The BEST Korean Silken Tofu Soup Recipe & Video - Seonkyoung Longest (2024)

FAQs

When should you add silken tofu to soup? ›

Once the vegetables have softened, add vegetable broth and bring it to a simmer. Cut the silken tofu into cubes and gently add it to the soup. Allow the flavors to meld together for a few minutes before serving.

Soondubu is a Korean tofu stew recipe made with silken tofu as the main ingredient. It's usually made with gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) to yield a spicy broth, and you can vary the veggies and meat (or seafood) you put in it.

Firm and extra-firm tofu are dense and solid and hold up well in stir-frys, soups or on the grill. Soft tofu is good for soups and making dips or spreads, where a smoother texture is desirable and the recipe calls for blending, mashing or puréeing.

Transfer 1 cup soup and remaining tofu slab to blender and process until smooth, about 2 minutes. Stir pureed soup and reserved browned tofu into remaining soup in saucepan and adjust consistency with extra hot water as needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

You can put raw tofu in the soup and let it simmer for 10 to 15 minutes to warm and flavor it. Tofu can be eaten raw, so it's no problem to add it raw to soups.

You can run your tofu through some water to wash out any sliminess. If your tofu is a bit slimy to the touch, continue to rinse this through water and carefully rub with your hands.Do note that your tofu shouldn't have any sour/off-putting smell after washing.

The main ingredient in kimchi jjigae is kimchi, hence the name 'kimchi stew'. In soondubu jjigae, however, the main ingredient is the soft and silky tofu, hence the name 'extra soft tofu stew'. In terms of flavor, soondubu jjigae has a more delicate flavor than kimchi jjigae.

Silken tofu also called soft, silk, or Japanese-style tofu has a softer consistency than regular tofu and will fall apart if not handled carefully.

Kimchi stew (kimchi jjigae) usually has more kimchi and more acidic broth, while the main ingredients in kimchi tofu soup (kimchi soondubu) is the soft tofu.. and some kimchi added to enhance the broth flavor.

Soft silken tofu would be my choice for blending into desserts or slicing into miso soup, but if you're serving it as a main dish or topping it onto bowls, extra-firm is what you'll need. It has a heartier, denser texture and less water content than other types of tofu.

Can you freeze silken tofu? ›

Freezing tofu is easy and you can freeze any variety — it doesn't matter if it's silken, firm, or extra-firm. All you have to do is cut the tofu into cubes the size of your choosing, freeze them solid on a baking sheet, and store them in a freezer container until you're ready to defrost and cook.

Just be sure to get the oil nice and hot before adding the tofu; this will prevent the tofu from excessively sticking to the pan and help develop a nicely crisp sear! A simple Chinese-style dish featuring pan-seared silken tofu served with a garlic scallion soy sauce.

A light coating of cornstarch will absorb even more moisture from the tofu's surface and contribute to a distinct coating. Sprinkle over the starch (potato starch, tapioca starch, and arrowroot all work too) a little bit at a time and toss the tofu, pressing gently so the starch adheres.

To Keep It Together, Think Dry and Firm

For pan-frying, draining it and then drying and pressing the exterior with paper towels works well. To use soft tofu successfully in a braised dish, simmering or steeping it in hot salt water or other salted liquid like broth first is essential.

Combine equal parts silken tofu and soy milk and blend thoroughly in an immersion blender or food processor until the mixture reaches a smooth, thick consistency. Then use it in place of an equal amount of heavy cream to thicken your favorite recipes, such as soups or sauces.

Firm or extra firm tofu works best as it holds its shape well and does not break apart easily when cooked in soup. Silken tofu, on the other hand, is softer and more delicate, making it a good choice for creamy soups or adding a silky texture to your dish.

The purpose of both boiling and pressing tofu is to reduce moisture. The former process is grounded in both reason and preservation of the tender quality of bean curd, while Western cooking educators are hellbent on the view that tofu is unmanageable without the firmest, chewiest possible texture.

Soft and silken tofu are ready to go right out of the package (though, technically, any tofu can be eaten raw). Drain off the excess water, and eat up! Draining/Blotting: For block tofu, I like to slit the package and drain out the packing water.