Quick Braised Tofu Recipe

Looking for a quick tofu dinner? This Korean braised tofu recipe turns bland tofu into a full flavored tofu dish packed with plant-based protein. Pan-seared tofu slices are braised in a spicy savory sauce. Adjust the amount of Korean chili flakes to suit your spice level.

If you are a person who has not experienced a tofu dish that is actually tasty and flavorful, try this Korean braised tofu recipe. It’s called dubu jorim (두부조림), and you will not be disappointed.

Firm tofu slices are pan-seared quickly then braised in a delicious, savory sauce made with onion, soy sauce, and Korean chili flakes. 

The texture of the tofu is lovely without being overly mushy — thanks to the quick pan-frying prior to braising.

It’s a little on the spicy side, but you can always adjust the amount of chili flakes to your liking.

The tofu becomes crispy on the outside but incredibly moist and soft inside. Serve it as a simple, healthy main dish in a rice bowl or with noodles. It makes a complementary side dish, too. 

The beauty of this recipe is how easily and quickly you can prepare it — within 15 minutes or so.

It’s probably one of the easiest Asian tofu recipes you’ll come across with only a handful of ingredients that you might already have in your kitchen.

Tofu Dishes in Korean Cuisine

Tofu is a staple ingredient in Korean cuisine, as it is in other Asian countries. You will find numerous dishes made with tofu as a main ingredient. Check these recipes below.

• Traditional Korean Soft Tofu Stew (Soondubu Jjigae)
• Crispy Korean Pan-Fried Tofu (Dubu Buchim)
• Korean Meat Tofu Patties (Wanja-jeon)
• Spicy Tofu and Egg in a Skillet
• Quick Soft Tofu Recipe (Microwave)

Tofu is also often used to accentuate other dishes like doenjang jjigae, kimchi jjigae, Korean army stew, and etc.

Without a doubt tofu is an important source of plant-based protein in Korean cuisine and it is widely loved.

Versatile recipe

• This braised tofu is one of my personal favorite Korean side dishes. I make it quite often when I need something quick to serve with rice. The bright red color immediately whets my appetite, and the flavor of this tofu has never failed to satisfy me. I hope it will do the same for you.
• 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.
• Try adding chopped shrimp. It adds another layer of flavor and tastes delicious. See my Korean braised tofu and radish recipe.
• 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.
• Wonderful vegetarian or vegan dish if you use water instead of stock.

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 of tofu. My Korean pan-fried crispy tofu (dubu buchim) is a great example of that. You will get crispy and chewy tofu every time.

Ingredients you’ll need

• tofu – use firm tofu
• onion, chili, garlic, green onion – adds savory taste. You can omit fresh chili if you prefer it to be milder.
• soy sauce
• Korean chili flakes (gochugaru)
• sesame oil – an aromatic ingredient
• Either anchovy stock or water – I personally prefer using anchovy stock to add umami, but water works fine, too.

How to make quick 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 tofu slices 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 the tofu 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.

More Tofu Recipes

Below are a few more tofu dishes that you might like.

• Tofu with Egg and Tomato
• Kimchi Tofu Dumplings
• Oyster Soft Tofu Rice Bowl (Skillet Dinner)
• Tofu and Egg Pudding in Microwave