Braised Tofu With Mushrooms

Braised tofu with mushrooms is a simple and nutritious dish that can be enjoyed by anyone, especially vegetarians. It is a common dish in the Vietnamese cuisine, especially on days when people abstain from meat. This dish does not require many ingredients, but it has a rich and satisfying flavor that can complement any meal. In this post, I will show you how to make this dish with the easiest recipe and some tips to enhance the taste and texture.

Ingredients:

8 oz. firm tofu

8 oz. small king oyster mushrooms

For the aromatics:

1/2 white onion

2 cloves of garlic, minced

Oil for frying and braising

For the sauce:

1 tablespoon of soy sauce

1 tablespoon of sugar

1 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of pepper

1 cup of coconut water

1 tbsp chili sauce (optional)

Directions:

In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients and set aside.

Peel and dice the onion. Rinse the tofu and cut it into bite-sized cubes. Pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Heat some oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and fry the tofu until golden and crisp on all sides. Drain on paper towels and set aside.

Rinse the mushrooms and trim off the ends. Cut them in half if they are too large or leave them whole if they are small. Heat some more oil in a large skillet or a clay pot over medium-high heat and sauté the onion and garlic until soft and fragrant. Add the mushrooms and toss to coat with the oil.

Add the tofu and the sauce to the skillet or pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce has thickened and reduced, stirring occasionally. This should take about 15 minutes.

Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with some cilantro if desired, and serve hot with steamed rice.

Tip: If you like some spices, you can add some fresh or dried chili peppers or some chili garlic sauce to the sauce mixture. You can also adjust the amount of pepper to your liking. You can use different kinds of mushrooms that you can find.