Looking for a way to enjoy Tofu? Try this Pan Fried Tofu with Soy Dipping Sauce for a quick and satisfying side dish you can easily include in your meals!
If you’ve ever tried out my Soy Marinated Eggs recipe, you’ve most probably asked what to do with the leftover sauce. While you can simply add more eggs or use it as a dipping sauce for Korean BBQ or Dumplings, you can also try it with pan-fried tofu.
Oftentimes, almost half of the people in my comment section want to skip tofu in my recipes, but it is actually a very common ingredient in Asian cuisine, and there are so many ways to enjoy it! While it can be labeled as bland or boring, it’s actually a great vehicle for any sauce you cook it with!
That said, this Pan Fried Tofu with Soy Dipping Sauce is the easiest and most foolproof way to enjoy them—just imagine moist and tender tofu over a savory, flavor-packed, refreshing sauce (the MVP!!). I guarantee that despite its simplicity, you will surely love this dish! A meathead like me did!!
Ingredients You’ll Need
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- Soft or Medium Firm Tofu – You can use either firmness for the tofu. Regardless, choose one that is newly manufactured so that it does not have a sour or funky smell and taste.
- Egg – This will be used to coat the tofu to help retain its moisture and tenderness while holding it together and allowing it to absorb the sauce later on.
Soy Marinated Egg Sauce
Ideally, the sauce you will be using here is your leftover sauce for soy-marinated eggs. If you simply want a really good sauce for your tofu, you will need these ingredients.
- Soy Sauce – For the savor and umami.
- Kelp and Radish Stock or Water – The stock is made by boiling kelp and radish together for 20 minutes. This will add a light and refreshing flavor to the sauce. However, you can use water as an alternative to make it easier.
- Sugar – To balance the savor from the soy sauce. Alternatively, you can use a low-calorie sweetener like erythritol or allulose.
- Scallions, Onion, and Garlic – The trifecta of aromatics that will also add refreshing and fragrance to the sauce. This will be sooo delicious on top of the tofu!
- Jalapeño – For spice, however, this is optional. Alternatively, you can also use chili peppers, chili flakes, or chili sauce for the kick. This will definitely level up the sauce if you’re a spicy lover!
- Sesame Oil and Sesame Seeds – This will be used for garnish, for that earthy and nutty flavor that complements the soy sauce.
How to Make Pan-Fried Tofu with Soy Dipping Sauce?
Pat dry the tofu to reduce the moisture and fries up faster, then slice the tofu into 1/2 to 1 inch thick pieces.
Beat eggs, then coat the tofu with it.
Place the pan on high heat, add oil, and fry the tofu until golden brown. Do this on both sides, and it may take 3-5 minutes on each side.
If you’re making the sauce from scratch, chop the garlic, onion, scallions, and jalapeño peppers, then combine them with soy sauce, water, and sugar. Mix well, then drizzle all over the tofu.
Drizzle the sauced-up tofu with sesame oil, then garnish with sesame seeds.
Crispy Tofu Alternative
If you wish a crispy version of this dish, pat the tofu dry. If possible, lightly squeeze to release any excess moisture, allowing it to crisp up even more.
Slice the tofu into 1/2 to 1-inch thick pieces, then lightly dust them with potato starch.
Pan fry this until golden brown and crispy. This may take 6-8 minutes on each side.
Make the sauce, and dip the crispy tofu like a chip. This is going to be sooo good, especially when you scoop all that aromatics!
Serving and Storage
These pan-fried tofu with soy dipping sauce are going to be so good with rice, hands down. The dish is already satisfying by itself, but it can also be a good pairing with other dishes like soybean paste pork belly, steamed fish, or stir-fried bok choy.
This is best when freshly made, and the tofu is tender or crispy, depending on what you made. It is also best consumed right away, as it may turn sour when stored for longer in the fridge.
Ensure to put dipping sauce only on the ones you will be eating, and keep the tofu and sauce separate when storing them. Consume them right away as well, simply reheat in the pan to regain their tenderness or crispiness.
Other tofu recipes you might like:
Make sure to leave a rating, a comment, or tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Tiktok when you chop them up! Yeobosayo!
Pan Fried Tofu with Soy Dipping Sauce (Dubu Buchim)
Ingredients
- 1 block Soft or Medium Firm Tofu
- 2 pcs Egg
- 1 cup Soy Sauce
- 1 cup Kelp and Radish Stock or Water
- 1/2 cup Sugar or Erythritol
- 1 tbsp Garlic Minced
- 2 stalks Scallions Chopped
- 1/2 of Whole Onion Diced
- 2 pcs Jalapeño Deseed and diced, Optional
- Sesame Oil and Sesame Seeds For garnish
Instructions
- Slice the tofu into 1/2 to 1-inch thick rectangles.
- Beat the eggs and coat the tofu slices with them.
- Place the pan on high heat, add a splash of oil, and pan-fry the tofu until slightly golden brown.
- Meanwhile, chop the garlic, onion, scallions, and jalapeño, then combine all these with soy sauce, water, and sugar.
- Plate the tofu and drizzle the soy dipping sauce on top, ensuring to add all the aromatics on top of the tofu.
- Drizzle sesame oil and sesame seeds for garnish.
- Serve and enjoy!
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