Leek Fried with Tofu and Fish Slices is a simple yet delicious dish that goes very well with rice. Leek can be bought easily from the wet market and the hypermarket all year round. However, it is usually sold in abundance during Chinese New Year. In fact it is a must-have for the auspicious day. This is because Leeks, according to its Mandarin pronunciation means "to count". We definitely want to have lots of money to count in the year ahead. Thus, cooking leek is sort of "mandatory" for us who celebrate the festival.
Our family likes leek a lot. I have cooked it in many ways. Sometimes, I fry it with tofu, fish fillet, carrots and Shitake mushrooms. At other times, I just fry it with fish slices and tofu or just with tofu alone.
I take the following steps to make this dish:
- Clean and cut the leek in a diagonal manner of about 1 inch. We need to wash the leek thoroughly as a lot of soil is trapped between the many layers of the leaves. So, usually after cutting them, I will soak them for about 10 minutes for the soil to be dislodged from the leaves. Set aside.
- Wash and cut the fish into slices. I usually use the Grouper or the Snapper fillet for this dish. Heat up the wok and fry the fish. If you do not want the oil to splash all over, coat the fish slices with a thin layer of flour. Dish the fish slices out after they are cooked. Set aside.
- Remove the tofu from the plastic casing. Rinse and cut them cylindrically into half centimeter thick. Coat with flour and deep-fry them. Set aside after dishing them out from the wok.
- Saute garlic. Add in the leek. Add a bit of water. Stir. Add in the seasonings - light soy sauce, salt and pepper according to your taste. Add in the fish slices. Do not overcook the leek. Finally, when the dish is almost done, add in the tofu. Stir gently so as not to break the tofu.
- When done, dish the leek, fish slices and tofu out from the wok.