Stir fried tofu with carrots and peppers, home style: Le Creuset cast-iron wok review

This is a beautiful stir-fry, from the color to the taste, using vegetables that are easy to keep on hand. The recipe is flexible that you can add in or substitute to the vegetables you prefer. If you are a meat lover, you also can add in marinated sliced meet (pork, chicken breast etc.).

firm tofu, sliced 1/3 to 1/4 inch

carrots, sliced

peppers, cut in small pieces (two thumb nail size)

ginger, cut in matchsticks

green onion, cut in 2 inch long

garlic, 1 tsp, minced

black wood ear mushroom, soak in water till soft and expand 

bamboo shoots 

sugar, light soy sauce, salt and dry white pepper powder

Step 1. Fry tofu in mid-high heat oil till the surface turns slightly brown. Take tofu out from the wok and cool it in a plate. Don't over fry! Use paper towel to absorb the extra oil from tofu.

Step 2. Heat the wok, then add 2 tbsp oil in. Put all ingredients in. Add 1 tsp sugar (it functions as MSG and balance the flavor from soy sauce), 3 table spoon light soy sauce and stir fry for 3-5 minutes on high heat till all vegetables are tender. Add salt to adjust the flavor (taste it!) and 1/2 to 1 tsp dry white pepper powder before you turn off the heat. 

Tips:

1. Le Creuset enameled cast-ion wok is the best wok I have used. The mass of iron generate / retain heat, even though the heat sauce is not on high, and my stir-fry dishes come out fantastically. The wok needs to be seasoned before the first use, but after that food rarely sticks to it. Don't use any detergent on the cast-iron! After each use, brush the wok with warm water and dry it on the heat. It is very easy to clean! Unlike non-sticky pan / wok which need extra care for the coating,  this wok you can use stainless steel turner (my favorite one here). Besides stir-fry, this wok functions better than an electrical deep frier! You need smaller amount of oil and shorter time to get your food fried. Again it is easy to clean... no mention how touch to clean up electrical deep frier ( I tossed several before I got this wok).

2. I am allergic to MSG. One way to make your dishes as delicious as those with horrible amount of MSG is adding sugar. Sugar also can balance the taste of soy sauce. 

Thank you for your reading!