Description
Korean Braised Tofu is a flavorful vegetarian dish featuring firm tofu slices pan-fried until golden and then simmered in a savory, spicy sauce made with gochugaru, gochujang, soy sauce, and garlic. This quick and easy recipe offers a perfect balance of heat, umami, and subtle sweetness, garnished with green onions and toasted sesame seeds, ideal as a side dish or served over steamed rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Tofu
- 1 block (14 oz or 400g) firm tofu, pressed to remove excess liquid
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce (preferably Korean soy sauce for soup)
- 1 tablespoon gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
- 1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean red chili paste)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or mirin
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Cooking
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Garnish
- 1 green onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare Tofu: Slice the pressed tofu into 1/2-inch thick pieces. Pat dry each piece with a paper towel to ensure they fry well and achieve a crispy texture.
- Pan-fry Tofu: In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Carefully lay the tofu slices in the pan and cook until golden brown on each side, about 3-4 minutes per side. Fry in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding the pan and ensure even browning.
- Make Sauce: While the tofu is browning, mix soy sauce, gochugaru, gochujang, sugar, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and toasted sesame oil in a small bowl. Stir well until the sugar fully dissolves, creating a flavorful and balanced sauce.
- Simmer Sauce: Remove the tofu from the pan once browned and set aside. Pour the prepared sauce into the same pan and bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to heat through.
- Braise Tofu: Return the tofu slices to the pan, coating each piece thoroughly with the simmering sauce. Let the tofu braise in the sauce for 5-8 minutes, turning once halfway through to ensure even absorption as the sauce thickens.
- Garnish and Serve: Transfer the braised tofu to a serving dish. Sprinkle with finely chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds for a fresh, nutty finish. Serve hot or at room temperature, ideal as a side dish or alongside steamed rice as a main course.
Notes
- Press tofu well to remove excess water, which helps achieve a good crispy texture when frying.
- You can adjust the spice level by varying the amount of gochugaru and gochujang to your taste.
- Use a non-stick skillet for easier frying and cleaning.
- Serve the dish immediately after garnishing for best texture and flavor.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 2 days and reheating gently is recommended to maintain sauce consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Korean
