Tahu Lado Merah (Fried Tofu with Red Chilli Sauce)

You may have that one dish that the more often you eat the more you crave for it. This recipe probably fits well in that description. Unlike the conventional Lado Merah you may stumble in Padang Restaurant that is paired with beef or sometimes chicken, we opt for vegetarian option - tofu. We always love tofu and it is not the only time we get creative and substitute the meat-based protein dish to our preferable vegetarian alternatives like tofu, mushroom, and soybean cake. This is personally our favourite twist to a well known recipe!

Lado Merah which is a native dish from West Sumatera, Indonesia, and literally means red chilli. If you look out in the internet, there may be tons of variety of lado merah recipe. Like any other recipe prior, I will stick to this one passed down by mother. Full disclaimer that neither she is a descendant from the the region nor she ever live in the region. Yet her take on the lado merah taste almost identical if not the same with ones you try in Padang Restaurant.

With this red chilli blend recipe, you relatively can make it into so many different dish variations. Pair it with any protein you like (beef, chicken, salted fish, tofu) or vegetables (eggplant, potato), or mix with rice and make lado merah fried rice topped with a runny sunny side up. It is definitely such a versatile spice!

Ingredients:

• 4 blocks medium sized hard tofu

• 15 shallots

• 12 curly red chillies

• 8 red bird chillies

• Mushroom stock (optional)

• Salt

• Cooking oil

Cooking steps:

• Cut the tofu into bite sized cubes while heat up the deep frying pan. Make sure the cooking oil at least covered half bottom or the entire tofu cubes.

• When the pan is ready, fry the tofu in batches so it cooks perfectly. Put aside.

• Heat other pan on medium heat, add around two table spoon of cooking oil. Put curly red chilli, bird chilli, and shallot to the pan. You may cut them all smaller prior. It may prevent the chilli from exploding.

• Cook just until the chillies and shallot slightly turn a bit whiter and tender. Turn off the hob.

• Transfer the lightly stir fried shallot and chillies to food processor. Slowly grind it. We just want them to become evenly chopped and still have the texture.

• Put the ground shallot and chillies mixture to the pan over medium heat. If you notice it needs more cooking oil, just add adequately. Continue to cook for around 25-30 minutes until the mixture reduces in sizes and starts to release oil.

• Add fried tofu and mix it well with the mixture. Season with salt and mushroom stock.

Note: If you find it difficult to find curly red chillies in where you live, you may also use red chilli pepper or any long bigger chilli you find suitable.