A tasty and saucy budget-friendly dish featuring crispy fried tofu and stir-fried water spinach in a savory garlic sauce. A classic Filipino home-cooked favorite.
Adapted from a video by Panlasang Pinoy
Garlic Tokwa and Kangkong | Murang Ulam Budget Recipe
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1
Prepare the water spinach: separate the leaves from the stems, rinse the leaves thoroughly in a colander, and set aside in a clean bowl. Cut off the bottom of the stems, slice into serving pieces, and wash them separately.
2
Prepare the tofu: slice the tofu block into thinner pieces and press on paper towels to remove excess moisture. Thinner slices fry better and cook more evenly.
3
Prepare the garlic: crush two whole garlic bulbs between two bowls to loosen the cloves, peel them, and mince into small pieces.
4
Toast the garlic to make garlic oil: heat plenty of oil in a wok, add minced garlic and fry over low heat while stirring constantly until golden brown. Turn off heat and let residual heat finish cooking, then remove the garlic with a slotted spoon.
5
Fry the tofu: reheat the oil to medium heat and fry the tofu slices one by one, cooking each side 3–5 minutes until golden brown with a slight crisp on the outside but soft in the center. Set aside to cool.
6
Prepare the sauce: mix oyster sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, and Knorr Liquid Seasoning in a bowl, stir in cornstarch, and add water to reach desired consistency.
7
Cut the cooled fried tofu into small cubes.
8
Stir-fry onions and tofu: leave a little garlic oil in the wok, stir-fry the onions over high heat until softened, then add the fried tofu cubes and cook for 1.5–2 minutes.
9
Add the toasted garlic, fry for 20 seconds, then pour in the sauce mixture while stirring to ensure the cornstarch doesn't settle. The sauce will thicken over high heat.
10
Add the water spinach stems and leaves: stir-fry the stems first until tender, then add the leaves along with the clean water from the bowl. Toss to coat evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed; if the sauce is too thin, mix cornstarch with water and add to thicken.
11
Season and serve: season with ground black pepper, add more toasted garlic for extra flavor, cook for another 30 seconds, then transfer to a serving bowl.