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Kung Pao Cabbage With Tofu

4.5

(2)

Kung Pao Cabbage on a platter
Photo by Hetty Lui McKinnon

Originating from China’s Sichuan Province, kung pao chicken (also translated to gong bao or kung po) has captured imaginations as the embodiment of Western Chinese cuisine. In the United States, the saucy chicken and vegetable stir-fry is a Chinese American staple. The dish is spicy, with a glossy savory, sour, sweet and spicy gravy that also tingles. The signature kung pao sauce of Sichuan peppercorns, soy sauce (dark and light) and black vinegar also brings complexity to vegetables. Here, reliable cabbage is cooked in the punchy sauce and then combined with store-bought baked tofu and roasted cashews for a salad that can also be eaten with rice.

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The pan-fried tofu is crispy yet pillowy, served with a punchy dressing that is made with the same bold flavors as mapo seasoning.
The tofu is crunchy on the outside, in part thanks to a panko-studded exterior, and squishy-in-a-good-way on the inside. It also comes together in 20 minutes.
Oyster mushrooms are a strong all-rounder in the kitchen, seeming to straddle both plant and meat worlds in what they look and taste like when cooked. Here they’re coated in a marinade my mother used to use when cooking Chinese food at home—honey, soy, garlic and ginger—and roasted until golden, crisp, and juicy.
Gochujang creates a sauce that delivers the perfect balance of spice, tang, and sweetness.
For the full effect, enjoy over a bed of rice with a pint of cold beer.
This dish is not only a quick meal option but also a practical way to use leftover phở noodles when you’re out of broth.
Among the top tier of sauces is Indonesian satay sauce, because it is the embodiment of joy and life. In fact, this sauce is also trustworthy and highly respectful of whatever it comes into contact with—perhaps it is, in fact, the perfect friend?
“Soft and pillowy, custardy and light—they were unlike any other scrambled eggs I had experienced before.”