Paju on table

Sweet-spicy Tofu

Jangdan beans are a local specialty crop of Paju.
The bean has a rich nutty flavor when eaten as it is,
but there are many different ways to enjoy the bean when it is made into tofu.
Everything tastes better when deep-fried. What if tofu is deep-fried?

📝Text by. Editorial Team  /  📷Editorial Team by. Chabi

The Great Transformation of Tiny Beans

Soy beans grown in Jangdan-myeon, Paju have been known for their great flavor. Jangdan beans are glossy and bigger in size than beans grown elsewhere, and they have become a major local specialty product. Beans are rich in protein, calcium, and other nutrients and a popular ingredient. Soy beans are a key ingredient in making fermented traditional sauces including soy bean paste and red pepper paste, two pillar ingredients in Korean cuisine. Beans are used in so many different recipes and tofu is one of them. Tofu is one of the most frequently used ingredients in Korean cooking. Tofu goes well with soups and tastes great when fried in perilla seed oil and dipped in soy sauce. In most tofu recipes, tofu is cooked in a way that maximizes its nutty flavor. So it can taste bland for some people. If you want to spice up the flavor of tofu, try sweet-spicy tofu. Sweet-spicy tofu is a vegan version of the popular Chinese food sweet-spicy chicken. In this recipe, tender, silky tofu in crispy batter is intended to trick people into thinking that it is meat as is usually used in the regular sweet-spicy chicken. The flavor of tofu is simple and bland but takes on a completely new identity when covered in a sweet-spicy sauce. The recipe is so easy. Chopped tofu is covered in starch and then dipped in batter to deep-fry. The fried tofu is stir-fried in a sweet-spicy sauce and it is done. The recipe is simple, and the ingredients are simple as well. How about cooking sweet-spicy tofu for dinner tonight instead of ordering in fried chicken?

    • Ingredients
      Firm tofu, 2 tablespoons potato starch, salt, half onion, half bell pepper
    • Ingredients for the sauce
      2 tablespoons water, 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons vinegar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon red pepper powder, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, green onions, extra chili peppers
    • How to cook
      1. Chop tofu, onion, and bell pepper into bite-size pieces.
      2. Drain the tofu and sprinkle with salt to taste.
      3. Cover the tofu in potato starch.
      4. Put cooking oil into a pan and fry the tofu over medium heat until it turns golden brown.
      5. Pour the sauce over the tofu, add the prepared vegetables, and cook for another two minutes. Done!

        6. For the sauce : Put all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and add finely chopped green onions and chili peppers.
        The dipping sauce is done!

How to cook
  1. Chop tofu, onion, and bell pepper into bite-size pieces.
  2. Drain the tofu and sprinkle with salt to taste.
  3. Cover the tofu in potato starch.
  4. Put cooking oil into a pan and fry the tofu over medium heat until it turns golden brown.
  5. Pour the sauce over the tofu, add the prepared vegetables, and cook for another two minutes. Done!

    6. For the sauce : Put all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and add finely chopped green onions and chili peppers.
    The dipping sauce is done!

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