Tofu Steak with Japanese Mushrooms

Name: Tofu Steak with Japanese Mushrooms
Yield: serves 4
Ingredients: 1/2 cup mirin; 1 1/2 cups Dashi (page 40); 1/4 cup Japanese soy sauce; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 2 tablespoons water; 2 tablespoons sesame oil; 1 (19-ounce) package firm tofu, rinsed, patted dry, and cut into 4 long rectangles (approximately 1 by 2 by 3 inches); 1/4 cup cornstarch; 1/4 cup thinly sliced celery; 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion; 1/2 cup peeled and thinly sliced carrot; 1/2 cup thinly sliced stemmed shiitake mushrooms; 1/2 cup thinly sliced shimeji mushrooms; 1/2 cup thinly sliced enoki mushrooms; 1 scallion, both white and green parts, thinly sliced on an angle; 2 obha leaves, halved and thinly sliced

December 9, 2011

This is a very comforting, home-style dish, perfect for a blustery autumn day. Be sure to use only firm tofu for this recipe; softer varieties will fall apart during cooking. The trio of cultivated shiitake, enoki, and shimeji mushrooms is a classic combination in Japanese cooking, and it adds a nice woodsy and earthy flavor to this dish. You can use other kinds of mushrooms, too, if you’d like, everything from the humble button mushroom to fancier porcinis or chanterelles—whatever your budget allows.

Recipe notes

Rosemary and Dried Cherry Pork Chops

Rehydrating dried cherries in hot water turns them plump and juicy—exactly what you want scattered throughout a rosemary-scented pan sauce for pork chops.

Brussels Sprout Pasta

This brussels sprout pasta recipe taps nutty brown butter, crunchy pecans, and hot Italian sausage to create an easy dinner bursting with fall flavors.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Frijoles Peruanos (Peruvian Refried Beans)

Mayocobas, or canary beans, are the quick-cooking pantry ingredient you should know about.

White Bean Turkey Chili

A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.

French Silk Pie

A no-bake Oreo crust, a rich chocolate filling, and a tower of whipped cream come together in this shut-the-room-up dessert.