Spicy and Sweet Pan-Fried Tofu Delight
Easy Tofu Recipe: Pan-Fried Tofu (Dubu Bokkeum) – Your New Favorite Dish!
Discover the magic of Dubu Bokkeum, a delightful pan-fried tofu dish that perfectly balances spicy and sweet flavors. This recipe is incredibly easy to make and is sure to become a family favorite, perfect as a side dish or a hearty main course. Let’s get cooking!
Main Ingredients- 1 block (500g) firm tofu
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 1 stalk green onion
Sauce Ingredients- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 3 Tbsp oligodang (corn syrup) or honey
- 0.5 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 3 Tbsp oligodang (corn syrup) or honey
- 0.5 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Cut the firm tofu into bite-sized cubes, about 1.5cm thick. Avoid cutting them too thinly as they might break apart. Pat the tofu cubes gently with paper towels to absorb any excess moisture; this helps them achieve a crispier exterior when fried.
Step 2
Heat a generous amount of vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Ensuring there’s enough oil will prevent the tofu from sticking and allow it to cook evenly.
Step 3
Carefully place the tofu cubes in the preheated pan, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Pan-fry over medium-high heat, flipping occasionally, until both sides are golden brown and slightly crispy. This step creates a lovely texture contrast.
Step 4
While the tofu is frying, finely chop the green onion. The fresh, pungent aroma of the green onion will enhance the overall flavor of the dish.
Step 5
Now, let’s prepare the flavorful sauce. In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, gochujang, soy sauce, oyster sauce, oligodang (or honey), sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds. Whisk everything together until well combined and the sweetener is dissolved. Feel free to adjust the sweetness or spiciness to your preference.
Step 6
Once the tofu pieces are nicely golden brown on both sides, add the chopped green onion to the pan and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Sautéing the green onion first releases its natural sweetness.
Step 7
Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the tofu and green onions. Gently stir-fry over medium heat, allowing the tofu to absorb the delicious sauce and coat evenly.
Step 8
Continue to cook until the sauce thickens slightly and clings beautifully to the tofu. Your delicious pan-fried tofu is ready to be served! It’s fantastic spooned over a bowl of hot steamed rice.
