Japanese🥚 Egg & tofu

Super Savory Grated Tofu

Name: Super Savory Grated Tofu
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 12 oz super firm tofu; 1½ tbsp neutral oil; 4 scallions; 3 garlic cloves; 2 Thai red bird's eye chilies; 3 tbsp soy sauce (Chinese light soy sauce or Japanese soy sauce); 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegar; 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil; 1 tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flake); 1 tsp sugar; 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds; ~2 tbsp fresh cilantro (or scallion greens)

⏱ 20 min

A quick and simple cooking technique that transforms a humble block of tofu into something deeply savory and wildly addictive. Grating the tofu provides an abundance of surface area, allowing it to crisp quickly and absorb every bit of flavor from the sauce. No advanced prep needed—just drain, pat dry, and grate. Pan-fry until golden brown, then coat with a richly flavored five-ingredient sauce made from soy sauce, Chinese black vinegar, toasted sesame oil, gochugaru, and sugar.

Vegan

Adapted from a video by Rainbow Plant Life

The Tofu Technique I Wish I’d Known

Watch on YouTube

Ingredients

super firm tofu12 oz
neutral oil1½ tbsp
scallions4
garlic cloves3
Thai red bird's eye chilies2
soy sauce (Chinese light soy sauce or Japanese soy sauce)3 tbsp
Chinese black vinegar1 tbsp
toasted sesame oil1 tbsp
gochugaru (Korean chili flake)

Steps

▶ Tap a timecode to jump to roughly that moment in the video.

1
Drain and pat the tofu dry with paper towels. Measure out 12 ounces of super firm tofu.
2
Using a box grater with large holes, grate the tofu into fine shreds. Slice any pieces that break off as thinly as possible with a knife.
3
Prepare the aromatics: slice 4 scallions on a bias after removing bruised tops, thinly slice 3 garlic cloves, and thinly slice 2 Thai red chilies.
4
Heat 1.5 tablespoons of neutral oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add the aromatics and cook for about 2 minutes until the garlic just begins to take on a little color.
5
Add the grated tofu, toss to coat with oil, and spread evenly in the pan. Avoid stirring frequently—flip every 2 minutes to allow the tofu to brown and crisp up. This should take 10 to 14 minutes total.
6
Make the sauce: combine 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar, 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, 1 tablespoon gochugaru, and 1 teaspoon sugar.
7
Once the tofu is golden brown, pour the sauce into the pan and stir for about a minute to coat the tofu evenly.
8
Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon of roasted sesame seeds. Finish with fresh cilantro and scallion greens for brightness.

Super Savory Grated Tofu

Ingredients

Steps

More like this