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When I read Ruth Reichl’s description of this warm tofu with spicy dipping sauce — “a beautiful dish, which takes ten minutes, costs very little, and is so utterly delicious” — in this month’s Gourmet, I couldn’t not make it.
And I’m so happy I did. This is by far the easiest — my friends who hate to cook are you listening? — and perhaps the oddest method, too, of preparing tofu I have encountered:
First, you simmer tofu in water — yes, water — which for whatever reason works; then you make a simple sauce, a mix of soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, chile flakes, and scallions; then you pour this sauce over the tofu.
It is as delicious as Ruth promises. Truly. Please try it. I think you will be pleased.
On the Side
Way back in the day, I worked at a catering company in Philadelphia. At nearly every party I worked, ‘peking duck rolls’ served straight from a bamboo steamer were passed with a soy dipping sauce … everyone raved.
Of course I went to Chinatown immediately following the first party I worked to purchase one of these three-tiered bamboo steamers. And while it is not a gadget I use often, I find it comes in handy here and there, and it’s kind of fun, too.
I love using it for edamame, which steam in under five minutes. If you have one, place it right into a wok filled with just enough water to reach below the first tier. Bring the water to a boil and then place edamame pods into one of the tiers. Cover and steam until done. Sprinkle with a nice sea salt according to taste.
What to Drink?
Soju’s “neutral flavor,” according to Gourmet, makes it a great mixer and “a favored alcoholic beverage in Korea.”
I can’t really tell you how it tastes, only that it tasted very nice in the bloody Mary I had this morning at The Ramos House Cafe and continues to please in the beverage I am drinking now — a grapefruit soju cocktail. If you can’t find soju, any vodka will make a fine substitute.
Warm Tofu with Spicy Dipping Sauce
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
Adapted from Gourmet
Notes:
To simplify the sauce, I often omit the garlic and don’t bother toasting the sesame seeds … it’s just as delicious. If you want to toast and crush the sesame seeds, you can mince them with some of the garlic and the scallions, which helps keep the seeds from flying off the cutting board.
Sauce can be made 1 day ahead and chilled. Bring to room temperature before using. Consider doubling it if you want to serve it with rice.
Regarding Korean hot red pepper flakes: you can use crushed red pepper flakes in their place or a chili paste such as Sriracha or Sambal Oelek.
Tofu can be kept warm for up to 4 hours.
As noted in the post, I love the tofu with this broiled broccoli.
Ingredients
- 1 (14- to 18-oz) package firm tofu
- 1 teaspoon chopped garlic, optional
- ¼ cup chopped scallion, or about 4 scallions, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted and crushed with side of a heavy knife, see notes above
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce, low sodium or Tamari if you are sensitive to salt
- 1 tablespoon Asian sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon coarse Korean hot red-pepper flakes, see notes above
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- Rinse tofu, then cover with cold water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then keep warm, covered, over very low heat.
- Meanwhile, mince and mash garlic to a paste with a pinch of salt. Stir together with remaining ingredients.
- Just before serving, carefully lift tofu from saucepan with a large spatula and drain on paper towels. Gently pat dry, then transfer to a shallow bowl. Spoon some sauce over tofu and serve warm. Serve remaining sauce on the side.
- Category: Tofu
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: warm, tofu, spicy, dipping, sauce
Grapefruit Soju Cocktails
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 10 drinks (according to Gourmet), 5 drinks (according to Ali)
Description
Adapted from Gourmet
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
- 1 quart (4 cups) fresh-squeezed (or not) grapefruit juice
- 1 cup soju (sometimes called sochu), sake or vodka, chilled
- Club soda or seltzer water chilled
Instructions
- Stir the sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt into the juice and stir to dissolve. Stir in soju and add sugar to taste.
- Pour into ice-filled glasses and top with a splash of club soda.
Notes
Gourmet’s note: Grapefruit mixture without soju can be made four hours ahead and chilled. Add soju to mixture just before serving.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
pensgirl10 says
Made this tonight and it is heavenly. Thanks!
alexandracooks says
Pensgirl10 — So happy to hear this! Love this one too.
Jayme says
The first tofu recipe I ever tried, can’t get enough. Now I cube up the tofu about soup size and marinate in the sauce in a ziploc bag in the fridge, easy addition to weekly dinners. Thanks for the taste.
alexandracooks says
Jayme — so happy to hear this! Love the idea of marinating the tofu.
Lindsay says
You’ve convinced me to try tofu, but not to have “soy with a side of soy” for dinner. How else would you serve this? Over pasta/with shrimp/with a vegetable?
alexandra says
Haha, I love it. Good call. What about soba noodles with peanut dressing — it’s one of my favorites from the Moosewood Cookbook: https://alexandracooks.com/2013/04/18/soba-noodles-with-peanut-dressing/
Lindsay says
Thanks! Will try it.
Shelley says
Hi Ali – came to this link from your broccoli post today. I’ve only ever stirfried or baked tofu (like in you baked tofu with coconut and kale recipe) in small pieces but I love agedashi tofu, and would like to try this recipe. I’ve also only ever bought the cheapest tofu or whatever is available at the big grocery store, so my question is, does tofu quality/brand matter for this recipe? If so, do you have a brand you prefer? My local small Asian market sells fresher tofu but I think its softer. Thanks! Huge fan of your blog and website!
alexandra says
Hi Shelley! I wish I did … I truthfully am not a connoisseur, and every time I buy a more “artisanal” tofu from a co-op or health food store, I never remember if it was worth the extra few bucks or not … I need to take better notes. My little local co-op sells Nasoya Organic Firm, so that’s what I always buy. I bet the fresh, more silken tofu you get from your Asian market is fantastic! I will report back if I make any discoveries re tofu. Hope you like this one! I love it 🙂
Molly says
I love this tofu!!!
alexandra says
Yay! Molly this makes me happy 🙂 🙂 🙂
Jami says
I have made this recipe twice and really enjoyed it. The ingredients tend to be pantry/ refrigerator staples, so I an easily throw it together when I am low on time and behind on grocery shopping. My fiancee tried to eat primarily plant based, and he too likes this different take on tofu. I don’t purchase broccoli often, so I served it with blistered green beans and spicy, sesame-scallion sizzle. Just perfect!
alexandra says
So happy to hear this, Jami!
Maria says
Made this for dinner and it was a hit! To avoid husband side-eye (“just… boiled tofu?”), I served it in a bowl with rice and blackened broccoli. The sauce coated the rice beautifully- yum! thanks as always for the great recipe.
alexandra says
So happy to hear this, Maria! And thank you … means a lot 🙂
Alyssa says
I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty this was! And so easy too! I served with your recommended broiled broccoli (which was also amazing) and some brown rice. Super satisfying.