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Tahu kecap

Fried tofu in sweet soy

Tahu kecap: fried tofu glazed with shallot, garlic, chilli and sweet soy

Tahu kecap is everyday Javanese home cooking, made for supper from Yogyakarta to Surabaya and sold in warung trays by midday: cubes of tofu fried until golden, then tossed with sliced shallot, garlic and chilli in sticky, dark kecap manis. Sweet, salty and a little hot, it is eaten with rice and cucumber slices. The common mistake is frying wet tofu, which spits and never crisps; pat the cubes very dry first. Chef's tip: buy ready-fried tofu puffs or firm pre-pressed tofu if you're short of time; they need only a quick toss, and the hollow puffs soak up the sauce beautifully.
Total time
15 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
2
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Ingredients

Serves2

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Method

0/3 done
  1. Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry 14 oz firm tofu in one layer for 6–7 minutes, turning, until golden and crisp on most sides. Push to one side of the pan.

    7 min
  2. Step 2: Add 3 shallots, 2 garlic cloves and 1 red chilli to the empty side and stir for 1–2 minutes, until soft and fragrant.

    2 min
  3. Step 3: Pour in 3 tbsp kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), 1 tsp soy sauce and 2 tbsp water and toss for 1 minute, until the sauce bubbles and coats the tofu in a dark glaze. Scatter with 1 spring onion and serve with rice.

    1 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
360 kcal
Protein
21 g
Carbs
18 g
Fat
23 g
Fibre
2 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does tahu kecap take?
About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegan?
Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
What can I use instead of shallots?
Half an onion per 2 shallots.
What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.

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