When you think of tofu, bland and boring are the first two things that would come to mind. Because of its inability to absorb flavor, the versatility of tofu has been put to waste. Well, all of that has come to pass because people have now found a way to create tofu dishes that are teeming with flavor. One, in particular, is the Baked Honey Soy Tofu.
Want to know how to whip up this delectable tofu dish that you won’t ever forget? Continue reading!
What You Will Need:
- 400 g extra firm tofu
- 2 tablespoons of sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 1 teaspoon of Chinese five spice
- 1 teaspoon of grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons of dark soy sauce
- ½ cup of vegetable broth
- Ass black pepper to taste.
- Garnish: chopped fresh cilantro or chopped cashew nuts
Additional item:
Tofu Press: This kitchen tool is used in draining the water from the tofu and allowing it to absorb more flavor during the cooking process. Let’s check out this article to choose your best tofu press.
The Step by Step Guide to Making Honey Soy Tofu
Are you ready to make the best tofu dish of your life? If you are, then let’s get started! Here are the steps that you need to take:
Step 1. Press the tofu.
The first and most important process of all is to use your tofu press. Just simply place the block of tofu in between the walls of the press then start pressing.
Pro Tip: No matter how firm a tofu is, it still contains a certain amount of water. The water prevents the tofu from absorbing the flavor of the dish. When you press the tofu, the water will come out, and the tofu can be able to fully absorb the sauces and spices that you put into your dish.
Step 2. Bake the tofu.
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat the tofu with sesame oilArrange the tofu slices on the baking sheet. Place it in the preheated oven and bake until the tofu turns golden. This will take about 20 minutes. Make sure to toss the tofu halfway so that both sides will be evenly cooked.
Pro Tip: Baking tofu is a lot better than frying it. When you bake tofu, you get a nice crunch on the outside and creamy on the inside.
You can also bake tofu in an oven toaster. The toaster oven must be heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
To know more tips on how to bake tofu, please check out this video:
Step 3. Combine the spices and sauces.
Place the honey, Chinese five spice, grated ginger, red pepper flakes, minced garlic, vegetable broth, and dark soy sauce in a bowl. Add a pinch or so of black pepper (whichever suits your preference). Mix until everything is properly combined. Set it aside.
Step 4. Coat the tofu with the resulting mixture.
Place a skillet or work over high heat. Afterwards, transfer the crispy yet chewy tofu slices into the wok. Pour the glaze over the tofu slices and stir. Make sure that the tofu slices will be well covered with the sauce or the glaze.
Continue cooking until the sauce have been reduced only to half. It must also be thick and sticky
Pro Tip: When the mixture starts to bubble, that is one sign that you are already close to fully cooking the sauce so make sure to watch it out to prevent it from burning (keep in mind that it has honey!).
Step 5. Serve the tofu.
Transfer the tofu to a plate. Top it with the garnish of your choice. If you want something crispy that can balance off the sweet taste of the tofu. The cilantro will be a great option if you wish to incorporate some greens into the dish.
Pro Tip: You can serve it alone or on top of rice.
Conclusion
Because of its inability to soak up flavors, many people shy away from tofu recipes because they think that those are bland and boring. For your information, tofu does not have to be so bland!
All that you have to do is to press water out of the tofu so it can absorb the flavors in the dish. Once you do, you will be able to create a tofu dish that is filled with all kinds of flavor—like this one!
So what are you waiting for? Try out this amazing tofu recipe and be surprised at how tasty tofu can really be!
If you have comments or suggestions, please do leave a comment below! Also, feel free to share this with your friends so they can get to discover the truth about tofu!