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Tahu isi
Stuffed fried tofu
Tahu isi: Javanese fried tofu pockets stuffed with spiced vegetables and battered
Bandung commuters and Jakarta schoolchildren grab tahu isi from roadside gorengan stalls on the way home, biting into the crisp batter and the soft, peppery vegetable filling with a fresh green chilli. Squares of fried tofu are slit open, packed with stir-fried cabbage, carrot and bean sprouts, then dipped in a light garlic batter and fried again. They are just as good at room temperature for an afternoon snack. Chef's tip: let the filling cool and squeeze out its juice before stuffing; a wet filling steams inside the tofu and makes the batter slide off in the oil.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the tofu
- 12 fried tofu squares (tahu goreng)about 5 cm each; or 400 g firm tofu, cut and fried golden
For the filling
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 shallotsfinely chopped
- 2 cloves garlicfinely chopped
- 5 ½ oz white cabbagefinely shredded
- 1 carrotcut into thin matchsticks
- 3 ½ oz bean sprouts
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground white pepper
For the batter
- 3 ½ oz plain flour
- ⅔ oz rice flour
- 1 clove garliccrushed
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup cold water
- 3 ¼ cups vegetable oilfor deep frying
- 8 green bird's-eye chillies (optional)
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over a medium-high heat and fry 3 shallots and 2 cloves garlic until soft and just turning gold.
2 minStep 2: Add 5 ½ oz white cabbage and 1 carrot and stir-fry until wilted but still with a little bite, then add 3 ½ oz bean sprouts, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp ground white pepper and toss for 30 seconds more.
4 minStep 3: Spread the filling on a plate to cool, then squeeze handfuls over the sink to remove the liquid.
10 minStep 4: Cut a slit along one side of each piece of 12 fried tofu squares (tahu goreng) to make a pocket, pulling out a little of the soft centre if it is very full. Pack each one with filling.
Step 5: Whisk 3 ½ oz plain flour, ⅔ oz rice flour, 1 clove garlic, ½ tsp ground coriander and ½ tsp salt with ½ cup cold water into a batter that coats a spoon thickly.
Step 6: Heat 3 ¼ cups vegetable oil to 350°F. Dip each stuffed tofu in the batter, letting the excess drip off, and fry 4 at a time, turning once, until puffed, crisp and golden all over.
5 minStep 7: Drain on a rack and repeat. Serve hot or warm with 8 green bird's-eye chillies.
8 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 340 kcal
- Protein
- 14 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tahu isi take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of shallots?
- Half an onion per 2 shallots.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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