A Practical Guide to Korean Food and Korean Fusion Food

Many Koreans seem to relate Tofu Kimchi with Soju a lot, which implies that it is popular as a drinking snack. But I made this meal as a side dish to have with some rice. At a restaurant they add some pork as well, but I didn’t have any available in the fridge. I will show you the tofu Kimchi with some meat some other time. However it still tasted really nice without any meat.

Ingredients for 2 people

(No prep required. Cooking time – 7 minutes)

• Tofu 210 g
• Sliced Kimchi – 1/2 cup (It doesn’t quite work well with freshly made Kimchi. Recommend to use at least 2-3 weeks old Kimchi)
• Sugar (I used dark brown sugar) – 1tsp
• Sesame oil – 1 tsp
• Parched sesame – 1 tsp
• Olive oil – 1 tbsp

Cooking

1. Pre heat the wok for about 10 seconds.
2. Add the olive oil.
3. Add the Kimchi and sugar, stir it well until it cooks.

4. Add the sesame oil and parched sesame. (Cooking the Kimchi is done here)
5. Boil the tofu in a pot for about 3 minutes.

6. Slice the tofu into medium size pieces.

7. Serve the tofu with the Kimchi.

How to eat : Put some Kimchi on top of the tofu, and eat them together (eating when the tofu is still warm is the best).

I think Tofu and Kimchi match each other well. Tofu is mild and Kimchi is spicy to some people. So the mild taste and spicy sour taste compromises well. Also some people don’t like tofu on its own because it has a unique tofu smell. However, in this meal, Kimchi that is seasoned with sesame oil overpowers the tofu smell. So it works really well together. Michael and I really liked both its smell and taste.

Related Posts

Soy sauce Boiled Tofu (Dubu Ganjang Jorim in Korean)

Spicy Mussel Stew (Honghap Jjim in Korean)

Tuna Pancakes (Chamchijeon in Korean)

I don’t like tofu (Dubu in Korean) on its own, but I really like it when it is cooked with something else, like Tofu Soybean Paste Stew (Dubu Doenjangjjigae in Korean) or this meal, soy sauce boiled tofu. Tofu is a really cheap, healthy meal, and is suitable in lots of food. This side dish is especially really easy to make.

Ingredients for 2-3 person side dish

(Expected prep time: 2 minutes , cooking time: 4 minutes )

• Tofu 280 g
• 1/2 stalk of a spring onion
• Olive oil 15 ml

For sauce (mix these in a bowl)

• Soy sauce (Ganjang in Korean) – 3 tsp
• Sugar – 1 tsp (I used dark brown sugar)
• Garlic – 1/4 tsp
• Sesame oil – 1/4 tsp
• 1 green chili

Prep

1. Cut the tofu into pieces.
2. Take the seeds out from the chili and thin slice it.
3. Thin slice the spring onion.

Cooking

1. Put some oil into the pan.
2. Add the tofu. Pan fry it both sides.

3. Turn the heat down to low heat, add the sauce and spring onion, then simmer it. (turn the tofu over half way)

4. When 80% of the sauce disappears, serve it on the plate, then pour out the rest of the sauce on the tofu.

Although it contains chili, the actual dish isn’t spicy.

Recipes that contain tofu

Pork and Kimchi Stew (Dwaejigogi Kimchijjigae in Korean)

Tofu Soybean Paste Stew (Dubu Doenjangjjigae in Korean)

Uncurdled Tofu Stew (Sundubu Jjigae in Korean)

About 10 days ago, I bought 5 packs of enoki mushrooms, because they were so cheap. I paid 1000 won (US $ 1.05) for 5 packs – Their usual price is 1000 won for 3 packs. However I often forget that it is not a good idea to buy something just because it is cheap without a reason, otherwise you are just going to throw it away without using it. What do you think?

Anyhow, I had used up 3 packs for other meals the other day and now had 2 more packs to go. Here is one of the rescue plans, very easy and simple one.

Ingredients (Enough for 2 people as a side dish)
(Expected preparation time – 5 minutes, Expected cooking time – less than 10 minutes)

• 1 egg
• 1 pack of enoki mushrooms
• 1/4 an onion
• 4 stalks of garlic chives
• 1/4 a carrot (small size)
• Pepper – 1 sprinkle
• Salt – 1 sprinkle
• White flour – 1 tbsp
• Sesame oil – 1 tsp

Preparation

1. Finely chop the onion, garlic chives, and carrot.
2. Cut the bottom 4-5 cm of the mushrooms off (the roots) and wash the rest for use.
3. Add the flour and sesame oil onto the mushrooms then roll the mushrooms to coat the flour and sesame oil on its surface thoroughly.
4. Beat the egg, add the pepper, salt, and all the vegetables, then mix them well.

Cooking

1. Pre heat the pan.
2. Add some oil.
3. Scoop out spoonfuls of the mix with spoon and chopsticks. – you need chopsticks to place the mushrooms properly.
4. Turn them over when one side is cooked.
5. When both sides are cooked, serve them on the plate.

It feels like you are chewing some kind of meat. So it can be a good vegetarian food.

Related Posts

Enoki mushrooms

Squid pancakes (Ojingeo Buchimgae in Korean)

Seasoned sesame leaves pancakes (Kkaenip Jang Ddeok in Korean)

Tuna Pancakes (Chamchijeon in Korean)