Spicy and Sweet Baek Jong Won’s Braised Tofu
Spicy and Sweet Baek Jong Won’s Braised Tofu
Super Easy Baek Jong Won’s Braised Tofu Recipe – No Frying Required!
Introducing Baek Jong Won’s style of braised tofu, incredibly simple to make at home. You can achieve a rich flavor without the need to pan-fry the tofu separately, making it a quick dish even on busy days. Its spicy and sweet savory taste is perfect with rice! Follow this detailed recipe to easily create delicious braised tofu.
Main Ingredients- 1 block Firm Tofu (approx. 300g)
- 1 cup Green Onions, chopped
- 1 Korean Green Chili Pepper, chopped (or use milder chili if preferred)
- 1 Tbsp Perilla Oil (Deulgireum)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the vegetables for the braised tofu. Chop about 1 cup of green onions. Finely chop 1 Korean green chili pepper. (If you want to adjust the spiciness, you can use a milder pepper or remove the seeds. For children, it’s recommended to use a less spicy pepper or omit it.)
Step 2
Gently rinse the tofu under running water. Then, cut it in half to fit your pan, and slice each half into approximately 1cm thick pieces. Cutting them too thin might cause them to break apart, so aim for a moderate thickness.
Step 3
Arrange the sliced tofu in a wide, shallow pan or pot. Pour 1 cup (180ml) of water over the tofu, ensuring it’s about half-submerged. Now, add all the sauce ingredients and get ready to simmer. Combine 1 Tbsp fermented shrimp paste, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp coarse gochugaru, 1/3 Tbsp brown sugar, 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic, a pinch of minced ginger (if using, just a tiny amount), and all the prepared green onions and Korean green chili peppers. (Optional: If you’d like to add more sweetness and flavor, thinly sliced onion can also be simmered together.)
Step 4
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Once the sauce has reduced by about half, drizzle in 1 Tbsp of perilla oil. The nutty aroma of the perilla oil will enhance the flavor significantly. Continue to simmer until the sauce becomes slightly thick and coats the tofu well. This process is wonderfully simple! Your delicious braised tofu is almost ready.
Step 5
Chef Baek Jong Won plates the finished braised tofu and often adds a final drizzle of perilla oil on top. We skipped this step, but it was delicious nonetheless. This spicy and flavorful braised tofu is heavenly with a bowl of steamed white rice! It’s a simple yet impressive dish for any meal.
