Delicious Anchovy Tofu Braise: A Perfect Side Dish for Rice
A Daily Side Dish Staple: Anchovy Tofu Braise Recipe
Discover how to make a hearty and flavorful Anchovy Tofu Braise using a block of fresh, firm tofu purchased from the market. Unlike typical supermarket tofu, market tofu is larger, denser, and holds its shape beautifully, making it ideal for braising. While delicious in soups or pan-fried, braising it with a savory anchovy sauce transforms it into a true ‘rice thief’ – a side dish so good, it makes you want to finish your entire bowl of rice!
Main Ingredients- 1 cup dried anchovies (small)
- 300g firm tofu
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, gently toast the dried anchovies in a dry pan over medium-low heat for 1-2 minutes. This helps to remove any fishy smell and makes them crispier. After toasting, place the anchovies in a sieve and lightly shake off any powder or debris.
Step 2
Now, let’s prepare the anchovy sauce. In a mixing bowl, combine 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 3 Tbsp rice wine, 1 Tbsp oligosaccharide, 1 Tbsp plum extract, 1/2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds, a pinch of black pepper, and 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic. Stir well to combine. Add the finely chopped green onion and mix everything together to create a delicious sauce.
Step 3
Add the toasted and sifted anchovies to the bowl with the prepared sauce. Gently toss them to ensure the sauce evenly coats the anchovies. Pre-mixing the anchovies with the sauce helps it penetrate better during the braising process.
Step 4
Next, prepare the pan for braising the tofu. Heat 2 Tbsp of sesame oil in a pan over medium heat. Cut the 300g of firm tofu into 1cm thick slices. Once the pan is hot, carefully arrange the tofu slices in a single layer and pan-fry them until golden brown on both sides. Pan-frying the tofu enhances its flavor and firms it up, making it perfect for braising.
Step 5
Once the tofu is nicely golden brown, evenly spoon the prepared anchovy mixture over the tofu slices, ensuring they are well-covered.
Step 6
Pour 1/2 cup of water into the bowl that contained the anchovy sauce. Swirl the water around to rinse out any remaining sauce, then carefully pour this seasoned water around the edges of the pan. This not only prevents waste but also creates a braising liquid.
Step 7
Initially, bring the mixture to a boil over high heat until the sauce starts to bubble vigorously. Once boiling, reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Let it simmer gently, allowing the sauce to deeply infuse into the tofu and anchovies. Occasionally swirl the pan to prevent the sauce from burning.
Step 8
Continue to simmer over low heat until the sauce has reduced to your desired consistency, being careful not to let it burn. The key is to gently reduce the sauce until it’s rich and flavorful, creating a perfectly braised dish.
