Spicy Indonesian Tofu Balado

Ingredients

• 10 pieces of yellow tofu, diced
• Cooking oil
• Sasa seasoning (optional, use sparingly)
• Royco seasoning (optional, use sparingly)
• Sugar
• Salt
• 2 bay leaves
• For the spice paste:
  • 10 curly red chilies
  • 5 bird’s eye chilies
  • 10 shallots
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 tomato

Instructions

1. Fry the Tofu:

   • Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the diced tofu pieces until they are golden brown and crispy. Remove the tofu from the oil and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.

2. Prepare the Spice Paste:

   • While the tofu is frying, prepare the spice paste. In a blender or food processor, combine the curly red chilies, bird’s eye chilies, shallots, garlic cloves, and the tomato. Blend until smooth.

3. Cook the Spice Paste:

   • In a separate pan, heat a small amount of oil over medium heat. Pour in the blended spice paste and sauté until the paste is fragrant and has reduced slightly. This should take about 5-7 minutes.

4. Season the Spice Paste:

   • Add salt, Sasa seasoning, Royco seasoning, and sugar to the spice paste. Stir well to combine. Adjust the seasoning to taste, but be careful with the Sasa and Royco as they are strong seasonings. Add the bay leaves.

5. Combine Tofu and Spice Paste:

   • Add the fried tofu pieces to the pan with the spice paste. Stir well to coat the tofu evenly with the paste and ensure it is fully incorporated.

6. Simmer:

   • Let the tofu and spice paste cook together for another 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the tofu to absorb the seasoning.

7. Finish and Serve:

   • Once the tofu is well-coated and the seasoning has fully absorbed, turn off the heat. Transfer the tofu balado to a serving dish and enjoy!

This Tahu Balado makes a delicious and spicy accompaniment to any meal, bringing a burst of Indonesian flavor to your table.