Silken Tofu Citrus Celebration Salad

/

A dish that celebrates the citrus season and my love for silken tofu with sesame oil - charred peppers and cherry tomatoes are mixed with a flash fried ginger scallion numbing oil, which is further intensified with blood orange zest and juice, soy, vinegar, Shaoxing cooking wine and toasted sesame oil. Silken tofu and citrus wheels are arranged in a platter then this smoky sweet aromatic dressing is poured all over. Finished with toasted sesame seeds, flaky salt and scallion greens. It tastes better over time and can be kept in the fridge up to 3 days.

 
 
 

Ingredients (serves 4 as a side)

14oz or 400g Silken Tofu, cut into roughly 2” x 4” rectangles

3 Blood Oranges (substitute with 2 Navel or Cara Cara Oranges), peeled and cut into 1/2” thick discs

5-6 Mini Sweet Peppers, whole

12-14 Cherry Tomatoes, whole

Dressing

2 tbsp Fresh Ginger, grated

1 Scallion, white portion - finely chopped and green portion sliced at an angle (reserved for garnish)

1 tsp Ground Sichuan Peppercorns (I use a mix of red and green , feel free to use whatever is available)

1.5 tsp Chile Flakes (feel free to use your go to hot pepper flakes)

2 tsp Roasted Sesame Seeds

2 tbsp Vegetable oil, shimmering hot

2 tsp Red Wine Vinegar

1 tbsp Shaoxing Cooking Wine

3 tbsp Blood Orange Juice (substitute with fresh Orange Juice)

2 tbsp Dark Soy

1/2 tbsp Maple Syrup

1 tsp Toasted Sesame Oil

Garnish

1 tsp roasted sesame seeds

1 tsp toasted sesame oil

1/2 tsp Flaky Salt

Directions

🥗 Heat up a skillet, once smoking add peppers to it, using tongs begin the charring process. After 8 mins, add tomatoes into the skillet & continue charring everything until blistereded and soft. About 15 mins total. Once cool enough to handle, chop up the peppers and leave the bursting tomatoes as is

🥗 Combine first 5 Dressing ingredients in a heatproof bowl, pour the hot oil into it, give everything a good mix (it should making a hissing noise). After 1 min add remaining dressing ingredients, followed by chopped peppers & tomatoes. Give everything a good mix and let it marinate for 45 mins at least or upto overnight

🥗 In a large lipped platter, arrange the tofu pieces and blood orange discs. Pour the dressing all over, garnish with sesame seeds, oil and scallion greens. Serve at room temp or chilled (during summer chilled version is too good), Enjoy!

*Note: Feel free to substitute the citrus during summer with peaches or plums