Pan-Fried Japanese Silken Tofu That Kids and Adults Love
老人孩子都爱的——香煎日本豆腐 · pan chinese cuisine
The author loves the texture of Japanese silken tofu but had never known how to cook it. This was a new experiment that turned out well. Quantities can be adjusted to taste; the author personally would add even more onion, having fallen in love with the onions in the dish.
Dottie LangfordRetired schoolteacher in Ohio who lives for church-potluck casseroles and my grandma's butter rolls. If it bakes in a 9x13 pan, I've probably made it twice.Nutrition & allergens
Contains:SoyWheat
Some ingredients are not yet allergen-surveyed; this label is not exhaustive.
Per serving (4 servings)
- Energy (kcal)
- Unknown
- Protein (g)
- Unknown
- Fat (g)
- Unknown
- Carbs (g)
- Unknown
- Sodium (mg)
- Unknown
Estimated from verified ingredient data for the original formula — not lab values, and one dish is not a full meal.
Techniques you'll use
- Pan-frying (jian) ↗
Sear food in a shallow layer of oil, one side at a time.
- Aromatic blooming (bao xiang) ↗
Bloom ginger, garlic, and chili in hot oil to build the aroma base.
- Sweet-sour sauce ↗
Balance sugar and vinegar into a bright, glossy coating sauce.
- Simmering (dun) ↗
Gentle low-heat cooking in liquid until flavors merge and meat softens.
Steps
Cut each tube of Japanese silken tofu in half through the middle, then cut into slices of roughly even thickness, and place them in a pan to fry.
✅ Done when: All slices are cut to even thickness and arranged in the pan frying.
- 2
Step 2
Wait until one side is golden, then flip. Move the slices as little as possible — the tofu is very soft and breaks easily.
✅ Done when: The fried side is golden and the slices hold their shape.
- 3
Step 3
Once the tofu is fried, remove it from the pan and leave some oil in the pan. Dice the onion and the chili pepper into small pieces.
✅ Done when: Tofu is set aside and the onion and chili are cut into small, even dice.
Add the diced onion and chili to the pan and stir-fry until fragrant. To make the sauce: in a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons ketchup, 1 tablespoon light soy sauce, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 2 teaspoons sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt, then stir everything until well mixed.
✅ Done when: The onion and chili smell fragrant, and the sauce ingredients are fully stirred together.
- 5
Step 5
Add the fried tofu back into the pan and pour in the prepared sauce.
✅ Done when: The tofu is back in the pan and coated with the sauce.
Let the sauce coat the tofu completely. When the sauce has reduced, turn off the heat and sprinkle with a little chopped scallion. Beautiful and delicious!
✅ Done when: The sauce has reduced and clings to the tofu, topped with scallions.