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There's only one thing better than tofu braised in a Korean style seasoned broth. And that would be tofu braised in a SPICY Korean style seasoned broth!
Korean style braised (or simmered) tofu is called Dubu Jorim. If you love Korean food and Korean cooking, you will love making this spicy tofu recipe.
Let me tell you a little bit about this delicious Korean food featuring tofu as the main ingredient!
Jump to:
What Is Dubu Jorim?
Dubu means tofu in Korean. Jorim is a simmered dish. So this Dubu Jorim is simply simmered tofu.
The tofu is first pan fried in this recipe. It is then simmered in a spicy and savoury sauce which contains gochugaru, which is Korean red pepper flakes.
This dish is considered a banchan, or side dish, in Korean cuisine. Banchan are typically meant to be served with rice. So, this spicy Korean braised tofu is perfect as an accompaniment to a steaming bowl of white rice. My mouth is watering just thinking about this delicious side dish!
🥘 Ingredients
Here's what you will need to make this Korean tofu dish:
- Tofu - select hard tofu or extra-firm tofu for this dish. This is important so that the tofu doesn't fall apart when cooking. Silken tofu or soft tofu are not appropriate for this recipe.
- Vegetable oil
- Soy sauce
- Water
- Fresh garlic cloves
- Sesame oil
- Gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
- Sugar
- Sesame seeds
- Green onion
- Black pepper
You should be able to get most if not all of these ingredients at your local grocery store or Asian market. I've also linked to Amazon (affiliate link) for some of these ingredients for your convenience.
The spicy braising sauce ingredients include the soy sauce, water, minced garlic, sesame oil, gochugaru, and sugar.
We'll use the sesame seeds and green onions as a garnish, and freshly ground black pepper as the perfect finishing touch.
So let's gather our ingredients and make one of the best Korean recipes: Dubu Jorim!
🔪 Instructions For This Korean Spicy Tofu
The good news is that it's super quick to make this easy recipe after getting your tofu pressed!
Prep The Tofu
Begin by draining the liquid from the tofu block or blocks. Press the tofu by placing a heavy object on top of a plate on top of the tofu, and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. If you have time, it's best to press the tofu for around 1.5 hrs-2 hrs. This will help to draw the water out of the tofu.
Cut the tofu into rectangular pieces around ½" thick. Use paper towels to pat dry the tofu pieces and remove excess liquid.
Make The Braising Sauce
Make the braising sauce by combining the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Set this aside while we pan fry the tofu pieces.
Time To Cook!
Now place a non stick skillet or well seasoned cast iron pan on medium high heat. Add the vegetable oil, and once the oil is hot place the tofu slices into the pan. Fry each side until golden brown, around 3 minutes for each side.
Take the pan off the heat for a bit. Turn the heat down to low and allow the temperature of the stove to reduce to low.
If you add the braising sauce to a super hot pan it tends to burn off and you won't get a chance to simmer the tofu. So be sure to let the heat reduce.
Then return the pan to the heat. Give the sauce a good stir, then add this to the pan. Simmer this uncovered for about 5 - 7 minutes. If it gets too dry, you can add a little water here and there. During this time spoon the sauce over the tofu slices as they simmer.
During this time spoon the sauce over the tofu slices as they simmer. The tofu slices will absorb the wonderful savory sauce while simmering.
The final touch is the garnishes. Sprinkle the sesame seeds, sliced green onions, and add some freshly ground black pepper and then dig in!
Suggestions For Serving
The perfect accompaniment to this spicy Korean tofu is a steaming bowl of white rice! It's also a wonderful banchan to pair with delicious Korean main dishes such as Korean short ribs, or Spicy Chicken Bulgogi.
This tofu jorim is also best enjoyed with your favorite pair of chopsticks!
FAQ
Store leftover tofu in an airtight container in your fridge. This is best enjoyed within 3 days.
If the extra firm tofu you are using falls apart, it may be because there was too much moisture in the tofu. It's best to press the tofu to remove as much water as you can to help keep the tofu from falling apart.
Select extra firm or hard tofu to make Dubu Jorim. Other types of tofu won't be able to hold their shape for this dish.
Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!
Here are some other recipes for Korean side dishes you may enjoy:
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Cheers!
Grace
Easy Spicy Korean Braised Tofu Recipe
Equipment
- 1 non stick skillet or cast iron pan
Ingredients
- 1 lb tofu select hard or extra firm tofu
- 1.5 tablespoon vegetable oil can sub canola oil
Sauce Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
- ¾ cup water
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 ts sesame oil
- 1.5 tablespoon gochugaru Korean red pepper flakes
- 1 ts sugar
Garnishes
- ½ ts sesame seeds
- 1 green onion sliced
- black pepper freshly ground to add to the finished dish
Instructions
- Begin by draining the liquid from the tofu block or blocks. Press the tofu by placing a heavy object on top of a plate on top of the tofu, and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. If you have time, it's best to press the tofu for around 1.5 hrs-2 hrs. This will help to draw the water out of the tofu.
- Cut the tofu into rectangular pieces around ½" thick. Use paper towels to pat dry the tofu pieces.
- Make the braising sauce by combining the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Set this aside while we pan fry the tofu pieces.
- Now place a non stick skillet or well seasoned cast iron pan on medium high heat. Add the vegetable oil, and once the oil is hot place the tofu slices into the pan. Fry each side until golden brown, around 3 minutes for each side.
- Take the pan off the heat for a bit. Turn the heat down to low and allow the temperature of the stove to reduce to low. Then return the pan to the heat. Give the sauce a good stir, then add this to the pan. Simmer this uncovered for about 5 - 7 minutes. If it gets too dry, you can add a little water here and there. During this time spoon the sauce over the tofu slices as they simmer.
- The final touch is the garnishes. Sprinkle the sesame seeds, sliced green onions, and add some freshly ground black pepper and then dig in!
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