Japanese Stir Fry

block of firm tofu
8 dried shiitake mushrooms
1/4 cup dashi (or just water)
2 tbls soy sauce
2 tbls sake (mirin)
freshly ground black pepper
2 tbls canola oil
1 medium yellow onion, peeled, halved, and cut into thin crescents
2 medium carrots, trimmed, peeled, and diagonally cut into thin slices
1 medium yukon gold potato, diagonally halved, each cut about 1/4-inch-thick-slices
1/2 pound string beans, trimmed and diagonally cut in half
1 yellow summer squash, trimmed and diagonally halved, each half diagonally thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into thin strips

1. Rinse the tofu under cold water. Drain and cut into small dice.
2. Place the shiitake mushrooms in a small bowl and add 2 cups of water. Let soak for 20 mins. Remove 1/2 cup (1/4 if using dashi version) and place in a small bowl. Blend in the dashi(omit if making the vegan version), 1 tablespoon of the soy, and the sake(mirin). Add several grinds of pepper to this seasoning mixture.
3. Drain the mushrooms, squeeze gently to remove excess water. Cut off the stems. Cut each cap into thin slices.
4. heat the oil in a wok or large saute pan over medium-high heat. add the onion and shiitake caps and stir-fry for 3 minutes. Add the carrots and potato slices and stir-fry for 3 minutes. Stir in half of the seasoning mixture and cook for 4 minutes.
5. Add the string beans, yellow summer squash, and remaining seasoning mixture. Continue stir-frying the vegetables for 5 more minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked through and most (if not all) the seasoning liquid has evaporated. Add the tofu, red pepper, and the remaining tablespoon of soy. Toss to mix, and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Transfer to a large serving bowl.


Number of Servings: 4

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user DIEPLZTKS.