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Thai Tofu Stew

A coconut milk-based Thai stew with tofu, ginger, garlic, scallions, mushrooms, carrots, squash, bok choy, and cilantro.

From the Recipes Wiki (Fandom) · 12 ingredients
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Why it works: Ginger and clove match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 6,038 recipes. Both carry estragole, which smells anise, licorice. The science ↓

Thai Tofu Stew

Time20 minutes simmer

Ingredients

Directions

Make the broth

  1. Combine coconut milk, water or broth, tofu, half the ginger, half the garlic, half the scallions, salt, and pepper flakes in a large saucepan.

  2. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low.

  3. Simmer for 20 minutes, then turn off the heat.

Cook the vegetables

  1. Transfer 1 ½ cups of the coconut milk mixture to a large pot.

  2. Add mushrooms, carrots, squash, remaining ginger, garlic, and scallions.

  3. Cover the pot and simmer over medium heat until the vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes.

  4. Add bok choy to the pot and stir just until it begins to wilt, about 45 to 50 seconds.

  5. Add cilantro.

Finish and serve

  1. Pour the remaining coconut milk mixture over the cooked vegetables and stir gently to combine and distribute the tofu evenly.

  2. Serve hot.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

577Calories
20 gProtein
33 gFat
61 gCarbs

Counts 12 of 13 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.

What these numbers assume: 12 portions
IngredientPortion assumedkcal
Coconut1/2 cup shredded (40g)283
Tofu100g firm76
Butternut Squash1 cup cubed (140g) butternut76
Onion1 medium (110g)44
Shiitake1/2 cup (73g)34
Carrot1 medium (61g)25
Mushroom1/2 cup sliced (35g)15
Bok Choy1 cup (70g)9
Chili1 tsp (2.7g)8
Garlic1 clove (3g)4
Ginger1 tsp grated fresh (2g)2
Cilantro1 tbsp chopped fresh (1g)1
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. Ginger + clovetop 1% of all pairs
    Smell alikestrong
    Cooked together6,038 recipes

    Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).

  2. Garlic + shiitaketop 1% of all pairs
    Smell alikestrong
    Cooked together292 recipes

    Shared aroma: coumarin (sweet, hay).

  3. Tofu + shiitaketop 2% of all pairs
    Smell alikestrong
    Cooked together58 recipes

    Shared aroma: methyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).

  4. Clove + peppertop 5% of all pairs
    Smell alikestrong
    Cooked together17,451 recipes

    Shared aroma: ethyl octanoate (fruity, wine).

  5. Ginger + shiitaketop 5% of all pairs
    Smell alikemoderate
    Cooked together157 recipes

    Shared aroma: methyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).

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

What each ingredient does

Extra-firm tofu
Provides protein and a firm, sliceable body that holds its shape in the broth.
Coconut milk
Adds richness and fat, giving the broth a creamy, smooth texture.
Shiitake mushrooms
Contribute savory, umami depth and a meaty chew to the stew.
Butternut squash
Adds natural sweetness and a soft, tender texture as it cooks.
Bok choy
Adds crisp-tender greens that wilt briefly and keep a fresh bite.
Garlic
Adds pungent aroma that mellows and sweetens as it simmers in the broth.

The step that matters

Stir the bok choy for only about 45 to 50 seconds. Bok choy is delicate and overcooks quickly. Brief heat wilts the leaves while keeping their texture and bright color; longer cooking turns them limp and watery.

Swap the coconut

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (milk, tofu, ginger, clove, garlic, pepper, shiitake):

  1. Limefits better
  2. Lemonfits about as well
  3. Coconutthe original
  4. Avocadofits about as well

Fit is the average pairing score against milk, tofu, ginger, clove, garlic, pepper, shiitake. 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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