this main dish that is filling and delicious. If you come across dried tofu in a Chinese market or Asian grocery store, I highly recommend stocking up on it. So you can use it to create this quick and easy dish for your dinner.
Smoked tofu and celery stir fry ingredients
What is Dried tofu
Dried tofu, or smoked tofu, is called 香干(Xiang Gan) or 豆干 (Dou Gan) in Chinese. It is a type of tofu product that has a texture firmer and finer than that of extra firm tofu. Its production process and ingredients are very similar to regular tofu, but with a lower water ratio. Once it’s made, it’s also braised to create a darker surface that is more flavorful than regular tofu. Dried tofu is perfect for stir fry, because it holds together much better than regular tofu, so you can cut it into various shapes. You can usually find dried tofu in the refrigerated section of a Chinese grocery store. There are usually two main types of dried tofu, the plain type and the five spice seasoned. The plain type is simply seasoned with salt and sugar, with a very mild taste. The five spiced one is more flavorful and can be enjoyed by itself. When cooking the dried tofu and celery stir fry, I prefer to use the plain type.
Can I replace dried tofu with regular tofu?
Dried tofu is a special product that has a very different texture from regular tofu. I do not recommend replacing it with regular tofu, because the tofu would fall apart easily during stir frying. However, you can use a tofu cutlet, which is quite firm. These days you can easily find tofu cutlets in most grocery stores. Since tofu cutlets are usually unseasoned and taste milder, you might need to increase the salt when making the stir fry.
Can I make this dish vegetarian?
Dried tofu is also called vegetarian ham in China, since it is often used as a meat replacement. When making the tofu and celery stir fry, most Chinese cooks use a very small amount of meat, usually pork, to add flavor to the dish. However, it’s totally OK to skip the pork to make this dish vegetarian. If you do plan to skip the pork, I highly recommend adding 1 teaspoon of vegetarian oyster sauce to the sauce, to make the dish more fragrant.
Mise en place
When you’re ready to cook, your table should have:
Marinated pork (if using) Dried tofu, sliced Celery, sliced Sliced ginger and garlic Mixed sauce Salt
How to cook dried tofu and celery stir fry
Cooking the dried tofu and celery stir fry is super easy: The dish uses a light savory sauce with plenty of aromatics for a mild and refreshing taste. Along with the small amount of pork and tender smoked tofu, it creates a very satisfying meal that is healthy as well.
How to serve dried tofu and celery stir fry
I usually serve the dried tofu and celery stir fry along with steamed rice for a quick meal. You can also serve the dish by itself. Alternatively, you can serve it along with another protein, an appetizer, and a soup to make a full-on dinner.
Other delicious and quick stir fries
Beef and Celery Stir Fry Chinese Detox Stir Fry Beef and Flat Bean Stir Fry Chicken Fried Rice (鸡肉炒饭) Cabbage Glass Noodles Stir Fry Easy Mongolian Meatballs
