Hearty Tofu Steak with Minced Beef
A satisfying one-dish meal of drained tofu mixed with minced meat and pan-fried into thick patties.
Translated from Korean by AI and not yet checked by a native speaker. Amounts and numbers are taken directly from the original recipe. Read the Korean original →
This one-dish meal combines drained tofu with minced beef for a tender texture with a satisfying bite. Pan-frying the thick patties until golden brown and then microwaving them ensures they cook through to the center. Served with a sweet and tangy vegetable sauce, it makes a wonderful special meal for the weekend.
- Servings
- 2 servings
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spiciness
- Mildly spicy
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Tofu1/2 block, 250 g (large block)
- Beef (or chicken)70 g
- Chili pepper1
- Oniona little
- Korean pancake mix (buchim-garu)3 tbsp
- Egg1
- Salt0.5 tsp
- Garlic1 tsp
- Ground black peppera little
Sauce
- Oniona little of each
- Green and red bell peppera little of each
- Tonkatsu sauce3 tbsp
- Ketchup3 tbsp
- Canned fruit syrup5 tbsp (1/3 cup)
- Chicken broth or water5 tbsp (1/3 cup)
- Ground black peppera little
- Potato starch slurry1 tbsp
- Wrap the tofu in cheesecloth and squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
- Use 1/2 of a large block of tofu, or one whole small block.
- You can use chicken breast instead of beef.
- Feel free to add other ingredients like mushrooms or broccoli to the sauce.
- If you do not have canned fruit syrup, you can use mandarin orange juice.
Steps
I used 1/2 of a large block of tofu, but you can use one whole small block. Wrap it in cheesecloth and squeeze out the moisture thoroughly.
I had beef on hand so I used that, but you can also use chicken breast.
Mince 1 layer of onion, and finely mince 1 chili pepper.
For seasoning, add 0.5 tsp salt, 1 tsp garlic, and a little ground black pepper.
Add the egg and Korean pancake mix (buchim-garu), then knead the mixture well.
Knead until the ingredients and seasonings are evenly combined, then shape into flat, round patties.
This amount of dough makes 2 servings. I made three patties to fit my frying pan, but you can just make 2 large ones.
If you make them too thick, the inside might not cook through.
Heat oil in a pan and pan-fry on low heat until both sides turn golden brown.
If you want them crispier, pan-fry until slightly darker brown.
After pan-frying, I microwaved them for 4 minutes.
Since they are thick, this ensures the inside cooks all the way through.
Let's make the sauce. Stir-fry the finely chopped onion in cooking oil.
When the onion is halfway cooked, add the green and red bell pepper and stir-fry together.
When the ingredients are almost fully cooked, pour in the sauce ingredients listed above.
Simmer gently over low heat. At the end, stir in the potato starch slurry and cook until thickened to finish.
Taste it and add more salt or sugar if needed.
If you do not have canned fruit syrup, you can use mandarin orange juice.
Place the tofu steak on a plate.
Ladle the sauce over top to finish.
Ppunwife's tips
- Adding a little meat gives the patties a much better bite and texture.
- If you shape the tofu patties too thick, the inside might not cook through.
- If you want them crispier, pan-fry until slightly darker brown.
- If your patties are thick, pan-frying them first and then heating them in the microwave will ensure the center cooks completely.
FAQ
Can I use a different meat instead of beef?
Yes, you can use minced chicken breast instead of beef.
Is there a way to cook thick patties all the way through?
After pan-frying until golden brown on both sides, microwave them for about 4 minutes so the heat reaches the center evenly.
What should I do if I don't have the canned fruit syrup for the sauce?
If you do not have canned fruit syrup, you can substitute mandarin orange juice instead.
What other vegetables can I add to the sauce?
Besides onion and bell pepper, vegetables like mushrooms or broccoli work very well when stir-fried into the sauce.
