Hot Tofu with Spicy Soy Sauce

You probably know grilled, fried, and baked tofu. But tofu simmered in hot water? That might be new to you. It's actually another traditional way to enjoy tofu in Asian cooking, and I have to admit, it's one of my favorites.

Cooking tofu in hot water is a little like sending it back in time to an earlier stage of its life, when it was a soft, tender block of soy curds.

How tender it gets depends on how long you cook it. The longer it simmers, the softer it becomes. For me, 20–30 minutes is plenty.

You end up with soft, tender tofu that still holds its shape and gives you something to bite into.

One advantage of this recipe: unlike frying or stir-frying, simmering the tofu doesn't require any cooking oil. That saves you the extra calories from oil in the cooking step.

The sauce traditionally served with hot tofu combines soy sauce, vinegar, and bold aromatics like garlic and hot peppers.

A Few Tips for Hot Tofu with Spicy Soy Sauce

• I used firm tofu so it would hold together during the long simmer. You can use softer tofu and cook it for less time. You can also simply warm silken tofu in the microwave.
• For an extra-soft, tender texture, I added half a teaspoon of baking soda. I wouldn't skip it. You can substitute a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice for a similar effect, though the tofu may pick up a tangy flavor.
• To stay true to the dish's traditional flavors, I made a spicy sauce with soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, hot pepper, scallions, and toasted sesame seeds. If any of those ingredients aren't your thing, leave them out.

Nutrition Facts:

One 200 g (7 oz) serving of hot tofu contains:

• 315 calories
• 26 g protein
• 9 g carbohydrates
• 18 g fat

Hot Tofu with Spicy Soy Sauce

Prep Time 30 minutes

Yield 2 servings

Calories 315 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 block firm tofu 300 g (10.6 oz)
• 1 level teaspoon baking soda
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 handful sliced red hot pepper
• 1 handful thinly sliced scallions
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Cut the tofu block into 2 pieces and place in a pot of water with the teaspoon of baking soda.

2. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20–30 minutes.

Make the Sauce

1. In a deep bowl, mix all the sauce ingredients: soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, sesame oil, hot pepper, scallions, and sesame seeds.

2. When the tofu is ready, transfer it to a bowl and spoon the sauce over it.

3. Serve hot.