Korean Braised Tofu (Dubu Jorim) is an easy and flavorful Korean side dish that can be made in 25 minutes. It combines the smooth and delicate texture of tofu with a rich and flavorful sauce, that goes well with a warm bowl of rice.
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Korean Braised Tofu
This Korean Braised Tofu recipe is a perfect choice for a quick and delicious weeknight meal. With its easy preparation and flavor-packed sauce, it's a go-to dish that can be enjoyed regularly. In fact, I find myself making it at least once a week!
The combination of crispy fried tofu and the spicy and savory sauce creates a delightful harmony of flavors that will leave you craving for more. Plus, it's versatile enough to be packed for a lunchbox the next day, making it a convenient and satisfying option for busy days. Give this recipe a try and experience the joy of a homemade, fuss-free Korean dish that will surely become a staple in your kitchen.
If you enjoy easy side dishes like this recipe, check out Korean Cucumber Salad, Vietnamese Tofu with Tomato Sauce! For a quick tofu recipe, try the Pan-Fried Tofu by Broke Bank Vegan.
Ingredients
To make this recipe, you'll need 9 ingredients:
- Firm or extra-firm tofu
- Yellow onion
- Garlic
- Scallion
- Soy sauce
- Water
- Sugar
- Sesame oil
- Sesame seeds
- Gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
See recipe card for quantity.
Instructions
Pat dry the tofu using paper towels.
Cut the tofu into rectangular or square pieces.
Fry the tofu in oil until slightly golden on both sides.
In a bowl, combine soy sauce, water, sesame oil, sugar, half of the sesame seeds, gochugaru, minced garlic, and the white part of the scallion.
Pour the mixture into the pan together with the onion slices and give it a mix to evenly coat all the tofu pieces with the sauce.
Close the lid and simmer for 5-6 minutes or until the sauce has reduced by half.
Add the sauce and onion slices
Simmer for 5-6 minutes or until the sauce has reduced
After this, garnish with the green part of the scallion and leftover sesame seeds.
Finally, transfer the Korean braised tofu to a plate and enjoy it as a side dish with rice or noodles.
Substitutions and Variations
- Tofu Varieties: While this recipe calls for a block of tofu, you can experiment with different types of tofu to suit your preference. Firm tofu works well for braising as it holds its shape, but you can also try extra firm tofu for a chewier texture or silken tofu for a smoother mouthfeel.
- Protein Alternatives: If you prefer a non-tofu option, you can substitute the tofu with seitan, tempeh, or even thinly sliced vegetables like eggplant or mushrooms. Adjust the cooking time accordingly based on the protein you choose.
- Sauce Customization: The sauce in this recipe forms the heart of the dish, but you can customize it to your liking. Feel free to adjust the sweetness, saltiness, or umami levels to match your taste preferences.
- Vegetable Additions: Enhance the nutritional value and flavor profile by adding vegetables to the dish. Sliced bell peppers, carrots, zucchini, or leafy greens like spinach or bok choy can be included during the braising process. Just ensure that the vegetables are cooked to your desired tenderness.
Storage Tips
This recipe keeps well for 3-4 days in the fridge.
If you have tried my recipe, please let me know what you think by leaving me a review on this page or tagging me on Instagram @veggieanh. I would love to see your creations!
Print📖 Recipe
Korean Braised Tofu (Dubu Jorim)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Korean Braised Tofu (Dubu Jorim) is an easy and flavorful Korean side dish that can be made in 25 minutes minutes. Enjoy with a bowl of steamed rice!
Ingredients
- 1 block of firm tofu (450g)
- 1 scallion, chopped and separated the white from the green part
- ¼ yellow onion, thinly slices
- Oil for frying
Sauce:
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- ½ cup of water
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- ½ tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- Pat dry the tofu using paper towels.
- Cut the tofu into rectangular pieces.
- Fry the tofu in oil until golden brown on both sides.
- In a bowl, combine soy sauce, water, sesame oil, gochugaru, sugar, half of the sesame seeds, minced garlic, and the white part of the scallion.
- Pour the mixture into the pan with the fried tofu and give it a mix to evenly coat all the tofu pieces with the sauce.
- Close the lid and simmer for 5-6 minutes or until the sauce has reduced by half.
- Garnish with the green part of the scallion and leftover sesame seeds.
- Transfer to a plate and enjoy as a side dish with rice or noodles.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Korean
Carrie says
I made this for my husband and son, and it is a huge hit! My husband's family is from south Vietnam, and we now live in a US town with very few Vietnamese food options. We are always very happy to find a recipe that tastes like home. Thank you!
mls says
This is delicious and easy to make, we loved it! Followed the recipe and instructions, great job writing this, it came out amazing! We used tamari because we're gluten-free, and we have Lakehouse Farms Organic Gochugaru. We had leftover jasmine rice, so mixed that in near the end and let it warm and absorb the flavors. Sooooo good 🙂
We like heat level too, it's no excessively nor painfully spicy. We think Korean peppers are what gives the flavor unique to Korean food - definitely get this pepper, do not substitute with another kind of pepper, it makes this dish delicious. Well it'll still be tasty though might not remind you of the great food at the Korean family restaurant.
This is also good topped with finely chopped cabbage, diced cucumber - nice cooling effect with the spiciness for those who want less spice.
Thank you Veggie Anh for sharing this!
Veggie Anh says
Thank you so much for your review!