Kare Kare Tofu
Fried Tofu with Peanut Sauce
What is Kare Kare
Kare kare is traditionally cooked with oxtail or beef as a stew with ground peanuts and thickened with rice flour. Peanut butter is a modern way of cooking Kare kare today for ease. This dish is a popular choice and is usually seen at special celebrations and fiestas. Today
As a busy mum I’m always looking for ways to cook something delicious and healthy for the family that don’t keep me in the kitchen all day. This kare kare is my modern take on the traditional dish without compromising the flavours.
This is part of my 20 minute or less meals. A quick and easy meal for busy bees and lazy days.
Swap this and Common Questions
How to make Annatto Oil? To make annatto oil, heat 200ml vegetable oil in a pan on medium heat. Once the oil is hot add the annatto seeds, cook for 3 minutes and turn the heat off. Leave the oil to cool down, strain the oil into a clean bottle or jar.
Where can I get annatto seeds? I bought my annatto seeds from the Filipino grocery shop in Earls Court but you might find them in Chinatown or Asian grocery shops. You might also find them in Mexican or Latin grocery shops.
Protein – I’m using tofu with this recipe but you can use, prawns or steak or some scallops
Alamang – this is Filipino shrimp paste, in the recipe I’m using ready sauteed Filipino shrimp paste. There is also alamang that is not sauteed yet, you can use this too. You can buy these from Filipino grocery shops or Asian shops in Chinatown. If you really can’t get any Filipino shrimp paste, fish sauce might work. It wo’nt be the same but similar taste.
Peanut Butter – I like Whole Earth smooth unsweetened brand because it’s not mixed with any sugar, if you can get organic ones the better.
I hope you will enjoy my recipe! I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment and let me know how it went for you.
Ingredients
Tofu
Sauce
Instructions
First, let’s make the Kare Kare sauce, add peanut butter, alamang or fermented shrimp paste and add annatto oil and water. Mix them well and leave it on the side for later.
In a bowl add corn flour, salt, garlic powder and black pepper. Mix them well and leave it on the side for later.
Slice your tofu in chunks or anyway you like. I’m using medium firm tofu, you can use firm if you prefer. Season the tofu then Coat them in the cornflour mixture and fry them until all sides are golden brown. Take them out of the frying pan and leave them on the side for later.
Using a clean frying pan, heat some oil and saute spring onions and garlic. Next, add the sauce kare kare sauce mixture you made earlier. Bring it to boil until it thickens. Turn off the heat then add the fried tofu. Mix them until all the tofu are coated in the sauce.
Sprinkle some chopped spring onions for toppings. Serve with some rice.
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