Fried Tofu Sandwiches

RECIPE & PHOTO: Taste Hong Kong

Ingredients
4 pcs firm tofu ~400g
50g ground beef
4 tbsp corn starch
1 egg, beaten
1/2 to 1 tsp soy or fish sauce depending on the dipping sauce used
The fried sandwiches are to be served hot with dipping sauces like vinegar, soy sauce, chilli sauce, sweet-and-sour sauce. If the dipping sauce you choose is not salty at all, then it is better to add in a little bit more soy or fish sauce in the egg wash.

Seasonings for beef
1/2 tsp ground white pepper
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp oil
some finely chopped spring onion

Method:

Season beef and mix well. Pat dry tofu, and cut them into slices (about 1 cm) of either rectangular or triangular shape, but every two pieces should come in pair. To make the tofu surface sticky to the filling, sprinkle some corn starch on them, then, similar to making sandwiches, evenly spread a thin layer of the minced beef on one piece of tofu and cover it with another one. Give a light press to make sure the tofu glued well with the meat.

Beat egg and add in soy or fish sauce. Dust on sandwiched tofu a thin layer of corn starch and bath it in the beaten egg. As soon as a tofu sandwich is coated with the corn starch and egg wash, do fry them IMMEDIATELY. Or, the coating will be diluted by water exuded from the tofu.

Heat about four table spoons of oil in a wok or skillet over low heat and fried the tofu until golden brown. Using this pan frying method should require several careful turns of the tofu to ensure every surface is evenly fried. Serve hot with your preferred dipping sauce(s). For most of the time, my choice is just to sprinkle ground sea salt and chili powder on the fried tofu.