Spicy and Sweet Braised Tofu
How to Make Delicious Spicy Braised Tofu
I made a tasty braised tofu side dish because my tofu was nearing its expiration date. This recipe transforms close-to-expiring tofu into a delightful, flavorful meal that’s perfect with rice.
Main Ingredients- 1 block firm tofu (about 300g)
- 1 stalk green onion (scallion)
- 1/4 onion
- 1 Korean green chili pepper
- 1/2 red chili pepper
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil
Spicy and Sweet Sauce- 2 Tbsp red chili powder (gochugaru)
- 5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 10 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp sugar (or corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp red chili powder (gochugaru)
- 5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 10 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp sugar (or corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp perilla oil
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all the vegetables that will go into the braised tofu. Slice the onion into thick strips or dice it. Chop the green onion diagonally. Remove the seeds from the Korean green chili pepper and red chili pepper, then finely chop them. You can adjust the amount of chili peppers to your preference.
Step 2
In a bowl, combine all the ingredients for the spicy and sweet sauce and mix well. Add 2 Tbsp red chili powder, 5 Tbsp soy sauce, 10 Tbsp water, 1 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp perilla oil, and 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds. Whisk until smooth and lump-free.
Step 3
Cut the block of tofu into approximately 1.5-2cm thick squares. Pat the tofu slices dry with paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible. This step helps prevent oil splattering when frying and allows the sauce to penetrate better.
Step 4
Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add 2 Tbsp of cooking oil and 1 Tbsp of perilla oil. Once the oil is warm, carefully place the dried tofu slices in a single layer.
Step 5
Pan-fry the tofu slices until golden brown on both sides. This process firms up the tofu and adds a delicious nutty flavor.
Step 6
Once both sides of the tofu are nicely browned, pour all the prepared sauce over the tofu. Add the sliced onions and chili peppers as well.
Step 7
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover the pan (or leave uncovered) and simmer for about 5-10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and the tofu is well-infused with flavor. Gently stir the tofu occasionally to prevent it from breaking. Once the sauce is reduced to your liking, your delicious spicy and sweet braised tofu is ready! Serve it over warm rice for a delightful meal.
