Tofu with Chinese Toon

Tofu with Chinese Toon

　　Tofu with Chinese Toon

　　Chinese toon is listed among the "Eight Minor Delicacies." It is truly an aromatic herb—not only does it have an elegant fragrance, but it also offers excellent health benefits. It contains carotene, vitamins B and C, and has therapeutic effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, improving digestion, regulating qi, stopping bleeding, and reducing inflammation.

　　Chinese toon should be eaten when it’s fresh, young, and early in the season. It can be prepared by cold mixing, stir-frying, deep-frying, or pickling.

　　Preparation:

　　1. Take a block of soft tofu, cut it into thin rectangular slices. Place in a colander, blanch in boiling water until cooked through, then remove, drain the water, and arrange on a plate.

　　2. Wash the Chinese toon, briefly blanch in boiling water, then remove, drain, and chop finely. Sprinkle with salt and mix well.

　　3. Sprinkle minced ginger, minced garlic, salt, and chopped Chinese toon sprouts over the tofu. Let it marinate briefly. Drizzle with sesame oil. For those who like spice, sprinkle with red chili flakes.

　　Notes:

　　Chinese toon is a heat-inducing food and should not be eaten in excess. Additionally, it naturally contains relatively high levels of nitrites, so it must be blanched in boiling water before consumption.