Spicy Tofu and Bean Sprouts

If you have a block of tofu and a package of bean sprouts, here is one dish you should try. This spicy tofu and bean sprouts are quite tasty and satisfying.

Use firm tofu for this recipe. Cut them into 1/2-inch squares, press with paper towel to absorb some moisture.

Fry them in a little oil, about 4-5 minutes on each side.

Combine all the seasonings, and mix well.

Layer the tofu, sliced onion, and a handful of dried baby shrimps. Sprinkle 1/2 the amount of the sauce.

This is an optional, but if you like Korean style flat fish cakes, throw some.

Add the bean sprouts and sprinkle the rest of the sauce on top. Pour 1/2 cup of water around.

Cover with the lid and cook for 5 minutes over medium heat. You will need to reduce the heat on the last 1-2 minutes of cooking.

Add the Perilla leaves and toss gently.

Mix cornstarch with some water in a bowl where you mixed seasoning paste. Pour it in the skillet. Continue to cook for 1-2 minutes until the sauce gets thickened stirring occasionally.

Serve the whole thing with rice. You will love how everything mellowed into one flavor. It is really tasty and the spicy heat wasn’t overly extreme.

If you omit the dried shrimps and the fish cakes, it can turn into vegetarian/vegan worthy. (I recommend to use sea kelp stock in place of water) Hope you get to try this.

~ Holly

Spicy Tofu and Bean Sprouts

Holly Ford

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Ingredients

  

• 1-2 tablespoon oil
• 1 block about 1 lb firm tofu, sliced into 1/2-inch thick squares
• 1 lb about 400 g bean sprouts
• 1 onion sliced
• 1 handful dried baby shrimps
• 1 sheet Korean flat fish cake thinly sliced
• 1/2 + 1/4 cup water
• 10 perilla leaves sliced
• 1 tablespoon corn starch
• !For the sauce
• 2 tablespoons Korean chili paste
• 3 tablespoon Korean chili flakes
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon minced ginger
• 2 cloves of garlic minced
• dashes pepper

Instructions

 

• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Press tofu slices with paper towel and add to the skillet. Fry 4-5 minutes on each side until golden and crisp on the outside.
• Meanwhile, combine all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
• Remove the skillet from the heat. Spread onion, the baby shrimps, and the fish cake slices (if using). Sprinkle 1/2 the amount of the seasoning sauce over, top with bean sprounts, and sprinkle remaining sauce again on top. Drizzle 1/2 cup of water around. Cover with the lid and cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes. You might need to reduce the heat toward the end of cooking time.
• Add the Perilla leaves to the skillet and toss gently.
• Mix cornstarch with 1/4 cup water in bowl which you made the seasoning sauce in. Drizzle the sauce into the skillet and cook for another 1-2 minutes until the sauce gets thickened tossing everything gently.
• Serve hot with rice.

Notes

If you want to make this dish into vegan/vegetarian, omit the dried shrimps and fish cake. Replace sea kelp stock in place of water. To make sea kelp stock, simmer 1 small piece of dried sea kelp with 1 cups of water for 5 minutes.