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Home » Budget Friendly

Easy Spicy Korean Braised Tofu Recipe

Feb 2, 2023Last Modified: February 3, 2023

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This page may contain affiliate links. So I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about an Easy Spicy Korean Braised Tofu Recipe!

Slices of tofu coated in a spicy sauce garnished with green onions and sesame seeds in a white dish with silver chopsticks resting on the white dish.

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?
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions For This Korean Spicy Tofu
  • Suggestions For Serving
  • FAQ
  • Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!
  • Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!
  • Easy Spicy Korean Braised Tofu Recipe

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

Sliced tofu on a white plate, small bowls filled with gochugaru, green onions, soy sauce, sugar, sesame seeds, minced garlic, sesame oil, and vegetable oil.

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.

Tofu being pressed by a heavy object. There is water draining from the tofu which is on a white dish topped by a white plate and the heavy object.
Place a heavy object over the tofu to press the tofu.
Tofu blocks sitting in drained water from the tofu in a white dish.
See how much water drains from the tofu after pressing?

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.

A white bowl containing spicy braising sauce including garlic and red pepper flakes. There is a spoon containing some of the sauce in the foreground.
Lovely spicy braising sauce!

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.

Rectangular pieces of tofu pan in a cast iron skillet being pan fried in oil.

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.

Pieces of browned tofu in a spicy simmering sauce in a cast iron skillet.
Looking nice and spicy!

The final touch is the garnishes. Sprinkle the sesame seeds, sliced green onions, and add some freshly ground black pepper and then dig in!

Pan fried pieces of tofu in a cast iron skillet that has been braised with a spicy sauce so that the pieces are red in color. The tofu is garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.

Suggestions For Serving

Tofu slices in a cast iron pan coated in a spicy sauce with sesame seeds and green onions as garnish.

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

How do I store any leftover tofu?

Store leftover tofu in an airtight container in your fridge. This is best enjoyed within 3 days.

Why does my extra firm tofu fall apart?

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.

What type of tofu should I use to make Korean Spicy Braised Tofu (Dubu Jorim)?

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:

  • Korean Spicy Bean Sprouts
  • Zucchini Side Dish
  • Bellflower Root Side Dish

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

In conclusion, if you'd like to come along on this food journey with me, please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

Tofu slices in a cast iron pan coated in a spicy sauce with sesame seeds and green onions as garnish.

Easy Spicy Korean Braised Tofu Recipe

Grace
Spicy Korean Braised Tofu, or Dubu Jorim, is pan fried tofu simmered in a delicious spicy braising sauce! It's the perfect side dish to accompany rice and all your favorite Korean mains!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 11 mins
Pressing The Tofu 30 mins
Total Time 46 mins
Course banchan, Side Dish
Cuisine Korean
Servings 4 people

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.
    A white bowl containing spicy braising sauce including garlic and red pepper flakes. There is a spoon containing some of the sauce in the foreground.
  • 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.
    Rectangular pieces of tofu pan in a cast iron skillet being pan fried in oil.
  • 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.
    Pieces of browned tofu in a spicy simmering sauce in a cast iron skillet.
  • The final touch is the garnishes. Sprinkle the sesame seeds, sliced green onions, and add some freshly ground black pepper and then dig in!
    Pan fried pieces of tofu in a cast iron skillet that has been braised with a spicy sauce so that the pieces are red in color. The tofu is garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.
Keyword braised tofu, spicy food, tofu
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About Me

Hi I’m Grace! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions! Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go. My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too. Let’s throw some actual travel in from time to time, all with an emphasis on keeping your wallet full and happy as well. Let’s get cooking and let’s start exploring!! I'm excited to be on this journey with you!!

By the way most of these recipes are Toby taste tested and Toby approved!!

Chief Taste Tester Toby

Toby Chief Taste Tester

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