Simple Garlic Soy Sauce Tofu Stir-fry (Dubu Gangjeong)
The Best Side Dish for Kids and a Snack for Adults! Garlic Soy Sauce Tofu Stir-fry
Whip up a delicious garlic soy sauce tofu stir-fry with simple ingredients you likely have at home! The crispy exterior and soft interior of the tofu, coated in a savory and sweet garlic soy sauce, make it a perfect side dish for kids and a fantastic snack to pair with beer for adults. Introducing the essence of ‘amateur cooking’ with Shinblimom’s easy and tasty recipe!
Tofu Gangjeong Ingredients
- 1 block of firm tofu (recommended for pan-frying)
- 1/2 paper cup of pancake mix or frying powder (enough to coat the tofu evenly)
Garlic Soy Sauce Glaze Ingredients
- 5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp oligosaccharide or corn syrup (sweetness can be adjusted)
- 1 soju cup (approx. 100ml) water
- 5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp oligosaccharide or corn syrup (sweetness can be adjusted)
- 1 soju cup (approx. 100ml) water
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, gather your main ingredient: 1 block of tofu, and 1/2 paper cup of pancake mix or frying powder to coat the tofu. Aren’t the ingredients simple? I’m not sure why the tofu turned out this color! (Additional note: The color might vary depending on the type of tofu. Using firm tofu meant for pan-frying is recommended as it won’t break apart easily.)
Step 2
Cut the tofu into bite-sized cubes, about 2cm each. Gently pat the cubed tofu with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Removing moisture helps prevent oil splattering when frying and ensures a crispier finish.
Step 3
Place the patted tofu cubes into a plastic bag and add the pancake mix (or frying powder). Close the bag and gently shake it. This will evenly coat each piece of tofu with a thin layer of the coating mix. This method is a great tip for a mess-free and uniform coating.
Step 4
Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the coated tofu cubes and pan-fry until golden brown and crispy on all sides. It’s important to cook them thoroughly until the outside is satisfyingly crunchy. (Tip: Even without the sauce yet, they are delicious and savory when fried like this!)
Step 5
Once the tofu is golden brown, push it to one side of the pan. Now, let’s make the garlic soy sauce glaze! Pour 1 soju cup of water into the pan. Then, add the remaining sauce ingredients: soy sauce, minced garlic, and oligosaccharide. Adding water first before the other ingredients helps prevent the soy sauce from burning. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer until it thickens slightly.
Step 6
Add the golden-brown fried tofu pieces to the simmering sauce and toss gently until they are evenly coated. (Previous recipe note: As the child disliked ketchup, this version was made with a soy sauce base. With the addition of garlic, it was noted that eating the fried tofu with the sauce tasted very similar to store-bought garlic chicken! An unintentionally delicious combination was born.)
Step 7
Arrange the glazed tofu gangjeong on a plate. (Extra tip: The parts where the frying powder clumped together absorbed the sauce well and tasted particularly delicious. The child ate it with great enjoyment, and even I found the salty-sweet flavor made me crave a cold beer! It’s a truly captivating side dish or snack that both kids and adults can savor.)
