Soy Braised Tofu and Mushrooms 🍲🇰🇷

Description

A Korean-style savory sweet tofu braise with mushrooms, garlic, and a glossy soy sesame sauce, fast, satisfying, and perfect with rice 🍲

Hook

Crispy edges, silky center, and a lacquered sauce that tastes like it cooked for hours ✨

Ingredients

• Tofu
• 🧈 600 g firm tofu, pressed 10 min (21 oz)
• 🌾 30 g cornstarch, for dusting (¼ cup / 1.1 oz)
• 🫒 30 ml neutral oil (2 tbsp / 1 fl oz)
• Braise and sauce
• 🍄 250 g shiitake or cremini mushrooms, sliced (2½ cups / 8.8 oz)
• 🧅 80 g scallions, sliced (½ cup / 2.8 oz)
• 🧄 12 g garlic, minced (4 cloves / 0.4 oz)
• 🫚 10 g ginger, grated (1 tbsp / 0.35 oz)
• 🥣 75 ml soy sauce (5 tbsp / 2½ fl oz)
• 🍯 30 ml maple syrup or brown sugar syrup (2 tbsp / 1 fl oz)
• 🍶 30 ml rice vinegar (2 tbsp / 1 fl oz)
• 💧 180 ml water (¾ cup / 6 fl oz)
• 🌶️ 4 g gochugaru, optional (2 tsp / 0.14 oz)
• 🌿 2 g black pepper (½ tsp / 0.07 oz)
• 🌿 10 ml toasted sesame oil (2 tsp / 0.34 fl oz)
• Finish
• 🌱 10 g sesame seeds (1 tbsp / 0.35 oz)
• 🥒 150 g cucumber ribbons, optional (1 cup / 5.3 oz)

Preparation

1. 1️⃣ Press and portion
2. Wrap tofu in paper towels, press 10 min, then cut into 2 cm slabs. Pat very dry.
3. 2️⃣ Crisp the surface
4. Dust tofu lightly with cornstarch. Heat a 28 cm (11 in) nonstick or cast iron pan over medium high. Add oil, then sear tofu 2–3 min per side until golden and crisp. Transfer to a plate.
5. 3️⃣ Build the aromatics
6. Lower heat to medium. Add mushrooms and cook 4 min until they release moisture and start browning. Add garlic and ginger, cook 30 sec.
7. 4️⃣ Make the braise
8. Whisk soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, water, optional gochugaru, and black pepper. Pour into the pan and bring to a steady simmer.
9. 5️⃣ Braise and glaze
10. Slide tofu back in. Simmer uncovered 8–10 min, flipping once, until the sauce reduces into a glossy glaze that coats the tofu.
11. 6️⃣ Finish correctly
12. Turn off heat. Drizzle sesame oil, then sprinkle sesame seeds and scallions. Serve immediately.

Total Time

⏱️ Prep: 12 min
🔥 Cook/Bake: 18 min
🛋️ Rest: 0 min
⏰ Total: 30 min

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