Braised Tofu and Eggs with Soy Sauce
Braised tofu and eggs with soy sauce is a comforting Asian dish that combines the soft and smooth texture of tofu with the richness of eggs. Both vegetarians and meat-eaters will enjoy it.
This braised tofu is the meatless version of my Vietnamese caramelized pork belly and eggs recipe. Fried tofu and boiled eggs are gently braised together in a savory and aromatic soy sauce-based liquid. It is very quick and easy to make, and you can customize the seasonings and braising time to your likings.
Ingredient Notes
For this recipe, I like to use soft tofu that can be fried. Once fried, it still retains a soft and silky interior that works well in this dish. Please note that frying soft tofu is trickier than frying other types of firm tofu. Since soft tofu has a high water content, you can press it before frying to remove excess moisture and reduce splattering. Another good choice is medium-firm tofu.
I don’t recommend using extra-firm tofu as it lacks the tenderness needed for this braised tofu recipe. Silken tofu, being too delicate and soft, is also not suitable – save it for making tofu soups or steamed tofu.
The braising liquid requires both dark soy sauce and light soy sauce, which impart a mouthwatering salty and umami flavor as well as a caramel color to the dish. There’s no need to make the caramel sauce as in my braised pork belly recipe. I also add star anises and cinnamon sticks for more complex spice notes.
Make It A Meal
You can eat this braised tofu and eggs as a main dish with rice. If you want to put together a healthy meatless dinner, here are other dishes you can serve along with it:
Braised Tofu and Eggs with Soy Sauce
Ingredients
- 12-16 oz tofu (soft or medium-firm)
- cooking oil
- 4 large eggs
- a 1-inch piece of ginger, sliced
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
- 3/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon rock sugar (of substitute with granulated sugar)
- 1 star anise
- half a cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Wrap tofu with several layers of paper towel. Place a moderately heavy object on top toย drain out excess waterย for about 5-10 minutes. Then slice tofu into 1.5 inch cubes.
- Heat a frying pan over medium heat to medium-high heat and add a generous amount of oil. Once the oil is hot, add tofu cubes and fry until all sides are golden. Transfer to a wired rack or a plate lined with paper towel to absorb excess oil.
- While frying the tofu, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add eggs and cook for 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl of cold water and then peel.
- Place a pot over medium heat and add oil just enough to lightly coat the bottom. Then add ginger, stir and cook briefly until fragrant. Continue to add star anise and cinnamon stick, stir and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Carefully add water (1 cup), both types of soy sauce, salt, and sugar to the pot. Bring it to a boil and add fried tofu cubes. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and cook for about 4-5 minutes.
- Add boiled eggs to the pot, and continue to simmer for another 5-6 minutes. Taste the sauce and adjust to your likings. Transfer to a serving plate and serve right away with rice.
Notes
Nutrition
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