Fermented Black Bean Braised Tofu

Ingredients

• 1 cup neutral oil
• 2 cups flour
• 2 onions, small dice
• 2 red bell peppers, diced
• ½ stalk celery, small dice
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 2″ finger ginger, minced
• 2 medium sized ripe tomatoes, diced
• 1 tablespoon Sambal chili paste
• 1 cup fermented black bean paste
• 3 quarts rich vegetable stock
• 1 2″ piece lemongrass, bruised,1 cup cilantro stems, chopped
• 1 stick Cassia bark, (cinnamon stick can be used as a substitute)
• 1 pod black cardamom
• 1 teaspoon fermented black beans, rinsed well with cold water
• 1 lime leaf
• 1 fresh bay laurel leaf
• 1 tablespoon fermented red pepper paste
• 1 teaspoon black pepper, ground
• ¼ cup neutral oil
• 1½ pounds silken tofu, cut into 1″ cubes
• 6 scallions, green tops sliced, whites split lengthwise
• 6 lunch box peppers, split lengthwise
• 6 baby turnips, quartered
• 6 cherry tomatoes, split
• 9 pieces of okra, split lengthwise
• ½ bunch cilantro, roughly sliced
• Salt to taste
• 2 cups cooked aromatic rice
• Black sesame seeds for garnish