Green Beans, Tofu & Pork Stir Fry

Ingredients

• 1 lb green beans (trimmed and cut in half)
• 14 oz firm tofu (drained and cut into 1 inch cubes)
• 0.5 lb ground pork (can substitute with ground turkey or chicken)
• 6 garlic (cloves, finely minced)
• 0.75 cup water or chicken broth (for the sauce)
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce (use mushroom sauce for vegetarian option)
• 1.5 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce (for color)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp chicken bouillon
• 0.25 tsp white or black pepper
• cooking oil (as needed for frying)
• 1 tbsp cornstarch (for slurry)
• 2 tbsp water (for slurry)
• 1.5 tsp sesame oil (1-2 tsp or to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   Prepare and trim the green beans by removing the stem ends and cutting them in half.

2. 2

   To make the sauce, combine 3/4 cup water or chicken broth, 2 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp dark soy sauce, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp chicken bouillon, and 1/4 tsp pepper in a small bowl. Stir well and set aside.

3. 3

   Strain the tofu to remove as much liquid as possible. Use a paper towel to firmly press down on the cubes to draw out extra moisture; this helps the tofu crisp up and prevents oil splattering.

4. 4

   In a large wok, heat cooking oil over medium-high heat. Pan fry the tofu cubes until they are lightly golden on each side. Remove the tofu from the wok and set aside.

5. 5

   Add more cooking oil to the wok if necessary. Sauté the minced garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant.

6. 6

   Add the ground pork (or meat of choice) to the wok and cook until fully browned and cooked through.

7. 7

   Add all of the trimmed green beans to the wok and toss them with the ground meat.

8. 8

   Pour in the prepared sauce. Cook the green beans in the sauce for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the sauce comes to a boil and the beans reach your desired level of crunchiness.

9. 9

   Prepare the slurry by mixing 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water. Pour the slurry into the wok; the sauce will thicken immediately.

10. 10

    Add the fried tofu back into the wok. Drizzle with sesame oil to taste, then gently toss everything together to combine.

11. 11

    Serve immediately over white rice or enjoy on its own.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, omit the ground meat and use mushroom sauce instead of oyster sauce. Pressing the tofu is a key step to ensure it browns properly and doesn't cause dangerous oil splatters.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• stir-fry
• high-protein
• weeknight dinner
• chinese-inspired
• tofu
• green beans