Help with Recipes

[Corkey]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

This is a thread for getting help with our recipes. I like to do a lot of experimental cooking which sometimes turns out great and sometimes turns out terrible. This is a place to share recipes that didn't turn out how you wanted and ask for help and ideas on improving them

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So what made me think of this is a stir-fry I made tonight that came out edible, but not good. I often screw up stir-fries. Here's what I put in tonight:

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veggies: kale, white/green cabbage, yellow and green onions, jalapenos

"meat": tofu (firm)

flavoring: lite coconut milk (from a can), red curry paste, fresh basil

carb/protein: quinoa (added to stir-fry at end after I pre-cooked it)

oil: hot sesame stir-fry oil

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To me, all these ingredients sound delicious! But it ended up being quite bland. I salvaged it by adding a red Thai chili dipping sauce but it still wasn't that good, and also I didn't like adding that because it's not healthy (sugar), and I tend to like to cook as natural and healthy as possible, but it gave it a little bit of sweetness and spiciness that it was lacking. Still, it did not mesh all that well with the coconut milk and curry paste.

So my question is how do you think I could improve this recipe? I should note that I love spicy and am vegetarian.

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What flavor did you use for the tofu? Kosher salt n pepper adds tons of flavor or low sodium shoyu.

[nycfem]

I didn't use any flavor for the tofu. I threw it all in a wok. And in fact, it was more like I was boiling everything in a can of lite coconut milk instead of stir-frying.

I will try your suggestions. After all you were the one who finally got me making my own salad dressings and loving it!

Originally Posted by Corkey

What flavor did you use for the tofu? Kosher salt n pepper adds tons of flavor or low sodium shoyu.

[Corkey]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

I didn't use any flavor for the tofu. I threw it all in a wok. And in fact, it was more like I was boiling everything in a can of lite coconut milk instead of stir-frying.

I will try your suggestions. After all you were the one who finally got me making my own salad dressings and loving it!

Yea well tofu has no flavor so you can use any flavor profile, just marinade it for about 10 minutes in the fridge. Then chop it up or serve in slices, after you cook it.

There is a show on vegan cooking called Christina Cooks on PBS or Create. Look it up on your local channels.

[PaPa]

Jennifer,
My own recipe for stir fry consists of only minced garlic and minced ginger for seasonings. This keeps me away from the salt that I cannot have. It can be mixed with your choice of veggies and meat (tofu). I usually cook my rice separately and serve the veggie/meat mixture over it.
Paul

I usually use peanut oil. It will heat to a higher temperature which is what is needed for stir fry.

[Corkey]

How to use a wok.
Use a oil that can stand heat.
Do your tofu first and remove from wok when done.
Add pastes or sauces.
Add veggies, the more dense first then the leafy ones at the end. Return Tofu to heat up and done.

[maryam]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

I didn't use any flavor for the tofu. I threw it all in a wok. And in fact, it was more like I was boiling everything in a can of lite coconut milk instead of stir-frying.

I will try your suggestions. After all you were the one who finally got me making my own salad dressings and loving it!

Maybe next time you could do the stir fry part without the coconut milk, just use canola spray or whatever your preference is, and toss it in a bowl and then pour the coconut milk in the wok and make your sauce separately to dump over it. Then you could spice it to taste.

I vote for marinading the tofu too. Maybe a bit of shoyu, garlic and ginger. I like your ingredient list, but I like a bit of crunch in mine, so I'd be adding some nuts or something as well. Pine nuts are yummy in stir fry.

[Sweet Bliss]

For toss of you who make stuffed cabbage rolls or other dishes with cabbage leaves.

wrap fresh cabbage in plastic wrap and place in freezers overnight. When thawed the leaves will fall off core ready for use in recipe

[Sweet Bliss]

Stupid gadget. I don't usually spell this bad on my own....

supposed to read " For those of you.....

[Sweet Bliss]

When selecting herbs for a "little of this and that" dish, instead of just tossing herbs willy nilly into your new dish, take a sniff....

that's right, sniff your first choice, pick up another and sniff them together... if you don't like the 2nd, put it down and select another. Do this until you have a combination you enjoy. You can add spices using this same technique, just don't inhale ...... lol

You can combine herbs using your nose, THEN add to your dish. Avoids turning it into fancy dog food... lol

Happy Cooking!!!

Try coconut oil. It's a fantastically healthy 'good' oil. It's got a high smoking point, so should be good for stir fries.