Mashed Tofu with Century Egg 涼拌皮蛋豆腐

Alright, I'll admit right off the bat that this ain't the most good looking dish.  The first time I beheld it at our neighborhood Taiwanese restaurant I was like "whaat the heck!"  But man, oh, man once we started eating this Mashed Tofu and Century Egg 涼拌皮蛋豆腐, it was baboom!  Flavor texture explosion!  Most favorite tofu dish ever, have to order it every time and everyone takes turns scraping the bottom of the glass serving jar.

This is a riff, if you will, on the traditional Tofu and Century Eggs 皮蛋豆腐 where the tofu and eggs are served arranged prettily but separately on a dish.  Which is how I've always eaten it and it sure is yummy.  But mash up this dish, chill it and somehow it turns the flavor up by a WOW factor as well as adding a lovely creaminess.  Once you get a taste you just can't stop, it's really that good!

Chinese Ma Lan Tou (Kalimeris Indica) Tofu Salad 涼伴香乾馬蘭頭

This special little dish, the Chinese Ma Lan Tou (Kalimeris Indica) Tofu Salad, or 涼伴香乾馬蘭頭, is one of my personal favorite vegetable dishes of Shanghainese cuisine.  It reminds me, in its simple yet very presentable ethereal grace of those Shanghai ladies of old, so classy with their beautiful cheongsams, not a permed hair out of place, delicately floating by trailing scents of flowers and soap. Never before and since have Chinese ladies looked so good! (In my humble opinion, that is.)

Pan Fried Tofu Stuffed with Fish Paste 煎釀鯔魚滑豆腐

A simple and homey Chinese classic.  Easy to prepare and delicious and fun to eat.  An intriguing play on textures and tastes.  The smooth silky blandness of tofu contrasted against the sea sweet fragrant chewiness of ground fish paste.  Pan Fried Tofu stuffed with Fish Paste, or 煎釀鯔魚滑豆腐, is such a comfort dish and it's super easy to prepare!

Tofu with Shrimp 蝦仁豆腐

Tofu with Shrimp, or 蝦仁豆腐,  is a braised chinese dish that looks deceptively simple but is gorgeous when you eat it.  A soothingly mix of textures: the crunch of the sweet shrimp, the silkiness of the tofu flavored with the sea tastes of the fresh shrimp, the succulently tasty creamy sauce that clings gently to all.  This dish is divine!  

I had forgotten about it for a long time and recently, suddenly, recalled it and made it for dinner.  Yum!  It was one of my childhood favorites at the dining table.  And now, guess what, it seems that my little girl loves this dish too!  She just kept asking for more...

Soybean Sprouts Tofu Stir-Fry 清炒大豆芽豆幹

The apparent simplicity of the Chinese stir-fry often deceives the uninitiated.  I remember an Australian woman, passing through Hong Kong, who, when asked how she liked the local Chinese food, made a face and said, in a haughty tone, 'Oh, you mean all those stir-frys?'

Yes, we do mean all those stir-frys, for there is nothing on this earth quite like them.  A few ingredients, simply and freshly prepared, a good wok, a hot hot fire, a few basic condiments and a brief few minutes of frantic cooking time will present you with a dish to remember.  Bright fresh flavors simple and true, the special wonderful aroma of wok hay, or 鑊氣.  A sophisticated cooking style that seems deceptively simple yet produces results that can wow.

Guide to Choosing Tofu 豆腐

Personifying simplicity and minimalism.  Yet so obliging and ready to please.  Oh wonderful Tofu!  What other food stuff could compare to you, so coy and sculpturesque on my little kitchen counter?  Tofu, or 豆腐, is indeed a magical food.  It is so yummy and versatile that you can find it everywhere and in everything.  In order to choose what type of tofu best suits your needs, here is a simple guide.