Atsuage Gochujang Stir-Fry
| Ingredient | For Two to Three | For Two to Three |
|---|---|---|
| atsuage tofu | 1 block (10½ oz.) | 1 block (300g) |
| green onion | 1 bunch (8 stems) | 1 bunch (8 stems) |
| fresh shiitake | 6-8 medium-sized mushrooms | 6-8 medium-sized mushrooms |
| garlic | 1-2 cloves | 1-2 cloves |
| toasted sesame oil | 1½ Tbsp. | 1½ Tbsp. |
| Seasoning | ||
| soy sauce | 2 Tbsp. | 2 Tbsp. |
| mirin | 2 Tbsp. | 2 Tbsp. |
| gochujang sauce | 1½-2 Tbsp. | 1½-2 Tbsp. |
This simple stir-fry combines Japanese seasonings with spicy Koraen-style gochujang sauce to season meaty chunks of atsuage tofu. The relatively dry coating of strongly-flavored sauce makes it best eaten Japanese-style, along with (or on top of) a bowl of rice.
Preparation
- Prepare a batch of gochujang sauce if you don’t already have any on hand.
- Put the tofu block in a strainer and pour a generous amount of boiling water over it; this removes excess oil.
- Remove the roots from the green onions and cut the stalks into 2-inch (4-5cm) pieces.
- Cut the shiitake into thick strips.
- Mince garlic.
Directions
- Mix sauce.
Mix the soy sauce, mirin, and gochujang sauce in a small bowl and set aside; use 2 Tablespoons of gochujang sauce if you prefer it spicier. - Slice tofu.
Cut the tofu into bite-size squares a third of an inch (1cm) thick. - Fry garlic and stiffer ingredients.
Heat the sesame oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and fry until the garlic starts to become fragrant. Add the hard white parts of the onions along with the shiitake and fry until the onions start to get soft. - Add seasoning and stir-fry.
Add the tofu to the pan and add the remaining soft parts of the green onion and stir-fry briefly. Pour the seasoning over the top and stir-fry for about a minute, making sure to thoroughly mix and coat the pieces. - Serve.
Serve along with a bowl of rice.
Notes
- Atsuage (sometimes written atsu-age and also called nama-age) is deep-fried firm tofu. It has a meaty texture, and can usually be found in the refrigerated tofu section of a well-stocked supermarket.