Family-Style Bean Curd

Ingredients:

2 pieces of bean curd

1/3 c sliced bamboo shoots

2 black mushrooms

1 1/2 c broth cornstarch

6 c oil (for frying)

1/2 T sliced ginger root

6 stalks green onions (scallions)

hot chili paste

sugar

soy sauce

1/2 c sliced meat (pork, beef or chicken)

oyster sauce

other spices (to taste)

Method:

1. Horizontally slice each piece of bean curd into thirds, then diagonally cut each slice in half to form triangles (12 total pieces).

2. Mix meat slices with 1/2 T soy sauce and 1 t cornstarch. Soak black mushrooms until soft, then cut into slices.

3. Heat oil, fry bean curd triangles until they surface (about 2-3 minutes, color is golden brown); remove.

4. Heat 4 T oil, stir-fry meat prepared in step 2 above until it changes color; remove.

5. In a clean wok, heat 2 T oil, fry scallions and ginger root until they impart their aroma. Then add hot chili paste, sliced mushrooms and bamboo shoots. At this time add bean curd, 2 T soy sauce, 1 T oyster sauce, 1 T sugar and other spices to taste, cook 3 minutes. Add meat slices and cornstarch mixed with water to thicken.

* You may substitute hot chili paste with hot red pepper or omit entirely.