Korean Braised Tofu, also known as Dubu Jorim, is one of the simplest and most delicious Korean dishes that turns simple tofu into something extraordinary. In this easy tofu recipe, tofu is pan fried until golden and crispy.
Then simmered in a spicy, savory, garlicky, lightly tangy sauce loaded with umami flavors.
It tastes absolutely delicious over steamed rice, noodles or on its own. It can be served as a perfect as a light main course or as a side dish with your favorite Korean meal.
Unique and artistic plating makes your dishes memorable and visually appealing.
Table of contents
Made with basic ingredients, it is a quick, healthy, flavor packed, and filling high protein recipe that comes together in just 20 minutes.
The tofu is slightly crispy on the outside, tender inside, and tastes absolutely addictive. Plus, it is a vegan and gluten free recipe.
Whether you want a quick vegan Korean recipe, a healthy weeknight dinner, a filling and warming lunch, or a flavorful banchan side dish, this easy recipe is sure to become a staple in your kitchen.
About Korean Braised Tofu
Dubu Jorim (두부조림) or Korean Braised Tofu is a classic Korean tofu side dish that is humble, flavorful, and delicious. This easy recipe is made with firm or extra firm tofu, soy sauce, vinegar, sweetener, sesame oil, garlic, spring onion, and gochugaru (Korean red chili flakes).
This is the perfect mix of crispy, saucy, and spicy. Serve it as a side dish (banchan) or pair with steamed rice, or boiled noodles for a complete meal. It is also meal prep friendly, and flavours actually deepen the next day.
Tofu is pan fried golden tofu, then it is braised in a spicy, tangy, savory-sweet sauce that coats every piece perfectly.
The best part? It’s naturally vegan, high in protein, gluten-free, and comes together in under 20 minutes,
This easy-to-make tofu recipe is ideal for meal prep or busy nights.
Whether you serve it as a healthy plant-based meal, a quick weeknight dinner, or a classic Korean side dish, one thing is for sure; you will not go back after trying this.
If you love tofu, are looking for an easy tofu recipe, or want to try something new with tofu, this is a dish you cannot afford to skip. Just try it once, and you will fall in love with its humbleness and flavors.
Once you try this amazing tofu dish, you will want to make it again and again.
Why You will Love the Recipe
This Korean Braised Tofu
✔️ is quick & easy
✔️ uses with simple pantry ingredients
✔️ is healthy & plant-based
✔️ is vegetarian & gluten free
✔️ goes well with rice or noodles
✔️ is filling and delicious
✔️ is protein rich
✔️ is so full of flavors
✔️ is brimming with authentic Korean taste
✔️ gets done in 20 minutes
✔️ is meal prep friendly
Ingredients
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Tofu – You need firm or extra-firm tofu for making this recipe, as it holds the shape while frying and absorbs the sauce.
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Soy Sauce – It is the base of the braising liquid and gives salty umami flavor to this dish.
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Gochugaru – Korean red chili flakes also known as gochugaru is added for signature spicy kick in Korean dishes. If you can’t find gochugaru, you can use a mix of paprika and a touch of cayenne pepper as a replacement. But the authentic flavor really shines with the Korean chili flakes.
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Garlic – Freshly chopped or minced garlic is added for bold flavor.
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Green Onions (Scallions) with Bulb – The spring onion greens are added for freshness and garnish. And chopped onion bulbs are added for pungency and flavor.
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Sesame Oil – A splash of sesame oil is added to the sauce for a nutty aroma. It gives the sauce a nice sheen and completes the dish with its richness
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Sweetener – A little brown sugar is added to balance the spice and saltiness. You can also use maple syrup instead of sugar.
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Sesame Seeds – They add nutty crunch and nuttiness.
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Neutral Oil – Some neutral oil like canola or vegetable is used for pan-frying tofu.
Variations
Non-Spicy Version
If you don’t like heat, or making it for kids, then feel free to skip gochugaru for a milder tasting and kid-friendly tofu dish.
Extra Spicy
If you like more heat, you can also add gochujang (Korean chili paste) instead of gochugaru. It gives more depth to this dish.
Vegetable Boost
To make it fiber rich, you can add zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms, or carrots to the pan along with onions.
Low-Sodium
If you want to reduce sodium intake or prefer a lighter flavor, either use sodium-free soy sauce or simply use less soy sauce.
Serving Suggestions
This Korean braised tofu can be paired with steamed rice for a quick vegan Korean dinner. You can also serve it alongside kimchi and other banchan (Korean side dishes) for a traditional spread.
It is great as a meal prep lunchbox item. And it also tastes good the next day. You can also use it as a protein-packed topping for noodle bowls or wraps.
For a lovely meal experience, accompany it with other Asian style dishes like tofu tacos, soy garlic tofu, Korean vegetable pancake, Asian Cucumber Salad, and Asian noodle soup.
**Storage Suggestions **
Store the leftover in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. You can also store it for one week and enjoy it throughout the week. The flavor deepens over time.
If you are making it for meal prep, then store the tofu and sauce separately. Just reheat the sauce, add the tofu and braise it for a fresh taste.
To reheat, simply warm in a pan or microwave until heated through.
Tips & Tricks to make the best Korean Braised Tofu
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Remove Moisture – To remove excess water before frying, pat dry with a paper towel.
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Frying – To crisp it up, pan fry the tofu until golden brown for the best texture before adding the sauce.
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Braising – While braising, spoon sauce over the tofu to soak up all the beautiful flavors.
