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Tofu steak
Tōfu sutēki (豆腐ステーキ): pan-seared firm tofu slabs glazed with soy, mirin and garlic
Tofu steak became a family-restaurant and home favourite across Japan in the health-food boom of the 1980s, and it is still how many Tokyo households get a quick, light main dish on the table: thick slabs of firm tofu dusted with potato starch, seared until golden, then glazed in a garlicky soy, mirin and sugar sauce until sticky. Serve with rice, shredded cabbage and miso soup. A portion is about 260 kcal. The common mistake is skipping the pressing, so the tofu spits in the pan and won't brown; press it for 10 minutes first. Chef's tip: add the sauce only once both sides are golden, and let it bubble down for just a minute so it coats rather than soaks.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 14 oz firm tofublock, pressed for 10 minutes between kitchen paper
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tbsp potato starch or cornflour
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 garlic clovethinly sliced
For the sauce
- 1 ½ tbsp soy sauce
- 1 ½ tbsp mirincontains alcohol; or 1 tbsp water and 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 spring onion (optional)sliced
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Cut the pressed 14 oz firm tofu horizontally into 2 slabs, about 2 cm thick. Pat dry, sprinkle with 1 pinch salt and dust all over with 2 tbsp potato starch or cornflour, shaking off the excess.
10 minStep 2: Heat 1 tbsp sunflower oil in a frying pan over a medium-low heat. Add 1 garlic clove and fry gently for 1–2 minutes until golden, then lift it out and keep it.
2 minStep 3: Turn the heat to medium. Put the tofu in the garlic oil and fry for 3 minutes per side without moving it, until each side is crisp and golden.
6 minStep 5: Serve topped with the fried garlic and 1 spring onion, with any sauce from the pan.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 kcal
- Protein
- 18 g
- Carbs
- 14 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tofu steak take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 10 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 potato starch or cornflour?
- Arrowroot or potato starch, same amount.
- What can I use instead of garlic clove?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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