Tofu Stir-Fry with Asian Pear & Cashews

1 cup brown rice
4 tsp hot toasted sesame oil or hot chili oil, divided
16oz pkg extra firm tofu, diced
3 medium carrots, sliced
1 medium Asian pear, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbs gluten free hoisin sauce
2 Tbs gluten free soy sauce
3 tsp rice vinegar
1 cup roasted cashews

1) Cook rice according to package directions.
2) Heat 2 tsp sesame oil in wok over high heat. Add tofu, and cook 10-15 minutes, or until golden on two or more sides, turning occasionally. Transfer tofu to plate.
3) Heat remaining 2 tsp sesame oil in wok over high heat. Add carrots and stir-fry 2 minutes. Add Asian pear and bell pepper, and stir-fry 2 minutes. Add garlic and stir-fry 1 minute more. Return tofu to wok with vegetables and add rice.
4) Whisk together hoisin, soy sauce and rice vinegar in a small bowl. Pour over wok mixture, and stir until tofu is heated through. Serve topped with cashews.

Review: I've never tried Asian pear before and thought this would be a great introduction. The sticker on the fruit said it was an apple pear. That's a great description of its flavor! But, it's not an apple pear, it's an Asian pear. Look for a fruit that's firm like an apple and has no bruising. Like a pear, it's optional to peel or leave skin on. I left the skin on and it was fine. Many have skins that are scratched - that indicates a good degree of ripeness because the fruit stayed on the tree longer. Once it's in the fridge, it supposedly can keep for several months. I had mine for over a week and it was fine. So, back to the recipe. I had some difficulty finding all the ingredients. My grocery store only had one row of hot toasted sesame oil and it was hard to find. To top off the difficulties, I only know of one brand that makes gluten free hoisin sauce. I was very fortunate that it was carried at my grocery store. This was a labor of love just getting all the ingredients together. Preparing and cooking the meal was another labor of love as it took about an hour. And don't try licking oil off your fingers, this stuff is SPICY. This dish had an awesome mix of heat, sweet and savory. What a wonderful dinner!!!

Adapted from:
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/tofu-stir-fry-with-asian-pear-and-cashews/