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Preparation
30 minutes
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Cooking
20 minutes
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Difficulty
Medium
Stir-fried turtle with banana and tofu is one of the delicious ways to prepare turtle meat that many food enthusiasts love. If you are looking for a way to cook stir-fried turtle with banana and tofu that has the right color and flavor like in a restaurant, then go to the kitchen and follow this dry dish recipe.
Ingredients for Stir-fried Turtle with Banana and Tofu Serves 4
Turtle 1 piece Pork belly 150 gr Fried tofu a little (small square pieces) Green bananas 3 pieces (still green) Accompanying vegetables a little (wild betel leaves/ perilla) Fresh rice noodles 1 kg White tofu 2 pieces Shallots 3 bulbs Chili 2 pieces Turmeric powder a little Fermented rice a little Shrimp paste a little Rock sugar a little Cooking oil a little Tapioca flour 1/2 tablespoon Common spices a little (fish sauce/ seasoning powder)
How to prepare and process soft-shelled turtle
Step 1: Grab the head of the turtle and spin it around for about 1 – 2 minutes until it gets stunned, then use a knife to cut the turtle’s throat by making a deep cut into the right side of its neck, then tilt it upside down to let the blood drain out.
Step 2: Place a pot of boiling water on the stove, and when the water is boiling, drop the turtle in, blanch it briefly, then take it out. Next, remove the layer of skin on top of the shell and use a dish scrubber or cloth to scrub the slimy layer on the turtle’s belly clean.
Step 3: Use a sharp knife to slice along the edge between the soft cartilage and the hard shell on the turtle’s back, then carefully separate the shell. (You can boil this shell part to extract all the cartilaginous meat).
Step 4: Chop off the turtle’s head, then scoop out the internal organs and cut them off at the anus. Be careful not to break the gallbladder and intestines. If the turtle has eggs, be sure to keep them because turtle eggs are very rich and delicious.
Step 5: Trim off some of the yellow fat inside the turtle, as this fat will make the turtle meat smell fishy and hard to eat. Finally, just chop the turtle meat into bite-sized pieces and you’re done.
How to prepare Snapping Turtle with Banana and Tofu
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Prepare the ingredients
You will peel the outer skin of the green bananas, then cut them into pieces about 3 – 4cm long and immediately put them into a bowl of salted water mixed with vinegar to reduce the sap.
After that, you take the bananas out and rinse them clean with water. Place a pot of water on the stove, add 1/3 tablespoon of turmeric powder. When the water boils, add the bananas and boil for 3 minutes, then take them out and immediately place them in a bowl of cold water.
The shallots should be peeled and sliced thinly.
The accompanying vegetables should be picked, washed clean, and then cut into small pieces. The white tofu should be cut into small pieces or triangular shapes. Afterward, you arrange the vegetables and tofu on a plate to eat with the snapping turtle stew at the end.
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Marinate the Snapping Turtle meat
Add the snapping turtle meat into a bowl, and also add the pieces of pork belly, then marinate with the following mixture: 1/2 tablespoon of seasoning, 1/3 tablespoon of turmeric powder, 1/2 tablespoon of fish sauce, 2 tablespoons of fermented rice, and 1/2 teaspoon of shrimp paste. Mix well and let it marinate for 15 – 30 minutes.
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Pan-fried turtle and pork belly
You place a pan on the stove, add a little cooking oil (just enough to coat the bottom of the pan), then add the turtle pieces and fry until golden on both sides, then remove them, and continue to fry the pork belly until golden on both sides.
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Stewing
You drain excess oil from the pan if there is too much (or add oil if there is too little) and then add shallots to sauté until fragrant. When the shallots are fragrant, add all the pork belly, turtle, and green bananas, and stir together to absorb the flavors.
Next, you season with 1/2 tablespoon of seasoning powder, 1/3 tablespoon of turmeric powder, 2 grams of rock sugar (or white sugar), 1/3 tablespoon of fish sauce, 25 grams of fermented rice (about 1 and a half ladles), and 1/2 teaspoon of shrimp paste. Stir well so that the turtle and bananas blend with the spices.
Then, add the cubed tofu, add enough water to just cover the meat, and bring to a high heat. Once boiling, skim off the foam, then simmer for an additional 3 – 5 minutes and season to taste. Mix 1/2 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and pour it into the stewing liquid.
Simmer for another 5 minutes, then turn off the heat, scoop the stew into a small hotpot bowl, sprinkle a little perilla leaves and a few slices of chili on top to finish.
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Final Product
When eating the turtle stew with banana and tofu, you should heat it on the stove until hot, dipping vegetables and white tofu while eating.
With the marinating recipe above, the dish will be flavorful, with a slight sourness and a fragrant aroma of turmeric. The turtle meat is tender and juicy, the green bananas are starchy, and the square tofu is rich and creamy, creating a truly appetizing dish.
Above is the recipe for turtle stew with banana and tofu that has a beautiful color and delicious flavor just like in restaurants. Wishing you success in making this dish to enjoy with friends on cold days.
