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    Home » Recipe Review

    Ma Lan Tou Recipe | Kalimeris Indica Tofu Salad 馬蘭頭

    Nov 5, 2016 · 14 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Ma Lan Tou Dried Tofu Recipe Instanomss Nomss Delicious Food Photography Healthy Travel Lifestyle
    馬蘭頭 Ma Lan Tou is a simple and refreshing cold appetizer that is very easy to make. It is usually served with a selection of small plates beginning any Shanghainese feast. For one, I like that it takes only 5 to 6 ingredients. It goes wonderfully with rice, saucy dishes and has a fragrant but mild flavor.

    Ma Lan Tou Dried Tofu Recipe Instanomss Nomss Delicious Food Photography Healthy Travel Lifestyle
    Ma Lan Tou (MLT) is also known as Kalimeris Indica (Indian Aster). It is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant (similar to a daisy or chrysanthemum) and grows mainly in China, Korea, and Japan. It is said that the plant is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat acute inflammations, high blood pressure and is also effective in stopping the bleeding.

     

    Ma Lan Tou Dried Tofu Recipe Instanomss Nomss Delicious Food Photography Healthy Travel Lifestyle

    Whether it holds up to its medicinal uses I enjoy the extra serving of vegetables and dried bean curd.
    In Vancouver (Canada), MLT usually is packaged frozen. Rarely, do you ever see fresh leaves sold at supermarkets. Thaw and boil to remove the chillness. Run under cold water to stop the cooking. Using a colander, drain all water from the veggie and press out excess water.

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    Ma Lan Tou Dried Tofu Recipe Instanomss Nomss Delicious Food Photography Healthy Travel Lifestyle

    This Ma Lan Tou recipe requires dried tofu豆腐干/豆干. If you don’t have these stocked at home, you can always use bean curd sheets (sometimes called bean curd threads). Since they come dried, you will need to soak them for at least 10 to 15 mins in hot water.

     

    If you use Dried Tofu, simply dice finely. If you bean curd sheets after soaked in water, ensure you press out the water. Pat dry remaining moisture. Then dice finely. The texture will be firm and a little rubbery.

     

     

    Ma Lan Tou Dried Tofu Recipe Instanomss Nomss Delicious Food Photography Healthy Travel Lifestyle

     

    Print

    Ma Lan Tou Recipe | Kalimeris Indica Tofu Salad 馬蘭頭

    EASY TO MAKE Taiwanese MA LAN TOU RECIPE | KALIMERIS INDICA TOFU SALAD 馬蘭頭 on Nomss.com Food Blog
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    5 from 11 reviews

    Ma Lan Tou is a simple and refreshing cold appetizer that is very easy to make. It is usually served with a selection of small plates beginning any Shanghainese feast. For one, I like that it takes only 5 to 6 ingredients. It goes wonderfully with rice, saucy dishes and has a fragrant but mild flavor.

    • Author: Nancy
    • Prep Time: 10
    • Cook Time: 5
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 2-4 servings 1x
    • Category: Appetizer
    • Method: Blanching
    • Cuisine: Chinese

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 2 Cups Ma Lan Tou
    • 3 Squares Dried Tofu (or 4 to 5 sticks dried bean curd)
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 0.5 tsp sugar
    • 0.5 tsp light soy sauce
    • 1 tbsp sesame oil
    • 1 tbsp cornstarch (Optional: to wash the Ma Lan Tou)

    Instructions

    1. Wash Ma Lan Tou with cornstarch. This is optional. But I find adding cornstarch helps to draw out dirt and any muddy flavors from the plant.
    2. If you are using frozen MLT, thaw, and blanch in boiling water for a few minutes to remove the chillness. Rinse with cold water.
    3. Drain water using a colander. Press out excess water with hands. Pat dry with paper towel. Finely dice MLT.
    4. Finely chop dried tofu/ bean curd.
    5. Add the finely diced MLT and dried tofu in a large mixing bowl.
    6. Add salt, sugar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Toss and mix well.
    7. Tightly pack into bowl or cup and invert onto a dish to serve. I usually use a rice bowl.
    8. This dish can be made ahead of time and kept chilled in the refrigerator.
    9. Serve 4 (or serves barely 2 if you have me at your table)! I can this all to myself!

    Notes

    • Remember to drain well. The drier you can get the MTL the better. Wring tea towel also helps

    Did you make this recipe?

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    EASY TO MAKE Taiwanese MA LAN TOU RECIPE | KALIMERIS INDICA TOFU SALAD 馬蘭頭 on Nomss.com Food Blog

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Katie says

      October 04, 2022 at 5:14 am

      Love this tofu salad! Such a great way to get more protein in my diet!

      Reply
      • Nancy says

        October 13, 2022 at 1:06 pm

        enjoy this Perfect and refreshing plant based salad!

        Reply
    2. Natalie says

      October 04, 2022 at 12:25 am

      This is a simple and refreshing cold appetizer everyone should try. Thanks, Nancy!

      Reply
      • Nancy says

        October 13, 2022 at 1:06 pm

        Thanks Natalie - glad you gave it a go!

        Reply
    3. Tina says

      October 03, 2022 at 8:48 am

      Wow! What a yummy tofu salad.

      Reply
      • Nancy says

        October 13, 2022 at 1:10 pm

        Enjoy this easy and wholesome salad recipe!

        Reply
    4. Tavo says

      May 10, 2022 at 7:32 am

      I love this Chinese dish! I had tried it a couple of times but didn't know exactly what it was. Thanks to your recipe I got the ingredients and my local Chinatown, and the result was fantastic! Thank you!

      Reply
    5. Melanie says

      May 10, 2022 at 6:52 am

      Love the tip to wash with cornstarch, and how this recipe uses simple ingredients to really let the natural flavors shine. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    6. Katie says

      May 10, 2022 at 4:43 am

      My new favorite way to make tofu! So simple and so delicious!

      Reply
    7. Michelle says

      May 09, 2022 at 10:42 pm

      I've never tried something like this before, it was so delicious!!

      Reply
    8. Chantry says

      May 09, 2022 at 2:50 pm

      I've never heard of MLT before and am so excited to try it! Also washing with cornstarch is a new trick for me, do you use it on other veggies too?

      Reply
    9. Jacqui says

      May 09, 2022 at 12:59 pm

      I made this for lunch and I am totally obsessed with it. I am a huge tofu lover and this is totally satisfying all my tofu cravings. Deeeeelish!

      Reply
    10. Savannah says

      May 09, 2022 at 11:46 am

      This tofu salad is my favorite! I eat it all the time!

      Reply
    11. Holly says

      May 09, 2022 at 10:50 am

      I had to make a trip to the Asian specialty supermarket for this recipe but it was worth it! Served over Jasmine rice.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Nancy!

    I'm a finance professional and a Mommy to a toddler girl based Vancouver, BC, Canada.

    I love modern Chinese cooking, Asian inspired recipes and healthy vegan / vegetarian / plant-based substitutes focused on healthy family, wellness and sustainability.

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