Simple Pan-Fried Tofu with Savory Sauce
Simple Pan-Fried Tofu with Savory Sauce
Making a Delicious Side Dish with Pan-Fried Tofu and Seasoning Sauce
Beat the heat with this simple yet satisfying side dish! Enjoy crispy on the outside, tender on the inside pan-fried tofu, generously coated with a savory and slightly sweet sauce. It’s the perfect accompaniment to any meal, especially when appetites are low due to the hot weather. This recipe is a lifesaver when you have a block of tofu on hand and need a quick, delicious meal.
Main Ingredients- 1 block of firm tofu
- Frying powder, as needed
- Cooking oil, generously
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Cut one block of firm tofu into about 6 large pieces. While you can cut them smaller, larger pieces require fewer flips during cooking, which is ideal for minimizing effort on a hot day. Gently pat the tofu slices dry with paper towels to ensure a crispier texture.
Step 2
Place a generous amount of frying powder on a wide plate. Coat each tofu slice evenly on both sides with the frying powder. This coating helps prevent the tofu from sticking to the pan and contributes to a delightful crispiness.
Step 3
Heat a frying pan over medium-low heat and add a generous amount of cooking oil. Once the oil is shimmering, carefully place the coated tofu slices into the pan. Let them cook undisturbed until one side is golden brown and crispy. While the tofu is frying, let’s prepare the delicious sauce.
Step 4
In a bowl, combine 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp corn syrup, 0.5 Tbsp red pepper flakes, 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds, and 2 Tbsp sesame oil. Add 2 Tbsp finely minced onion, 1 Tbsp finely minced carrot, and 2 Tbsp finely chopped green onion. Mince the vegetables as finely as possible for the best flavor integration.
Step 5
Whisk all the sauce ingredients together until well combined. This creates a versatile sauce that’s perfect for the tofu dish, but can also be used to braise tuna or flavor zucchini dishes. Having this all-purpose sauce ready can significantly speed up your cooking process.
Step 6
Once the first side of the tofu is golden brown, carefully flip the slices and cook the other side until equally golden and crispy. Reduce the heat to very low, or turn it off temporarily. Spoon the prepared sauce generously over the tofu slices. It’s important to keep the heat low to prevent the sauce from burning.
Step 7
You can add the sauce gradually, tasting as you go to avoid making it too salty, but this sauce is not overly salty, so I applied it generously. Let the sauce simmer gently on the low heat until it slightly thickens and coats the tofu beautifully. This makes a fantastic side dish! My child loved it so much and gave it a thumbs-up. Enjoy this delicious and hearty tofu side dish, perfect even on the hottest days!
