Soft and Delicious Braised Tofu
Soft and Delicious Braised Tofu
One-Pan Wonder: Easy and Delicious Braised Tofu Side Dish
Today, we’re making a super simple one-pan meal: ‘Easy Braised Tofu,’ a perfect everyday side dish! Let’s whip up this rice-stealingly delicious tofu dish together.
Main Ingredients- 1 block of Tofu (firm or stewing type)
- 1/2 stalk of Green Onion
- 1 pack of Enoki Mushrooms
Seasoning Ingredients- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce for soup
- 1.5 Tbsp Regular Soy Sauce
- 1.5 Tbsp Red Pepper Flakes (Gochugaru)
- 0.5 Tbsp Sweet Rice Syrup (or Corn Syrup)
- 0.5 Tbsp Dried Anchovy Powder
- 0.5 Tbsp Dried Shiitake Mushroom Powder
- 0.5 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1/2 cup Water (100ml)
- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce for soup
- 1.5 Tbsp Regular Soy Sauce
- 1.5 Tbsp Red Pepper Flakes (Gochugaru)
- 0.5 Tbsp Sweet Rice Syrup (or Corn Syrup)
- 0.5 Tbsp Dried Anchovy Powder
- 0.5 Tbsp Dried Shiitake Mushroom Powder
- 0.5 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1/2 cup Water (100ml)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the tofu. If your tofu is too soft and breaks easily, slice it into 1.5-2cm thick pieces suitable for braising. Lightly sprinkle with salt, let it sit for a bit, and then gently press with paper towels to remove excess water. This step helps the tofu hold its shape and become firmer when braised.
Step 2
This recipe is a super simple one-pan dish that even skips the broth-making step! Mix all the seasoning ingredients in a bowl beforehand to create your braising sauce. Combine 1 Tbsp soy sauce for soup, 1.5 Tbsp regular soy sauce, 1.5 Tbsp gochugaru (red pepper flakes), 0.5 Tbsp sweet rice syrup, 0.5 Tbsp dried anchovy powder, 0.5 Tbsp dried shiitake mushroom powder, and 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic. Stir well.
Step 3
Now, it’s time to pan-fry the tofu. Heat a generous amount of perilla oil (or cooking oil) in a frying pan over low heat. Carefully place the tofu pieces into the hot pan. It’s important to handle the tofu gently to prevent it from crumbling.
Step 4
Pan-fry the tofu, flipping it carefully to achieve a golden-brown color on all sides. Take your time and be extra gentle as you flip each piece. Tofu that’s nicely browned will have an even more delicious flavor and texture.
Step 5
Once the tofu is nicely browned, arrange the roughly chopped green onions on top of the tofu pieces. The fragrant aroma of the green onions will beautifully complement the tofu.
Step 6
Next, prepare the enoki mushrooms by trimming off the root end and separating them slightly. Arrange them attractively over the tofu and green onions. The slightly chewy texture of the enoki mushrooms will add another delightful layer to the dish.
Step 7
Pour the pre-made seasoning sauce evenly over the tofu and vegetables. Then, carefully pour 1/2 cup of water (100ml) along the sides of the pan. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat and let it bubble.
Step 8
Once the sauce starts simmering, reduce the heat to low. Continue to ladle the simmering sauce over the tofu and vegetables for about 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and penetrate the ingredients. (You can simmer it longer if you prefer a more concentrated flavor.) And there you have it – your super simple braised tofu is ready! Although it’s a one-pan dish, it’s best served by transferring it to a nice serving platter rather than eating directly from the pan.
