Braised Tofu and Eggs with Soy Sauce

No ratings yet

Braised Tofu and Eggs with Soy Sauce

Braised tofu and eggs with soy sauce is a comforting Asian vegetarian dish you can enjoy with rice for a healthy and filling meal. Fried tofu and boiled eggs are gently braised together in a savory and aromatic soy sauce-based liquid.

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Total Time40

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: Chinese, Vietnamese

Keyword: vegetarian braised tofu

Servings: people

Calories: 296kcal

Author: Sophie

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 to drain out excess water 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

This recipe can serve 2 people as a main dish or 3-4 people as a side dish.

I like to use soft tofu, but it is trickier to fry than other types of firm tofu as it has a higher water content, leading to more splattering when frying. Medium-firm tofu will also work. I don't recommend using extra-firm tofu for this recipe.

You can adjust the braising time to control how much the tofu absorbs the sauce and how much the egg yolks are cooked.

Nutrition