Savory Braised Tofu in Soy Sauce: The Ultimate Rice Side Dish!
Savory Braised Tofu in Soy Sauce: The Ultimate Rice Side Dish!
A Must-Have at Home! Nutritious Braised Tofu in Soy Sauce, Perfect with Rice.
Introducing braised tofu in a rich soy sauce glaze that perfectly coats the tofu, making you devour a whole bowl of rice. This simple yet guaranteed-to-be-delicious recipe allows you to create a wonderful home-cooked meal even on busy days.
Main Ingredients- 1 block Firm Tofu (approx. 300g)
- 1/2 Green Onion (chopped)
- 1/4 Onion (sliced)
- All-purpose Flour (for coating) as needed
- 1/3 Red Chili Pepper (optional, diagonally sliced)
Golden Soy Sauce Glaze- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Mirin or Cooking Wine (removes gamey smell and adds umami)
- 3 Tbsp Corn Syrup or Oligosaccharide (for shine and sweetness)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Mirin or Cooking Wine (removes gamey smell and adds umami)
- 3 Tbsp Corn Syrup or Oligosaccharide (for shine and sweetness)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all the ingredients for the braised tofu. Pat the tofu dry with paper towels. Chop the green onion and thinly slice the onion. If you want to add color, diagonally slice the red chili pepper.
Step 2
In a bowl, combine 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp mirin (or cooking wine), 3 Tbsp corn syrup (or oligosaccharide), and 1 Tbsp minced garlic. Mix well to create the delicious soy sauce glaze. This sauce will determine the flavor of your tofu!
Step 3
Cut the prepared tofu into bite-sized square pieces. Lightly sprinkle salt on the surface of the cut tofu; this will firm up the tofu and help it absorb the soy sauce flavor better.
Step 4
Slice the green onion in half lengthwise and then cut into larger pieces. Slice the onion thinly as prepared earlier. It’s better to cut the vegetables slightly thicker so they don’t become mushy during cooking.
Step 5
Gently pat the tofu dry again with paper towels, then arrange the tofu pieces in a single layer on a wide plate. Lightly dust the surface of the tofu with flour using a sieve. Coating thinly with flour will make it crispier when pan-fried and help the sauce adhere better.
Step 6
Coat the other side of the tofu with flour in the same manner. Evenly coating both sides with flour will result in a more appetizing dish after frying.
Step 7
Heat a pan with a generous amount of cooking oil over medium-low heat. Once the pan is preheated, carefully place all the flour-coated tofu pieces into the pan. It’s important to pan-fry them until they are golden brown and crispy on both sides.
Step 8
Tip: Using a wide pan prevents the tofu pieces from sticking together, allowing you to fry them beautifully. Once one side is golden brown, carefully flip and fry the other side until equally golden brown.
Step 9
Once the tofu is nicely browned on both sides, use a spatula to gently push the tofu pieces towards the edges of the pan, creating space in the center. This prevents the tofu from burning as the sauce reduces and helps the sauce penetrate evenly.
Step 10
Now, pour all the prepared soy sauce glaze evenly into the pan. Bring it to a boil over high heat to quickly reduce the sauce. Once the sauce starts to boil, reduce the heat slightly.
Step 11
As the sauce begins to reduce slightly, add all the sliced green onions, onions, and red chili peppers. Gently toss everything with the tofu to coat evenly with the sauce. Stir-fry until the vegetables soften slightly and the sauce coats the tofu well.
Step 12
Turn off the heat when the sauce has reduced to a glossy, coating consistency. Be careful not to overcook, as the tofu can become tough. Aim for a nice, syrupy texture.
Step 13
Finally, for an extra touch, you can add sliced red chili peppers from the freezer if you have them, or sprinkle generously with toasted sesame seeds for added nuttiness and flavor. Serve the finished braised tofu over warm rice and enjoy!
