Name: Easy Braised Tofu (家常豆腐)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 1 14 oz block extra-firm tofu, pressed and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices; 3 tbsp cooking oil; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 2 scallions, sliced thinly into 1-inch lengthwise strips; 3 dried chilies, cut in half and de-seeded; 4-5 fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced thinly; 1/4 cup red bell pepper, sliced finely; 2 tbsp light soy sauce; 2 tsp dark soy sauce*; 1 1/2 tbsp vegetarian stir-fry sauce*; 1/2 tbsp Shaoxing wine (sub rice wine or dry sherry); 1 tbsp sugar; 3/4 cup water

Easy Braised Tofu (家常豆腐)

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

Pan-fried tofu braised in a savory-spicy sauce with shiitake mushrooms– a simple home-style Chinese dish that’s divine served over rice.

Author: Hannah
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 15
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 1x
Category: Main
Method: Cook
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

Scale

1 14 oz block extra-firm tofu, pressed and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
3 tbsp cooking oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 scallions, sliced thinly into 1-inch lengthwise strips
3 dried chilies, cut in half and de-seeded
4–5 fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced thinly
1/4 cup red bell pepper, sliced finely
2 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tsp dark soy sauce*
1 1/2 tbsp vegetarian stir-fry sauce*
1/2 tbsp Shaoxing wine (sub rice wine or dry sherry)
1 tbsp sugar
3/4 cup water

Instructions

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan and fry the tofu pieces until golden brown on both sides. Remove from pan.
Heat remaining oil in the same pan and sauté minced garlic, scallion pieces, and chilies until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add bell pepper and mushroom slices and stir-fry until softened, about 2 more minutes.
In the meantime, whisk together soy sauces, stir-fry sauce, cooking wine, and sugar. Give it all a stir and pour the sauce into the pan, along with the 3/4 cup water. Bring to a boil, then add the previously fried tofu to the pan and reduce heat. Simmer for 5-6 minutes, until sauce is reduced and thickened. Taste and season with additional salt, if needed. Garnish with chopped scallions and serve hot with rice.

Notes

To press tofu, wrap tofu block in a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. Place something heavy on top (like a cutting board topped with a book) to allow the water-logged tofu to drain, for at least 10 minutes.
My go-to cooking oils are avocado and grapeseed oil. Any vegetable oil or neutral-tasting oil that can withstand high heat is fine.
*I use Lee Kum Lee vegetarian stir-fry sauce (Lee Kum Lee is the brand most recognized for their oyster sauce). You can use any vegetarian oyster sauce or mushroom stir-fry sauce.
Dark soy sauce is more aged and less salty, mostly used to add color to the dish; you can substitute it out for regular soy sauce if you can’t find it!
If gluten-free, substitute gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.

Keywords: tofu, braised tofu, chinese

Find it online: https://theplantbasedwok.com/easy-braised-tofu/