And just like that, the summer holidays are over. The kids are back at school, the house is quiet, the dishes are done and I have a spare moment to myself to gather my thoughts and write up this surprisingly delicious recipe. I say surprising because well, sometimes when you are inspired by dishes that traditionally use meat as the main ingredient and fish sauce as the seasoning and you go adding in tofu and soy sauce in it’s place, lets just say things don’t always turn out quite as you’d hoped.
This on the other hand, totally worked. As it was coming together I was happy enough with the flavours, even the 8 year old agreed! We sat down and ate dinner and it was only after I’d polished off my plate that I realised just how much I really did love it. So, being the food blogger that I am, I plated up another portion, stepped outside in the fading light and managed to snap a few quick, completely un-styled, but totally honest and real photos of this dish so I could share the recipe with you…
You guys already know the soft spot I have for noodles, of any kind, but this saucy little number has heat, texture and a beautiful depth of flavour thanks to the fermented tofu which I decided to add at the last minute. I know I’ll be making them again, soon.
Spicy tofu noodles
I actually used half this amount of chilli so my kids would eat it too, but then added some of my homemade sriracha sauce on mine when I ate it to make mine hotter! You can find fermented tofu at your local Asian grocer in small jars, often with chilli. It stores indefinitely in the fridge once opened and adds a beautiful depth of flavour to vegetarian Asian dishes. If you’re hardcore like my mother-in-law, you can also just eat it as is with rice. I cooked about 1/2 a packet of thin rice noodles which served 4 (just follow the instructions on the pack), any leftovers will happily store in the fridge for a few days.
Serves 4
3 tablespoons olive or peanut oil
1 onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 teaspoons finely grated ginger
3 large tomatoes, finely chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon chilli powder
300g firm tofu, crumbled
3 tablespoons gluten-free soy sauce or tamari
1 tablespoon fermented tofu* see headnotes
1 teaspoon unrefined raw sugar
cooked rice noodles, to serve
chopped roasted peanuts and finely sliced spring onion (scallion), to serve
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic and ginger and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring, until tender and golden. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, turmeric and chilli and stir well. Cook 2-3 minutes or until the tomatoes start to break down, add 1/2 cup water and continue to cook for 10 minutes. Stir in tofu, soy sauce, fermented tofu and sugar. Add another 1/4-1/2 cup water if the mixture is looking a tad dry and season well with fine sea salt. Cook for a further 5 minutes, stirring well to dissolve the fermented tofu throughout the dish. Serve tofu hot or cool to room temperature and serve with cooked rice noodles, peanuts and sliced spring onions. Leftovers are just as good cold…
Inspired by a recipe for Shan Khaut Swe (Burmese spicy chicken noodles) found in the current issue of SBS Feast magazine.
31 Responses
Yeah!! I've waited for your book on Book depository for months! 😀
10 months to be exact! It feels like a lifetime, which makes me even more happy to finally have it available to the world! xx
I was just thinking as I scrolled through this post how much I loved the simplicity and colours of your photographs. Honest + real is always the best way to go. I love the sound of this dish too – so full of flavour and I love the different textures going on.
But clearly the most exciting part of the post is the news that your book will be coming out in the UK. CAN'T WAIT!!
🙂 I know you've been waiting so patiently over there Kathryn! I can't wait for you to see my book, enjoy xx
p.s thanks for the lovely words about my photos, to be honest I hardly ever 'style' my shots so I don't know what I was really talking about up top! Ha xx
These noodles look fantastic, and I absolutely love the no-styled pics! Also, congrats on the exciting news!
Thanks so much Sini! xx
Looks so yummy! I'm in desperate need of a new quick lunch recipe that is not a salad, so this was very welcomed 🙂 I'll def try it soon! SO pretty pics too even though they we're snapped impulsively. Sometimes it doesn't have to be more complicated than that!
OOOOH! I am totally making this for dinner tonight. And HIP HIP for your book being released in the UK (and soon the US)! <3 Big, big congrats and high fives to you, lady.
What a lovely post, Emma! And yay!!! about you book 🙂
These noodles look fabulous!! Definitely a fun weeknight meal!
Sounds totally yummy, I've been getting into tofu lately 🙂 Great news on the book, fantastic! Xo
Fab Tuesday night dinner! It was delish. My meat eating partner in crime had no complaints! Thanks for keeping us on track and congrats on the book 🙂
Great. I have just logged into Amazon and pre-ordered the book. (can't have any moral scruples about Amazon when you live where I do!) My husband, who is passionate about 'hot' food and doesn't eat meat, is going to love this dish and as the coeliac in the household, I am going to love the book.
This recipe sounds like a fabulous weeknight meal. 🙂 Congratulations on the upcoming worldwide release of your cookbook, so I'm glad it's coming to the US!
Can't wait to try this – will maybe do for meatless Monday!
This looks wonderful! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
These noodles look so delicious and I know my family will devour them. I'm so excited for your US edition of your book and can't wait for it in August!
I love your real, honest and styled-free photography! Just beautiful! Congrats and how exciting on your book!
This is so simple yet delicious!!! Love your style of cooking and taking pictures so inspirational <3<3
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Love spicy plus love tofu and noodles, so this combo hits the spot! We love this dish!!!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
What an excellent sharing!will surely try at home!
This looks like a perfect meal for a chilly night or when you need something to perk you up – lovely! Bec
Sooo exciting! Can't wait! And these tofu noodles look amazing!
Love the fading light grain in the images Em… That's so exciting, congratulations! Fab news. Now for the follow up tome. 😀
I am definitely going to check out your book.
Also this recipe sounds amazing!
Spicy tofu noodles look charming. Thanks.
Congratulations on your cookbook. That is exciting news. BTW, this dish looks amazing. I can't believe that it was an impromptu shoot.
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This looks fantastic. Great vibrant colors. Excited to try this. I think I'll use coconut sugar instead of the raw refined. Thanks for posting.
Just made this. Such a surprising but awesome mix of ingredients. Sadly we had no fermented tofu but it was still great. Thank you!
Made this and like every thing of yours it was amazeballs!! 10/10! Thanks Emma xox
Lovely recipe Emma, just tried it for the first time tonight. Was delicious and simple to make – the perfect combination. Thank you for the introduction to fermented tofu, had not heard of it before and certainly think it added something special to the flavour.