Maeun Tofu (Spicy Braised Tofu)
Pan-seared tofu, gochujang-soy braise and scallion.
Maui's an app that plans a whole week of dinners like this one. See how it works ↓
Press the tofu hard and sear it crispy BEFORE saucing - that crusty exterior is what soaks up the gochujang glaze without going to mush. Skip the press and you get sad wet tofu.
Ingredients
Everything below makes 4 servings.
- 28 ozfirm tofupressed 15 min, then sliced 1/2-inch thick
- 2 tbspgochujang
- 1½ tbspgochugaru (Korean chile flakes)
- 3 tbspsoy sauce
- 1 tbspbrown sugar
- 1 tbsptoasted sesame oil
- 4garlic clovesminced
- 1 tspfresh gingergrated
- ½ mediumyellow onionsliced thin
- 3scallionssliced
- 2 tbspneutral oil
- 1 tbsptoasted sesame seedstoasted
In the app these rescale to however many people you're feeding.
Nutrition
Per serving, as written.
- 429calories
- 37gprotein
- 14gcarbs
- 29gfat
Swaps move these numbers. A different protein or base changes them.
Instructions
Knife work first, then the stove. Nothing below asks you to chop while something burns.
- Press tofu 15 min between paper towels with a weight. Slice 1/2-inch thick.
- Whisk gochujang and gochugaru and soy and brown sugar and sesame oil and garlic and ginger and 1/2 cup water for sauce.
- Slice onion and scallions.
Sear tofu
Heat neutral oil in skillet over medium-high. Lay tofu slabs in single layer; sear 4 min UNDISTURBED until deep golden and crispy bottom. Flip; sear 3 min the other side.
7 min · hands onAdd aromatics and sauce
Reduce heat to medium. Push tofu to one side. Add onion to empty space; sauté 2 min until softened. Pour sauce over everything. Sprinkle white parts of scallions across the top.
3 min · hands onBraise
Cover; simmer 5 min until sauce reduces to a glaze and tofu absorbs flavor. Spoon sauce over slabs as it cooks.
5 min · hands offPlate
Slide tofu and sauce onto a serving dish. Scatter remaining scallion greens and toasted sesame seeds. Serve with rice.
1 min · hands onMake it yours
Every swap here is one Maui already knows how to make, including what it does to the timing.
Extra-firm holds shape best for braising - same prep.
Steam 6 cups bok choy 3 min alongside. Adds about 5 minutes.
Verify GF - many gochujang brands contain wheat.
What keeps
Keeps 4 days fridge. The tofu absorbs more sauce overnight - even better day 2.
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