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soft silken tofu on plate with korean dressing
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5 from 1 vote

Soft Silken Tofu Recipe

A simple and easy dish that can be made in 5-minutes: Soft Silken Tofu with Korean Dressing. The softest tofu with a bold and vibrant sauce. Easy to make with no cooking required. Perfect for a hot day. Or as a side dish with Korean BBQ.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Course: Side
Cuisine: Korean
Keyword: Cold, Side Dish, Silken Tofu, Soft Tofu
Servings: 2 as side
Calories: 133kcal
Author: Lis Lam

Equipment

  • small jar with tight-fitting lid
  • rimmed plate or shallow bowl

Ingredients

  • 1 package silken soft tofu
  • 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
  • 1 Tbsp Vinegar (rice vinegar, apple vinegar, or white vinegar)
  • 1 Tbsp Gochukaru
  • 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
  • 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
  • 1/2 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 green onion, minced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 chili pepper *optional (green, red, finger, or jalapeno)

Instructions

  • Drain tofu. With a sharp paring knife, cut slits into the sides of the tofu package. Do not remove any of the plastic film on top. Holding onto the top with one hand, gently turn over and drain the water. Remove the film and transfer the tofu onto a rimmed plate or shallow bowl.
  • Make the sauce. Add sauce ingredients in a small jar: sesame seeds, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, gochukaru, sesame oil, green onion, garlic, and chili pepper (if using). Cover with a tight-fitting lid. Shake the sauce to emulsify.
  • Add sauce to tofu. Evenly pour the sauce over the top of the tofu.
  • Serve. Serve immediately with rice and enjoy! Note: As the tofu sits, it will continue to release water. Eat immediately so it doesn't get too watery!

Video

Notes

Tips:
    • Look for vacuum-sealed tofu. For the best silky texture, look for tofu in vacuum-sealed packages. The tofu should touch the sides of the packaging -- with no visible water surrounding it. If you see the tofu sitting in water, it won't have that super creamy texture. Instead, look for tofu that's directly touching the sides of the packaging; the packaging acts as a mold to shape and hold everything together.
    • Handle carefully. Soft silken tofu has a higher water content than other types of tofu. It can easily fall apart or break into chunks. Be gentle!
    • Make a warm version. In the winter, make a warm version. Heat the the silken tofu in the microwave for 1-2 minutes before adding the sauce.
    • Slice or cube tofu. If you like, slice or cube the tofu. It will create more nooks and crannies for the sauce.
Variations:
  • Add chili oil. For more spicy flavor, drizzle 1 Tbsp of chili oil or chili crisp right before serving.
  • Add nori. For more umami flavour, add crumbled roasted nori or gim.
  • Add cilantro. Top with a generous helping of chopped cilantro. Adds lots of herbal aroma and freshness.

Nutrition

Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 1075mg | Potassium: 231mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1461IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 2mg