004: CHILI TOFU BITES

🐅 Tiger Chili Tofu Bites — The Fire Path Scroll

Archetype: The Tiger — swift heat, bright focus, playful power.

💡 Why This Works

Cornstarch + air fry = crisp armor. A chili-lime buzz coats every edge in seconds. Fast, fiery, addictive.

⚡ Energy & Time

• Total: 18–22 min
• Effort: Low (RPE 4/10)
• Gear: Air fryer (default), bowl

🎭 Flavor & Mood

Snap-crisp, garlicky, chili-bright with a clean lime finish. Street-food joy, weeknight speed.

🥣 What It Is

Bite-size tofu, air-crisped and tossed in a chili–garlic–lime glaze with sesame & scallion.

🧾 Ingredients (serves 2)

• Tofu: 14 oz (400 g) firm tofu, pressed 20–30 min, cut into ¾–1 in cubes
• Crisp Coat: 2 tsp oil • 1½ tbsp cornstarch • ½ tsp garlic powder • ¼ tsp salt • black pepper
• Tiger Chili Glaze: 1 tbsp chili crisp or 2 tsp chili paste + 1 tsp oil • 1 tbsp soy/tamari • 1 tbsp lime juice • 1 tsp honey/maple • 1 tsp rice vinegar • 1 small garlic clove, grated • ½ tsp grated ginger
• Finish: Sesame seeds • sliced scallions • extra lime

✍️ Method (Air Fryer default)

1. Coat: Pat tofu dry. Toss with oil, cornstarch, garlic powder, salt, pepper until lightly dusted.
2. Air fry: Preheat to 380°F / 193°C (3 min). Arrange in single layer on parchment/foil sling. Cook 10–12 min, shaking at 6 min, until crisp-golden.
3. Glaze: Stir glaze ingredients until glossy. Toss hot tofu to coat; return to fryer 1–2 min to set.
4. Serve: Shower with sesame + scallion; finish with a hard squeeze of lime.

🌿 Maker’s Notes

• More fire: Add chili flakes or extra chili crisp.
• Sweeter edge: +½ tsp honey/maple.
• Other devices: Oven 425°F / 220°C 15–18 min (flip once), toss in glaze, broil 30–45 sec.

📦 Storage & Reheat

• Best hot. Reheat 350°F / 175°C for 3–4 min; add a dab of glaze + lime.

📜 Lore / Origin

The tiger doesn’t simmer. It strikes. Heat, color, crunch — then gone. A lesson in decisive flavor.

🌺 Benefits

• Protein: steady fuel with quick satisfaction
• Low oil: crisp without frying
• Speed: pantry glaze, 20-minute win

🧭 Self-Score to 100

• Flavor Balance: 20/20
• Ease & Gadget Efficiency: 20/20
• Texture & Authenticity: 20/20
• Time & Cleanup: 20/20
• Mythic Resonance: 20/20

Total: 100/100 — Fast flame, clean crunch.