Chinese Braised Tofu

A very savory and delicious way to prepare tofu! And it comes together in under 30 minutes! A step-up from your standard Chinese restaurant take-out sauce, and a good excuse to sock up on Chinese ingredients if you don't already have them! You can add vegetables if you'd like. I hope you try this simple recipe, and don't worry about leftovers, they taste even better!

Teriyaki Tofu

Korean Braised Tofu

The original recipe is from: https://dailycookingquest.com/simple-braised-tofu.html

The recipe is here, and pictures of the process are below:

Ingredients:

Braising sauce:

• 3 tbsp. oyster sauce or mushroom sauce (vegetarian/vegan)

• 2 Tbsp. light soy sauce

• 1 tbsp. dark soy sauce

• 1 tbsp. Shaoxing wine

• 2 tbsp. sugar

• 1/4 tsp. white pepper

• 1 cup water

Other ingredients:

• 1 block firm tofu (350 g, 12 oz. or larger), cut in half and into 1/4 inch thick pieces

• 2 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1-2 red cayenne chilies, thinly sliced or 1 tsp. chili flakes

• 3 green onions, green part cut into 1-inch pieces, white part thinly sliced

• Cornstarch slurry: 1.5 tsp. cornstarch mixed in 2 tsp. water

• Rice and/or vegetables for serving

Directions:

1. Start preparing the rice, if making.

2. Mix together the braising sauce ingredients, set aside.

3. Bring a flat-bottom frying pan to medium heat with the oil. Place the tofu in a single layer in the oil. Fry about 4-8 minutes, or until golden brown. Flip and fry the other side until golden. The more golden and crispy, the more chewy the tofu will be (which is good).

4. Take the tofu out and set aside.

5. Add the garlic, white part of the green onions, and chilis to the same pan. Saute about 3 minutes, stirring.

6. Then add in the braising sauce and bring to boil. Add in the tofu to the sauce.

7. Simmer until the sauce reduces by about half, about 10 minutes.

8. Mix in the cornstarch slurry, if using, and stir until just thickened.

9. Then stir in the rest of the green onions and serve with rice! Top with sesame seeds or other garnich, if desired.

Note: In these pictures I made only half the sauce recipe, but now I know it needs more

All the ingredients (except the oil). I couldn't find cayenne peppers so I used fresno.

Slice the tofu up.

Mix the braising sauce together.

Prep the vegetables. You can also mince the garlic here as well.

Begin frying the tofu.

Fry until golden on each side.

Set aside.

In the same pan add the chili, white part of the green onion, and garlic. Start cooking.

After cooking 3 minutes. Then we add the sauce.

Add the braising sauce, bring it to a boil, and then add the tofu back in. Now we will simmer for 10 minutes.

After simmering 10 minutes.

Then just mix in the cornstarch slurry intil thickened and the rest of the green onions and you're done!

Serve with rice!

What a beauty!