Pan-Fried Tofu with Caramelized Sauce

Name: Pan-Fried Tofu with Caramelized Sauce
Yield: Serves four
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 2 x 285 g/10¼ oz packets tofu blocks; 4 garlic cloves; 10 ml/2 tsp vegetable oil; 60 ml/4 tbsp shoyu (tamari or sashimi soy sauce, if available); 50 g/2 oz/¼ cup butter, cut into 5 equal pieces; watercress, to garnish; 60 ml/4 tbsp mirin; 4 spring onions (scallions); 60 ml/4 tbsp sake

Preparation info

Serves
four

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

The Japanese Cookbook

By Emi Kazuko and Yasuko Fukuoka

Published 2024

About

Tofu in the West is often used as a meat substitute for vegetarians, as it was by Chinese Buddhist monks who first brought vegetarian cooking into Japan. They invented many delicious and filling protein dishes from tofu and other soya bean produces. This dish is a modern addition to that tradition.

Ingredients

2 x 285 g/10¼ oz packets tofu blocks
4 garlic cloves

Asia
Japan
Side dish
Vegetarian

Method

Unpack the tofu blocks and discard the liquid, then wrap in three layers of kitchen paper. Put a large plate or wooden chopping board on top as a weight and leave for 30 minutes to allow time for the excess liquid to be absorbed by the paper. This process makes the tofu firmer and, when cooked, it will crisp on the outside.