Spicy Dubu Jorim (Braised Tofu) with Anchovies
A braised tofu side dish simmered down with toasted dried soup anchovies and a spicy seasoning sauce.
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 side dish features pan-fried golden tofu simmered gently with toasted anchovies and a spicy sauce. Pan-frying the tofu first keeps it from breaking apart easily and gives it a chewy texture. The savory depth of the soup anchovies pairs with the spicy seasoning, making it wonderful with rice.
- Servings
- about 3–4 servings
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spiciness
- Spicy
Ingredients
Ingredients
- Tofu500 g
- Dried soup anchovies20
- Onion1/2 (small)
- Large green onion (daepa)1/4 stalk
- Cheongyang chili pepper (hot green chili)1
- Water1 cup
Seasoning
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)1 tbsp
- Regular soy sauce (jin-ganjang) (or brewed soy sauce (yangjo-ganjang))1 tbsp
- Gochujang (Korean red chili paste)1 tbsp
- Minced garlic1 tbsp
- Corn syrup (mulyeot)1 tbsp
- Mirin (cooking rice wine)1 tbsp
- Perilla oil (or toasted sesame oil)1 tbsp
- Toasted sesame seedsa little
- You can also make this braised tofu using ground beef or ground pork instead of anchovies, which is delicious as well.
Steps
Prepare the ingredients
This is 1 block of tofu, 500g. Also prepare small amounts of onion, large green onion, and Cheongyang chili pepper.
Have about 20 dried soup anchovies ready as well.
You can also make this braised tofu using ground beef or ground pork instead of anchovies, which is delicious as well.
Slice the ingredients
Since we are braising it, do not cut the tofu too thin; slice it thickly to about 1cm.
Thinly slice the onion and finely chop the large green onion and Cheongyang chili pepper.
Make the sauce
Combine all seasoning ingredients except for the perilla oil and toasted sesame seeds, and mix well.
Toast the anchovies
Toast the anchovies in a dry pan until lightly golden and crisp.
Toasting anchovies that have been kept in the freezer or refrigerator removes any fishy odor and brings out their savory, nutty flavor.
Pan-fry the tofu
Coat a pan with oil and sear the tofu until golden brown on both sides.
While the tofu was frying, I seasoned it with about two pinches of salt and a bit of ground black pepper.
Add sauce and vegetables
Evenly arrange the anchovies and sliced vegetables on top of the tofu, drizzle the seasoning sauce all over, and pour 1 cup of water around the edges.
Simmer
Once it begins to boil, reduce the heat, cover with a lid, and simmer gently so the sauce soaks in deep; then remove the lid at the end to reduce the liquid.
Turn off the heat, drizzle one swirl of perilla oil or toasted sesame oil, and finish by sprinkling toasted sesame seeds.
Complete
The spicy braised tofu is done.
Pan-frying the tofu before braising makes it chewy and keeps it from breaking apart, and simmering it down close to dry lets the sauce soak right in, making it fantastic as a side dish for rice.
Ppunwife's tips
- Toasting anchovies that have been kept in the freezer or refrigerator removes any fishy odor and brings out their savory, nutty flavor.
- Pan-frying the tofu before braising makes it chewy and keeps it from breaking apart, and simmering it down close to dry lets the sauce soak right in, making it fantastic as a side dish for rice.
FAQ
Can I use other ingredients instead of dried soup anchovies?
You can also braise it with ground beef or ground pork instead of anchovies for a delicious result.
Why toast the anchovies in a dry pan first?
Toasting the anchovies in a dry pan until golden and crisp gets rid of their fishy smell and brings out a much richer, savory flavor.
How do I keep the tofu from crumbling easily while braising?
Cut it thickly to about 1cm and pan-fry it until golden brown on both sides before braising; this keeps it from breaking apart and gives it a chewy texture.
Can I use toasted sesame oil instead of perilla oil at the end?
Yes, finishing with a drizzle of toasted sesame oil instead of perilla oil works great depending on your preference and what you have on hand.
