4 tablespoons sesame oil |
5 tablespoons rice vinegar or 5 tablespoons cider vinegar |
1 tablespoon sugar (or your choice of sweetener) |
3 tablespoons tamari or 3 tablespoons light soy sauce |
3 garlic cloves, minced |
1/4 teaspoon salt, to your taste |
1 dash crushed red pepper flakes, to your taste |
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced (optional) |
1 lb extra firm tofu, well drained (6 cakes) |
12 medium mushrooms, left whole |
1 small carrot, grated (or in matchsticks) |
1 small bell pepper, finely chopped (any colour except green) |
1 -2 cup cabbage, shredded (optional) |
1 -2 shallot, minced (optional) |
fresh mung bean sprouts (optional) |
1/2 cup coarsely chopped peanuts (optional) |
minced fresh cilantro (optional) |
minced fresh parsley (even basil would be nice) (optional) |
1 fresh tomato, diced (optional) |
sesame seeds (optional) |