Budget-Friendly & Nutritious Tofu Jang (Large Batch Side Dish)
[Large Batch Side Dish] Make a Unique and Delicious Tofu Side Dish: Tofu Jang
Create a satisfying and flavorful tofu side dish, ‘Tofu Jang’, in a large batch. This recipe uses affordable tofu to create a wonderful meal. It’s a true rice-pairing delight!
Main Ingredients
- 1 block Tofu (firm or silken tofu works well)
- 1 Cheongyang chili pepper (add more if you like it spicy)
- 20g Carrot (adds color and texture)
- 30g Green onion (use both white and green parts)
- 70g Onion (adds sweetness and depth of flavor)
Seasoning Ingredients
- 2.5 cups Soy sauce (or Korean seasoned soy sauce, ‘Guk-ganjang’)
- 3 small cups Water (approx. 150ml by standard paper cup)
- 2 Tbsp Brown sugar (adjust sweetness to your preference)
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
- Sesame seeds (for a nutty aroma)
- 2.5 cups Soy sauce (or Korean seasoned soy sauce, ‘Guk-ganjang’)
- 3 small cups Water (approx. 150ml by standard paper cup)
- 2 Tbsp Brown sugar (adjust sweetness to your preference)
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
- Sesame seeds (for a nutty aroma)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the tofu. Place 1 block of tofu in a large bowl and add enough water to cover about half of it. You can easily blanch the tofu by microwaving it for 2-3 minutes. Alternatively, boil it in water. Drain the blanched tofu in a colander and gently pat it dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This helps the sauce absorb better and improves the texture. Now, let’s prepare the vegetables.
Step 2
It’s time to prep the vegetables. Finely mince the onion, green onion, Cheongyang chili pepper, and carrot. Using a mandoline slicer or a food processor can speed up this process. Place the minced vegetables into a storage container.
Step 3
Now, let’s mix the delicious sauce for the Tofu Jang. Pour 2.5 cups of soy sauce into the prepared container with the minced vegetables. (If you want to adjust the amount, aim for a soy sauce to water ratio of approximately 1:1.2.)
Step 4
Next, add 3 small cups of water (about 150ml). This dilutes the strong soy sauce flavor, making it less salty.
Step 5
Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar for sweetness. Feel free to adjust the sugar amount according to your taste. You can also use honey or corn syrup.
Step 6
Add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic for an aromatic boost. Finally, sprinkle some sesame seeds for a nutty finish.
Step 7
Stir the seasoning ingredients well until the sugar is dissolved. Your delicious Tofu Jang sauce is now ready! We’ll prepare the tofu to be added next.
Step 8
Cut the drained tofu into bite-sized pieces (about 2-3 cm cubes). Cutting them too small might cause them to break apart, so aim for a moderate size – that’s the key!
Step 9
This is the final step! Add the cut tofu to the container with the prepared sauce and mix gently to coat evenly. Close the lid and refrigerate for at least half a day to let the flavors meld. While you can eat it immediately, aging it in the refrigerator allows the flavors to deepen and become even more delicious. It’s the perfect side dish for rice!
