This Korean braised tofu is quick to make yet loaded with irresistible flavors! This easy one-pan dish calls for lightly seared tofu braised in a delicious spicy-savory sauce, to be served over rice or noodles for the ultimate meal for the weekdays. Enjoy this flavorful meal in the comfort of your home with this easy recipe!
What is Dubu Jorim?
Dubu Jorim (두부조림) is a traditional Korean spicy tofu dish often served as a side dish (banchan) to be enjoyed with a bowl of steamed rice to make up for a healthy meal that’s suitable for any time of day.
Tofu is an essential ingredient in Korean cuisine thanks to its versatility and can be found in many staple dishes including Soondubu Jjigae (Korean Soft Tofu Stew) and Doenjang Jjigae (Korean Soybean Paste Stew).
This is personally one of my favorite Korean side dishes to make during the week as it is quick & simple to prepare and calls for only a handful of ingredients that are always available in my fridge.
Dubu Jorim is without a doubt, one of the most flavorful ways you can prepare a block of tofu, which is an incredible source of protein and other essential nutrients.
How do you make Korean Braised Tofu?
On the busier days when I don’t have much time to spend much time on dinner, this spicy tofu dish is often my go-to choice to be served over a bowl of steamed rice and some sautéed greens.
It is also highly infused with flavor, which also makes it the ideal meal for when I don’t have much of an appetite.
This recipe calls for an easy two-step process that involves pan-searing the tofu until golden, then quickly braising them in a spicy-savory sauce loaded with onion, green onion, and garlic.
The result is flavor-packed pieces of tofu that are crisp around the edges, but tender and juicy on the inside – which can be served both hot or cold depending on your preference.
Korean braised tofu also makes for a great meal-prep dish as a high-protein alternative to meat or seafood, and a perfect option to add to a vegan or vegetarian diet as well.
What do I need to make Korean Braised Tofu?
As mentioned above, one of the best parts about this recipe is that it calls for a handful of simple ingredients. Here is a list of ingredients you will need:
- A block of tofu: medium-firm or firm tofu is ideal for this recipe, as it will hold its shape during the pan-frying process.
- Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), sugar, garlic, soy sauce, mirin, and sesame oil, diluted with a little bit of water: to make up for the base sauce.
- Onion + green onion: for the aromatics. If you want a little bit more spice, you can add in some finely diced chili peppers as demonstrated in the video.
- Green onion + toasted sesame seeds: optional, for garnish.
And that’s it! This has to be one of the easiest recipes I’ve shared on the blog, which can be prepared in less than 20 minutes from start to finish.
Best of all, this easy & delicious dish is prepared all in a single pan, which makes cleanup a breeze! Let’s be honest, we are all struggling with an endless amount of dishes, and simple recipes like this are truly a breath of fresh air. 🍃
For visual instructions, please refer to the video tutorial above (you will need to disable AdBlock if you are on your computer!).
I hope you enjoy this easy and delicious recipe, and please feel free to leave a comment below or message me on Instagram for any questions!
Other easy Korean recipes you may like:
- Stir-Fried Bulgogi Udon Noodles
- Mayak Eggs (Korean Marinated Eggs)
- Soondubu Jjigae (Korean Soft Tofu Stew)
- Korean Seafood Pancake (Haemul Pajeon)
- Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokkeumbap)
Easy Dubu Jorim (Korean Braised Tofu)
Ingredients
- 1 package ( 454g) tofu medium or firm
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 medium onion diced
- 1 green onion diced, some reserved for garnish
- 1 red or green chili pepper diced, optional for extra spice
- green onion, toasted sesame seeds optional, for garnish
Sauce
- 1-2 tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) to taste
- 1/2 tbsp sugar if adding honey or maple syrup, please adjust to taste
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp mirin
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Cut tofu into 1/4 inch thick pieces, and pat dry to remove moisture (this will yield a crispy exterior). Lightly season with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Add all sauce ingredients into a bowl. Add onion, green onion, and chili pepper, and mix to combine.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, carefully add the tofu pieces and sear both sides until golden-brown, about 2-3 minutes.
- Pour the sauce over the tofu and cook for about 5 minutes, flipping occasionally. Cover and simmer for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce is reduced to a thick consistency.
- Garnish with the reserved green onions and sesame seeds, and serve immediately with rice, noodles, or any other dish of choice. Enjoy!
14 comments
Hi, do you have to press the tofu to remove all the extra liquid or do you just lightly pat it dry?
Hi Reehana! You could press it if you prefer an extra crispy exterior, but it isn’t necessary. Just cutting them in slices and pat drying the excess liquid is enough, as demonstrated in the video!
This tasted so incredible.. easily the best tofu I’ve ever had. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
That makes me so happy! Thanks for sharing your experience Grace! x
Fantastic. Easy to make and my hubby loved it he practically had the whole thing to himself. Definitely making a bigger batch next time! Hah!
Amazing!! Haha definitely a bigger batch next time! 😉
So easy to make and so flavorful! Will definitely make again (and again)
Hahaha it’s one of my staples too! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
This was delicious! We added steamed vegetables to our dinner. My partner really really loved it! Will be making again 🙂
Sounds like a perfectly balanced meal 🙂 I am so thrilled that you enjoyed it – thanks for sharing! x
Thank you for this recipe! Didn’t even know how easy it was to make until I tried it using your method. I used to buy them cooked at my Korean grocery store. Now I can make this anytime since the ingredients is pretty much my fridge and pantry staple. This is wonderful to make when you want to eat a little lighter or on meatless Mondays! Thank you for sharing!
That makes me so happy Maggie!! Homemade is truly the way to go! This dish is truly the only way I can devour a whole block of tofu. Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us!
This looks beautiful!
So excited to try it. I sadly don’t have access to the Gochugaru here in Sweden, but I did get my hands on some Gochujang! Is there any chance I could use this instead? If so, should I just replace it with the same quantity, or less/more? I never tried korean chili so I’m nervous! Thank you so much in advance!
Hi Johanna! I believe it will work as long as you adjust the amount of soy sauce and sugar to taste, to balance the added seasoning in the Gochujang! I’ve had another reader opt for Gochujang and it turned out well for them I’d love to hear how it goes if you give it a try! x