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Stir-fried Tofu and Bok Choy

A quick wok stir-fry of tofu, bok choy, baby corn, and a savory sauce.

From the Recipes Wiki (Fandom) · 16 ingredients
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Why it works: Sesame and tofu match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 250 recipes. Both carry 2,4-decadienal, which smells seaweed. The science ↓

Stir-fried Tofu and Bok Choy

Time2 minutes

Ingredients

Directions

Prepare the sauce base

  1. Heat the oil in a wok or 12‑inch fry pan.

  2. Add the ginger and garlic, and cook over medium heat for 30 seconds.

  3. Add the bok choy, and cook until the leaves soften and turn a deeper green.

  4. Add the tofu, baby corn, sherry, chili paste, and hoisin sauce, and cook for 2 minutes on medium heat, stirring frequently.

Thicken and serve

  1. In a small bowl, combine the water and cornstarch, stirring until smooth.

  2. Move the stir‑fry ingredients to the sides of the pan to make a well in the center of the wok or fry pan, and add the cornstarch mixture to the liquid remaining in the well.

  3. Stir until the cornstarch clarifies and the mixture thickens.

  4. Move the stir‑fry ingredients into the well and coat them with the sauce.

  5. Serve immediately.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

902Calories
26 gProtein
35 gFat
120 gCarbs

Counts 11 of 14 ingredients. The other 3 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.

What these numbers assume: 11 portions
IngredientPortion assumedkcal
Flour1 cup (125g) all-purpose455
Sesame1 tbsp (14g)120
Olive Oil1 tbsp (14g)119
Corn1/2 cup kernels (82g)77
Tofu100g firm76
Wine2 tbsp cooking wine (30ml)25
Bok Choy1 cup (70g)9
Chili1 tsp (2.7g)8
Clove1 tsp ground (2g)7
Garlic1 clove (3g)4
Ginger1 tsp grated fresh (2g)2
Soy Beannot in our table0
Saucenot in our table0
Waternot in our table0

One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.

Recipe from the Recipes Wiki (Fandom).

Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.

Explore the science

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

  1. Sesame + tofutop 1% of all pairs
    Smell alikestrong
    Cooked together250 recipes

    Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).

  2. Ginger + clovetop 1% of all pairs
    Smell alikestrong
    Cooked together6,038 recipes

    Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).

  3. Sesame + gingertop 4% of all pairs
    Smell alikemoderate
    Cooked together1,531 recipes

    Shared aroma: nonanal (fat, citrus).

  4. Sesame + garlictop 5% of all pairs
    Smell alikestrong
    Cooked together2,000 recipes

    Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).

  5. Ginger + garlictop 6% of all pairs
    Smell alikemoderate
    Cooked together6,402 recipes

    Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Firm tofu
Provides the main protein and a soft, absorbent body that takes on the sauce.
Bok choy
Adds crisp-tender texture and fresh, mild vegetable bulk to the stir-fry.
Hoisin sauce
Adds sweetness and savory depth, and helps the dish brown lightly in the pan.
Cornstarch
Thickens the cooking liquid into a glossy sauce that clings to the tofu and vegetables.
Baby corn
Adds sweetness and a crisp, tender bite to the stir-fry.
Chili paste with soy bean
Adds heat and savory, fermented depth to the sauce.

The step that matters

Thickening the cornstarch mixture. Cornstarch must be stirred into liquid and heated to thicken. Added to a fully boiling or oily pan without first being smoothed in water, it can clump, so stir the slurry smooth before adding it to the well and keep stirring until it thickens.

Swap the clove

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (sesame, ginger, garlic, tofu, corn, sherry, sauce):

  1. Turmericfits better
  2. Cuminfits better
  3. Corianderfits better
  4. Clovethe original

Fit is the average pairing score against sesame, ginger, garlic, tofu, corn, sherry, sauce. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.

“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.

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