Crispy Pan-Fried Tofu
Experience Tofu Beyond Tteokbokki Sauce! Crispy and Tender Pan-Fried Tofu
Do your children love the tofu in your soybean paste soup but you want to offer them a more distinctive tofu dish? This recipe is for you! It creates tofu that is incredibly crispy on the outside, like fried food, and delightfully tender on the inside. The taste is absolutely superb! It makes for a fantastic side dish for rice or even a satisfying snack.
Main Ingredients- 1 block Firm Tofu
Sauce- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 1.5 Tbsp Mirin (Rice Wine)
- 0.25 Tbsp Sesame Oil (approx. 1/2 tsp)
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Green Onion
- 0.5 Tbsp Minced Garlic (approx. 1 tsp)
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 1.5 Tbsp Mirin (Rice Wine)
- 0.25 Tbsp Sesame Oil (approx. 1/2 tsp)
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Green Onion
- 0.5 Tbsp Minced Garlic (approx. 1 tsp)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by preparing the sauce. In a bowl, combine the measured amounts of soy sauce, sugar, mirin, sesame oil, chopped green onion, and minced garlic. Stir well until the sugar is completely dissolved, creating a smooth and well-blended sauce. Your delicious sauce is ready!
Step 2
Next, slice the tofu into manageable pieces. Cutting it into approximately 1.5 cm thick squares is ideal for even seasoning and frying. Ensure all pieces are cut to a similar thickness for consistent cooking.
Step 3
Now, it’s time to fry the tofu. Pour enough cooking oil into a pan so that the tofu is about one-third submerged. Heat the oil over medium heat. Adding the tofu to oil that is too hot can cause splattering, so frying over medium heat is safer and yields a better result. Carefully place the tofu pieces into the hot oil and fry them until golden brown on both sides. The goal is not a soft, gently cooked texture like pan-fried tofu, but a crispy, fried exterior, as shown in the following photos. This process removes surface moisture, allowing the tofu to absorb the sauce beautifully later on. If deep-frying seems daunting, you can simply use a little oil to lightly pan-fry the tofu before braising; it will still be delicious!
Step 4
Once the tofu is perfectly fried, transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels. This step helps to drain off any excess oil, resulting in a less greasy and more delightful texture.
Step 5
Now, let’s braise the tofu in the sauce. Arrange the drained, fried tofu pieces snugly in a narrower pan. Pour all the prepared sauce over the tofu. Cook over medium heat, allowing the sauce to reduce and the tofu to absorb the flavors. It’s important to stir gently with a spatula to prevent the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pan as it thickens. Continue to simmer and stir until the sauce has mostly evaporated and coated the tofu.
Step 6
Your delicious crispy and tender pan-fried tofu is complete! Serve it over hot rice or enjoy it as a standalone side dish. The whole family will love this taste! Watching the recipe video on the recipe page will also be a great help. Enjoy your meal!
