Play Me a Recipe: Jenny Dorsey makes Barley Tofu with Chili Oil

If you like this show, head right on over to the Play Me a Recipe show page for more episodes; we play new recipes each Friday. On Play Me a Recipe, your favorite cooks will walk you through their most treasured recipes, offering all the insider tips, stories, and tricks you won't get from a written recipe—and you'll be right alongside them, every step of the way. Feel free to pause, jump back, or navigate the steps via the podcast chapters.If you're cooking along, here's the recipe we're making today. Go ahead and grab the ingredients below (Jenny starts listing them at 3:02) before starting the episode.Barley TofuServes 2Barley "tofu"3/4 cup (100 grams) barley flour1 3/4 cups (375 grams). water1 teaspoon kosher saltNeutral oil, for fryingChili oil8 dried red chili peppers1 tablespoon whole red Sichuan peppercorns2 teaspoons whole white peppercorns2-inch knob of ginger, peeled and minced3 stalks scallion, stemmed and minced5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced1 cup neutral oilKosher salt, to tasteWhite sugar, to tasteWhite vinegar, to tasteBarley "tofu"Whisk together barley flour, water, and salt until smooth in a medium pot.Heat mixture over medium heat, whisking continuously for at least 10 minutes, until it thickens considerably and the raw flour taste is gone.Quickly transfer barley mixture to a small nonstick loaf pan or brownie pan, and place plastic wrap directly on top of the mixture.Place a flat, heavy item directly on top of the plastic wrap to flatten the mixture until it’s smooth at top. Ideally, the mixture has now been pressed into a rectangular shape that meets the edges of the pan you are using.Let rest 4 hours or more before unmolding and slicing.Remove barley tofu from pan, and slice into rectangles or squares of your choosing.Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until slick and shiny.Add barley tofu and pan fry on all sides until golden brown.Drain on paper towels, and serve with sauce(s) or garnish of your choice.Chili oilPreheat oven to 400°F.Toast chiles on a sheet tray, 1-2 minutes, until darkened but not black.Remove and let cool completely. Pulverize into powder with a spice grinder.Dry toast Sichuan peppercorn and white pepper in a small skillet over medium heat until lightly fragrant, approximately 2-3 minutes.Let cool completely, and grind coarsely with a spice grinder.Combine chilies with spices, ginger, scallion, garlic in a heat-proof container.Heat oil in a small pot until it reaches 300°F.Carefully pour oil over chili mixture. It will bubble and steam immensely. Stir to combine, and let cool completely.Season with salt, sugar, and vinegar to taste.Let chili oil infuse in refrigerator overnight before serving.Is there a recipe you'd like to hear us make? Email it to us at [email protected] Time Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/