This is bordering on being a 'meat substitute' type of recipe but I make no apologies. That's not the reason I've included the recipe. I first tried it when cooking for just my wife and I. I used two huge slices of tofu which filled the whole pan. We had trouble finishing our meal but, nevertheless, we did. It was delicious. You could try using smaller slices if you are cooking for three or four people.
Ingredients
2 really large slices of tofu, or three or four more moderately-sized
ones (2 or 3 cm thick in any case)
1 red pepper
A handful of cashew nuts
2 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
A few sprigs of green coriander
Oil
1 cup of water
A pinch of chilli powder
Crush the garlic and mix with the soy sauce and lemon juice. Coat the tofu slices with the mixture and leave them to marinate while you pound the cashew nuts and chop the pepper very finely. Add the chilli powder, finely chopped pepper and roughly chopped coriander to the cashew paste and mash together.
Drain the tofu slices but save the marinade. Fry the slices in oil for 4 or 5 minutes each side on a medium heat. They will stick to the pan at first but resist the temptation to poke at them. They will unstick on their own as they start to brown. Lay the slices on a flat serving plate then add the cashew mix to the oil remaining in the pan. Fry for two minutes then add the marinade from the tofu plus a cup of water. Simmer for three minutes. Taste the sauce before adding any salt as some kinds of soy sauce are very salty. Pour the sauce over the tofu slices.
Serve with plain boiled rice for a filling meal.