2 simple ways to get anyone to like tofu? Pan fry it and smother it in a spicy Korean sauce.
If you are working toward a more plant-based diet, or if you are just looking to incorporate something new and fun into your family’s dinner that is both healthy & delicious, try out this Pan Fried Tofu with Spicy Korean Sauce (dubu buchim yangnyeomjang).
As I’ve mentioned before, keep a few blocks of tofu in your kitchen. I like to keep a mix of firm & extra-firm regular tofu (refrigerator), and silken tofu (cupboard) for different recipes. It’s great to have access to a delicious plant-based protein whenever you need it for a quick dinner.
Once you stock up on tofu in your kitchen, I have a lot of tofu recipes on the website for you to try. If you or your family are brand new to eating tofu, I recommend starting out by frying it up – try deep frying silken tofu with panko and dipping it in a savory sauce, or this recipe of pan frying extra firm regular tofu and topping it with a spicy Korean sauce.
Pan frying is the healthier alternative to deep frying, as well as easier to cook and less messy to clean up. That’s why I tend to make this Pan-Fried Tofu with Korean Sauce at least once a week.
The dish also makes a great appetizer, or a side with just about any Asian-style meal. It’s so much fun to eat a square of tofu covered in chili seasoning, garlic bits, scallions and sesame to really kick-start your palate, so your first bite of the meal is just as good as the last.
I usually enjoy this Korean pan-fried tofu with brown rice and a bowl of miso soup (with bok choy). If I have time, I will also cook a simple stir-fried greens to make a wonderfully well-balanced, plant-based dinner.
Pan Fried Tofu with Spicy Korean Sauce (Dubu Buchim Yangnyeomjang)
Ingredients
- 1 block 14oz extra firm regular (non-silken) tofu – drained well* and sliced into 1/4″ thick squares
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 scallion – finely chopped
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
For the sauce (yangnyeomjang):
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 garlic cloves – minced
- 2 tsp of Season with Spice’s Spicy Korean Chili Seasoning
- 1 scallion – finely chopped
- 2 tsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp honey
- 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp plum jam or apricot jam optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the sauce. Whisk well and set aside.
- Heat a cast-iron pan until hot. Add in oil, and swirl it around to coat the bottom of the pan.
- Place the tofu carefully in one single layer. Over medium heat, cook without stirring for about 4-5 minutes, or until the tofu turns golden brown. Turn the tofu over, and repeat. Transfer the tofu to your serving plate.
- Spoon the sauce over the tofu. Sprinkle chopped scallion and toasted sesame seeds over the top, and enjoy!