Tofu Bounce Balls

Ingredients

• 200 g firm tofu (crumbled)
• 3 tbsp oats flour (Ground oats may be used)
• 2 tbsp cornflour
• salt (To taste, for the tofu mixture)
• 0.25 tsp black pepper powder
• 0.25 tsp red chilli flakes
• water (As required for boiling the tofu balls)
• 1 tbsp oil (For the sauce)
• 7 garlic (7–8 cloves, chopped)
• 0.5 spring onion white
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp green or red chilli sauce
• 1 tsp vinegar
• salt (To taste, for the sauce; tofu balls and soy sauce already contain salt)
• 0.25 cup water (For the sauce)
• 0.25 spring onion greens
• white sesame seeds (For garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Crumble the tofu into a bowl. Mash it thoroughly with the heel of your palm until completely smooth and no lumps remain.

2. 2

   Add the oats flour, cornflour, salt, black pepper powder, and red chilli flakes to the smooth tofu.

3. 3

   Mix the ingredients thoroughly until an even tofu mixture forms.

4. 4

   Take a very small portion of the mixture and press and roll it into a smooth, crack-free ball. Repeat with the remaining mixture, then set the balls aside.

5. 5

   Put water in a pan and bring it to a boil over heat.

6. 6

   When the water begins to boil, carefully drop in the tofu balls one at a time.

7. 7

   The balls will initially sink to the base of the pan. Boil them until they begin to float, which should take a couple of minutes.

8. 8

   Once the balls float to the surface, boil them for 2 more minutes.

9. 9

   Remove the tofu balls from the water and set them aside.

10. 10

    Heat the oil in a pan.

11. 11

    Add the chopped garlic and spring onion white to the hot oil.

12. 12

    Sauté until the onion turns slightly brown.

13. 13

    Add the soy sauce, green or red chilli sauce, and vinegar. Mix well.

14. 14

    Add salt to taste and mix, keeping in mind that both the tofu balls and soy sauce already contain salt.

15. 15

    Add the boiled tofu balls to the sauce and gently mix them, taking care not to break them.

16. 16

    Add the spring onion greens and mix gently.

17. 17

    Finish with white sesame seeds and serve.

Notes

Make the tofu balls completely smooth and crack-free; cracked balls may split while boiling. The leftover boiling water can be used for cooking rice, making lentils, or kneading dough.

Nutrition per serving

• appetizer
• vegan
• gluten-free
• boiled
• saucy
• spicy
• East Asian-inspired
• tofu