Spicy and Sweet Braised Tofu
Spicy and Sweet Braised Tofu
Make Delicious Spicy Braised Tofu at Home
Create a wonderful meal with tofu, which is not only affordable but also incredibly nutritious! The savory and slightly spicy sauce is perfect for a hearty meal. Try this Baek Jong Won-style braised tofu recipe, achievable with simple ingredients for an extraordinary taste. It’s excellent as a side dish for rice or as a delightful snack!
Main Ingredients- 1/2 block firm tofu (approx. 200-250g)
- 1 medium onion
- A handful of green onions or shredded scallions
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil (or sesame oil)
Spicy & Sweet Sauce- 4 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1.5 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp mirin (or rice wine)
- 3 Tbsp plum extract (or corn syrup)
- 2 Tbsp oligodang (or corn syrup)
- 8 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 0.5 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 0.3 Tbsp minced ginger (or a pinch of ginger powder)
- A pinch of black pepper
- 4 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1.5 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp mirin (or rice wine)
- 3 Tbsp plum extract (or corn syrup)
- 2 Tbsp oligodang (or corn syrup)
- 8 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 0.5 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 0.3 Tbsp minced ginger (or a pinch of ginger powder)
- A pinch of black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare your ingredients. Thinly slice the onion. Cut the tofu into approximately 1.5 cm thick rectangular pieces. (Tip: Gently press the tofu with paper towels to remove excess water. This helps it hold its shape and become more flavorful when pan-fried.) If you have shredded scallions, use them. Otherwise, thinly slice green onions diagonally.
Step 2
The key to delicious braised tofu is the sauce! In a bowl, combine soy sauce, gochugaru, mirin, plum extract, oligodang, water, sesame oil, sugar, minced garlic, minced ginger, and a pinch of black pepper. Stir well until the sugar is dissolved to create your flavorful sauce.
Step 3
Heat a non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and 1 tablespoon of perilla oil. Carefully place the prepared tofu slices in a single layer. Pan-fry until golden brown on both sides. Pan-frying the tofu beforehand prevents it from breaking apart and adds a wonderful nutty flavor.
Step 4
While the tofu is frying, prepare another pan. Lightly oil a separate pan and add the thinly sliced onions. Sauté the onions until they become translucent and release their natural sweetness. Sautéing the onions first will enhance the overall depth of flavor in the braised dish.
Step 5
Once the onions are slightly softened, arrange the pan-fried tofu slices on top of the sautéed onions. Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the tofu and onions. Add the sliced green onions or shredded scallions. Now, reduce the heat to low-medium and let the sauce simmer and reduce, allowing the flavors to meld together. (Tip: Avoid high heat to prevent the sauce from burning. Occasionally spooning the sauce over the tofu will help it absorb the flavors better.)
