Tofu Patties
Alto-ran Tofu Jeon: How to Make Delicious Tofu Patties with Black Sesame, White Sesame, and Cheongyang Pepper
Enjoy these incredibly soft and savory tofu patties, a dish loved by everyone! Made with just one block of tofu, these patties are a wholesome and satisfying side dish perfect for all ages. Make your own healthy and delicious Tofu Jeon using this Alto-ran recipe.
Main Ingredients
- 1 block tofu (firm or ‘buchim’ tofu recommended)
- 1/4 carrot
- 1/3 zucchini
- 1/2 Cheongyang chili pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare 1 block of tofu. Wrap the tofu in a cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much water as possible by hand. This step is crucial to prevent the batter from becoming too wet and to ensure the patties hold their shape. Using firm ‘buchim’ tofu will yield even better results.
Step 2
Finely mince 1/2 Cheongyang chili pepper after removing the seeds. You can adjust the amount according to your spice preference.
Step 3
Peel the carrot, slice it thinly, and then mince it finely. Adding carrots not only enhances the color but also adds a pleasant texture to the patties.
Step 4
For the zucchini, peel off the skin thickly using a peeler, then slice it thinly. After slicing, mince it finely, just like the carrot. Because zucchini contains a lot of water, it’s best to use only the outer skin for this recipe. This helps reduce excess moisture in the batter, making the patties tastier.
Step 5
Place the minced carrot and zucchini in a microwave and cook for 1 minute. This brief cooking step enhances the natural sweetness of the vegetables and also reduces the cooking time when you pan-fry the patties.
Step 6
Now, let’s make the batter. Mash the drained tofu, then add the microwaved carrot and zucchini, the finely minced Cheongyang chili pepper, 1/2 Tbsp black sesame seeds, 1/2 Tbsp white sesame seeds, a pinch of black pepper, and 1/2 egg. Mix everything well. Finally, add 1.5 Tbsp of pancake mix and knead the mixture until it forms a cohesive dough. Adjust the amount of pancake mix as needed depending on the moisture content of the tofu and vegetables; add more if the batter is too wet.
Step 7
Take spoonfuls of the prepared dough and shape them into round, flat patties (like small meatballs) using your palms. You can make them bite-sized for children or adjust the size according to your preference.
Step 8
Finally, heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a frying pan over low heat. Carefully place the shaped tofu patties in the pan and cook until golden brown on both sides. Cooking over low heat ensures the patties are cooked through evenly without burning.