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Customize –You can easily customize the taste of this sauce by adjusting the gochugaru to your spice tolerance, or other sauce ingredients according to your taste.
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Sweetener – adding sweetener is optional, but highly recommended as it balances the heat.
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Gluten Free –To make sure it is gluten free, use soy sauce and tofu that is gluten free.
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Pan – Use a non-stick or well-seasoned pan for frying tofu, as it helps prevent the tofu from sticking and makes flipping way easier without breaking the pieces.
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Resting – To absorb more flavours, let the tofu sit in the sauce for a few minutes after turning off the heat.
Korean Braised Tofu (Step-by-step photo instructions)
Prepare the aromatics
- Slice the spring onion greens and chop the white bulbs. Finely chop or mince the garlic cloves. Set aside.
Prepare the tofu
- Rinse the tofu in cold water and pat it dry with a kitchen towel. Slice each block of tofu into long rectangles about ⅓ inch thick. Pat each slice dry again, then sprinkle lightly with salt. Set aside.
Make the sauce
- In a mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, chopped garlic, vinegar, salt, brown sugar, gochugaru, sesame seeds, and water. Mix well and set aside.
Fry the tofu
- Heat the cooking oil in a non-stick pan over high heat. Once hot, add the tofu slices and fry until golden and crispy, about 3–4 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and transfer to a plate. Reserve the leftover oil in the pan.
Make Korean Braised Tofu (Dubu Jorim)
- In the same pan with the reserved oil, add the chopped onion and sauté for 2 minutes. Then add 2 tablespoons of the green onion (reserve the rest for garnish). Sauté for 2–3 minutes, until the onion softens and turns lightly golden.
- Add the prepared sauce to the pan and bring it to a boil. Add the fried tofu and braise for 3–4 minutes, or until the sauce reduces slightly and the tofu absorbs the flavor.
Serving Korean Braised Tofu
- Serve the braised tofu with some sauce spooned over steamed rice, noodles, or enjoy it on its own. Garnish with sliced spring onion greens and toasted sesame seeds. Serve hot.
Recipe Card
Korean Braised Tofu [Recipe]
★★★★★
(Rating: 5 from 7 reviews)
| Prep time 🕐 | Cook time 🕐 | Total time 🕐 |
|---|---|---|
| 20 mins | ||
| Category ☶ | Cuisine ♨ | Serves ☺ |
| Sides | Asian | 4 |
| Nutrition Info ⊛ | Serving size ⊚ | |
| 410 calories | 1 |
INGREDIENTS
Prepare the aromatics
- Slice the spring onion greens and chop the white bulbs. Finely chop or mince the garlic cloves. Set aside.
Prepare the tofu
- Rinse the tofu in cold water and pat it dry with a kitchen towel. Slice each block of tofu into long rectangles about ⅓ inch thick. Pat each slice dry again, then sprinkle lightly with salt. Set aside.
Make the sauce
- In a mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, chopped garlic, vinegar, salt, brown sugar, gochugaru, sesame seeds, and water. Mix well and set aside.
Fry the tofu
- Heat the cooking oil in a non-stick pan over high heat. Once hot, add the tofu slices and fry until golden and crispy, about 3–4 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and transfer to a plate. Reserve the leftover oil in the pan.
Make Korean Braised Tofu (Dubu Jorim)
- In the same pan with the reserved oil, add the chopped onion and sauté for 2 minutes. Then add 2 tablespoons of the green onion (reserve the rest for garnish). Sauté for 2–3 minutes, until the onion softens and turns lightly golden.
- Add the prepared sauce to the pan and bring it to a boil. Add the fried tofu and braise for 3–4 minutes, or until the sauce reduces slightly and the tofu absorbs the flavor.
Serving
- Serve the braised tofu with some sauce spooned over steamed rice, noodles, or enjoy it on its own. Garnish with sliced spring onion greens and toasted sesame seeds. Serve hot.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Prepare the aromatics
- Slice the spring onion greens and chop the white bulbs. Finely chop or mince the garlic cloves. Set aside.
Prepare the tofu
- Rinse the tofu in cold water and pat it dry with a kitchen towel. Slice each block of tofu into long rectangles about ⅓ inch thick. Pat each slice dry again, then sprinkle lightly with salt. Set aside.
Make the sauce
- In a mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, chopped garlic, vinegar, salt, brown sugar, gochugaru, sesame seeds, and water. Mix well and set aside.
Fry the tofu
- Heat the cooking oil in a non-stick pan over high heat. Once hot, add the tofu slices and fry until golden and crispy, about 3–4 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and transfer to a plate. Reserve the leftover oil in the pan.
Make Korean Braised Tofu (Dubu Jorim)
- In the same pan with the reserved oil, add the chopped onion and sauté for 2 minutes. Then add 2 tablespoons of the green onion (reserve the rest for garnish). Sauté for 2–3 minutes, until the onion softens and turns lightly golden.
- Add the prepared sauce to the pan and bring it to a boil. Add the fried tofu and braise for 3–4 minutes, or until the sauce reduces slightly and the tofu absorbs the flavor.
Serving Korean Braised Tofu
- Serve the braised tofu with some sauce spooned over steamed rice, noodles, or enjoy it on its own. Garnish with sliced spring onion greens and toasted sesame seeds. Serve hot.
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NOTES:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- To reheat, microwave for 1–2 minutes or warm in a pan over medium heat until heated through.
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Author: Anupama
Recipe Source Link: https://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/korean-braised-tofu/
