Soft Braised Tofu
Soft Braised Tofu is a classic Shandong dish. The tofu is tender and flavorful, with a bright red glaze, savory with a hint of sweetness. Perfect with rice.
Ingredients
13 items- Soft tofu 1 block (about 400g)
- Scallion 1 stalk
- Ginger 1 small piece
- Garlic 3 cloves
- Dried chili peppers 2
- Light soy sauce 2 tbsp
- Dark soy sauce 1 tbsp
- White sugar 1 tbsp
- Cooking wine 1 tbsp
- Water about 200 ml
- Water starch 1 tbsp
- Sesame oil 1 tsp
- Cooking oil 2 tbsp
Nutrition
Steps （5 steps）
Bring a pot of water with salt to a boil. Blanch tofu cubes for 2 minutes to remove beaniness. Drain. Medium heat.
In another pan, heat oil on low heat. Add sugar and stir until caramelized to brown. Immediately add scallion, ginger, garlic, and dried chili. Fry until fragrant.
Gently add tofu to the pan, swirl to coat with caramel. Add light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cooking wine, and water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes to infuse flavors. Gently push tofu occasionally to prevent sticking.
When sauce is reduced by half, turn to high heat. Add water starch to thicken, swirling to coat tofu. Drizzle sesame oil. Serve.
Tips
Caramelize sugar over low heat to avoid bitterness; blanching tofu removes odor and firms it slightly; stir gently with a push motion to keep tofu intact.
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