Quick Korean Braised Tofu (Dubu Jorim)

This Korean braised tofu, known as Dubu Jorim, is very simple to make and full of flavor. You pan-sear tofu slices and then quickly braise them in a savory sauce made with soy sauce and gochugaru, which adds a hint of spice. Serve it with rice or noodles.

If you haven’t tried a really good tofu dish yet, let me introduce you to a Korean braised tofu dish called Dubu Jorim. This simple recipe is sure to impress you.

The firm tofu is first pan-seared and then quickly braised in a soy sauce-based sauce with gochugaru, which are Korean chili flakes. It’s a bit spicy, but you can adjust the heat to your liking.

This braised tofu recipe is very easy to make in one pan, and it’s so good that you’ll want to cook it often. Each slice of tofu is thick and has a meaty texture, and every bite is savory, salty, and rich with deep umami flavor.

You can enjoy it warm or cold, and it goes well with both rice and noodles, offering many ways to customize it. It’s one of my personal favorite Korean side dishes, and I hope you’ll love it too.

Ingredient Notes

What type of tofu to use for Korean braised tofu

There are three different types of tofu — firm tofu (부침용), soft tofu (찌개용), and silken tofu (생식용). Please see my Korean pantry page to learn more about each tofu and its usage in various recipes.

For this braised tofu recipe, I recommend using a block of firm tofu. It holds the shape, and you can enjoy the chewy texture.

Other ingredients needed

• Onion, chili, garlic, green onion – adds savory taste. You can omit fresh chili if you prefer it to be milder.
• Condiments used: Soy sauce, Korean chili flakes (gochugaru), sesame oil
• Either anchovy stock or water – I personally prefer using anchovy stock to add umami, but water works fine, too.

No Need to Press Tofu

Many people bothers with pressing tofu by putting some sort of heavy tofu press object to remove the water from tofu. There’s no need of it if you follow my instruction.

All you need is couple sheets of paper towel to gently wipe off the moisture from the surface. My Korean pan-fried tofu (dubu buchim) is a great example of that. You will get crispy and chewy tofu every time.

How to make Korean braised tofu

Step 1. To make the sauce, combine soy sauce, Korean chili flakes, garlic, sugar, sesame oil, black pepper. Pour anchovy stock or water and mix well; set aside.

Note: If you are making this recipe as a vegetarian tofu dish, use water instead of anchovy stock.

Step 2. Slice tofu into 1/2-inch thickness. Press each slice slightly firmly with a piece of paper towel to remove excess moisture.

Step 3. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add tofu slices and sear for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden and crisp.

Step 4. Add onion and chili on top of tofu. Pour the sauce evenly over and let it boil. Cover with lid and cook for 4-5 minutes on medium low heat.

Step 5. Remove the lid and garnish the braised tofu with chopped green onion and toasted sesame seeds if you wish.

Serve this Korean spicy tofu dish with a bowl of steamed rice as a plant-based main dish or complementary side dish.

Helpful Customization Ideas

1. Want to make it heartier? Although I prefer serving it as is without adding anything else, add your favorite veggies if you prefer to make it more nutritious. Zucchini, carrot, radish, pepper are good addition.
2. Try adding chopped shrimp. It adds another layer of flavor and tastes delicious.
3. Perfect tofu rice bowl or tofu noodle bowl, or even with porridge. Just top it up with this flavorful tofu and you are good to go.
4. Wonderful vegetarian or vegan dish if you use kombu dashi or water instead of anchovy stock.

Other Healthy Korean Recipes to try

• Authentic Bibimbap Recipe
• Korean Spinach Banchan
• Traditional Cucumber Kimchi Recipe (Oi-Sobagi)
• Seaweed Soup with Beef (Miyeok Guk)
• Kimbap (Gimbap)