It’s hard to post something fabulous after a bake-off win, but let me introduce you to my new friend, the Komatsuna Green.  This delicious little leafy thing came in my first Vegetable Husband basket (a service I’m eternally thankful to Leigh for posting about) and I knew it was the first ingredient I wanted to use this week.  After a bit of research, I learned that Komatsunas are a relative of the turnip but are also called Spinach Mustards in the US.  Grown almost exclusively in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and now, apparently, the state of Georgia, it’s a rich source of calcium that can be stir-fried and pickled, or used like bok choi in any dish.

I decided to stir fry it with dry-fried tofu in a ginger almond miso sauce recipe from About.com.  As much as I love cookbooks themselves, I kind of majorly love the internet as well.  I would have never used this sauce otherwise.  I chopped up the komatsuna greens like I would bok choi, stir-frying the stems first and then the leaves, and the recipe worked perfectly.  The flavor is a bit stronger that bok choi–more green? if that’s a flavor…–and the sauce was  bit too salty for me–maybe you should use a red miso instead of white–but I like the combination mostly.  If you have the chance to pick up some komatsunas, do!  I’d love to see them turn up in my next basket!

Komatsuna Greens in Ginger Almond Miso Sauce

1 bunch Komatsuna Greens, stems and leaves separated
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, diced
1 lb firm tofu
2 tablespoons soy sauce/Bragg’s Amino Acids
1 tablespoon miso
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sliced almonds
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup cooked red quinoa (or rice or other grain)

Dry fry the tofu. I divide to tofu into 2 batches to do this. After it is crisped the way you prefer it, set it aside on a plate to add to the stir-fry later.

Chop the komatsuna stems into 1/2 inch pieces.  Julienne the leaves.

Heat up a wok (without oil) and add the almonds.  Stir-fry quickly until fragrant and toasted, about 45 seconds. Remove.

Then in the wok, heat up 1-2 tbsp of sesame oil on medium heat. Add the onion, cook for 6-7 minutes or until the onion turns clear and soft.  Add the garlic and cook for one minute.  Add the komatsuna stems and cook for 5 minutes.  Add the leaves and cook for another 5 minutes.

While the komatsunas are cooking, combine the soy sauce, miso, and vinegar until smooth and set it aside.

When the greens are tender, add the tofu and then drizzle with miso sauce and sprinkle with almonds.

Serve immediately.