Dinner Banchans V: Beef-Asparagus Stir-fry & Crispy Sticky Tofu

2 savory banchans that you can mix-and-match.

📝 Ingredients

• Beef - 200 grams (use any cut you like)
• Asparagus - 7 stalks
• Onion - 1 whole (small)
• Orange Bell Pepper - 1/4 a whole
• Yellow Bell Pepper - 1/4 a whole
• Salt - few shakes
• Black pepper - few shakes
• Mirim - 1 Tablespoon
• Starch Powder - 1.5 Tablespoons
• Minced garlic - 1 teaspoon (! )
• Soy Sauce - 2 Tablespoons
• Mirim - 1 Tablespoon
• Sugar - 1 Tablespoon
• Salt - few shakes
• Black pepper - few shakes
• Sesame oil - 1/2 teaspoon (!)
• Sesame seeds - few shakes
• Tofu - 340 grams (more or less)
• Corn starch - 1/2 cup
• Water - 4 Tablespoons
• Soy Sauce - 4 Tablespoons
• Sugar - 1 Tablespoon
• Honey - 1 Tablespoon
• Vinegar - 1 Tablespoon

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Beef-Asparagus Stir-fry ---
2. 2Cut the ends off the asparagus stalks. Then cut each into small bite-size pieces.
3. 3Cut onion in half and julienne each half into thin strips.
4. 4Julienne both the bell pepper pieces into thin strips.
5. 5Cut beef piece into thin, long strips. Then place into a mixing bowl.
6. 6Marinate the beef by adding in: Salt (few shakes), Black Pepper (few shakes), Mirim (1 Tablespoon), and Corn Starch Powder (1.5 Tablespoons). Mix it together with your hands.
7. 7Next, place the frying pan on a medium-high heat. Place oil in. Once it's hot, place the beef pieces in. Let the beef pieces cook on one side until they get brown. (Note: The beef pieces will stick to the pan due to the starch - its okay!). Use a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape them off and turn it over. Cook on other side until there is good browning on the meat pieces. Set aside.
8. 8Clean frying pan out. Then add some more oil back in. Place on a medium-high heat. Once it's hot, place in Minced Garlic (1 teaspoon!) and Onion Slices. Stir both around for 15 seconds. Then add-in the Bell Peppers and Asparagus. Stir everything around for 2 minutes until the asparagus gets cooked.
9. 9Finally add in the beef pieces. Stir it around. Now, add the seasoning in : Soy Sauce (2T), Mirim (1T), Sugar (1T), Salt (few shakes) and Black Pepper (few shakes). Stir it around and turn off the heat.
10. 10Garnish with Sesame Oil (1/2 teaspoon!) and Sesame Seeds (few shakes)
11. 11Serve with some hot rice. Bon Appetit!
12. 12--- Sweet Crispy Tofu ---
13. 13Open package. Drain tofu. Cut tofu block into small bite-sized cubes.
14. 14Place tofu pieces into a microwave-friendly bowl. Place in microwave for 2 minutes. Empty out the residual water left in bowl (careful, it's hot!).
15. 15Place the tofu cubes onto a few pieces of paper towel. Then take a few more paper towels and gently pat each cube down (to remove moisture off the surface). Don't forget this step!
16. 16Next take out a plate. Place corn starch powder on it. Take a few cubes at a time and roll it into the powder. Then, take each cube and gently tap it against the plate to shake off any excess powder (Important - we want a thin layer of powder!)
17. 17Then take out a small frying pan. Place oil in. Once hot, place each tofu piece in. Make sure to give enough space between each piece. Fry until light golden brown (no need to over-fry them!). Set aside.
18. 18Next, let's make the glaze sauce. Thoroughly mix: Water (4T), Soy Sauce (4T), Sugar (1T), Honey (1T), Vinegar (1T)
19. 19Place frying pan on a medium-heat. Once the frying pan is hot, give the glaze sauce one more stir before adding it in. Then pour into the pan.
20. 20Once the sauce begins to boil, stir it around for another 2 minutes. It should begin to thicken up like a glaze. (Important - don't reduce the glaze too much or the soy sauce will burn). Add the cubes in and toss them in the sauce.
21. 21Garnish with few slices of almond if you like. Bon Appetit!