5 from 12 votes
Easy Steamed Tofu (蒸豆腐)
Easy Steamed Tofu features soft tofu gently steamed then topped with a savory sauce and a fragrant aromatic oil infused with garlic, ginger, chili, and Sichuan peppercorns. The steaming preserves the tofu’s smooth texture while the sauce adds balanced salty and slightly sweet flavor. The hot aromatic oil poured over the tofu releases fragrant notes and enhances the dish’s depth.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
18 mins
Servings:
2
to 4 servings
Calories:
81 kcal
Course:
Appetizer
Cuisine:
Chinese
Ingredients
- 1 block (1 lb / 450 g) tofu drained and sliced into 1/2” (1 cm) thick pieces, soft
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce light
- 1 tablespoon vegetarian oyster sauce (or oyster sauce)
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- salt pinch
Aromatic oil
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 2 green onions , thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons ginger grated
- 2 tablespoons peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
- 2 dried chili peppers
- 1/4 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorn or black pepper, ground
Instructions
Steam Tofu
- Prepare the steamer by adding 2” (5 cm) water to the pot and heat over medium-high heat until brought to a boil.
- Arrange the tofu on a plate that can fit into your steamer with as little overlap as possible. Place the plate onto the steaming rack.
- When the water is boiling, add the steaming rack. Steam covered for 6 minutes. Once done, carefully remove the plate from the steamer (*Footnote 1). Let the plate cool off for a few minutes. Then tilt the plate to drain off as much water as you can.
Cup of Yum
Sauce
- While cooking the tofu, mix the light soy sauce, vegetarian oyster sauce, sugar and salt together in a small bowl.
Make aromatic oil
- When the tofu is ready, heat the oil in a small skillet over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add the chili peppers, garlic, ginger, a small amount of the green onion (*Footnote 2), and Sichuan peppercorns. Stir a few times until the chili peppers turn dark red. Immediately pour the oil with everything evenly over the tofu. Then pour the mixed sauce over the tofu.
- Serve warm or at room temperature as an appetizer, or over steamed rice as a main dish.
Notes
- Use oven mitts or a plate lifter to safely remove the hot plate from the steamer.
- Draining excess water from the tofu after steaming prevents the dish from becoming watery.
- Adding some green onions to the hot oil enhances flavor, but add fresh green onions as garnish for better appearance.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
81kcal
(4%)
Carbohydrates
4.6g
(2%)
Protein
8g
(16%)
Fat
4.3g
(7%)
Saturated Fat
0.6g
(3%)
Sodium
264mg
(11%)
Potassium
184mg
(4%)
Fiber
0.6g
(2%)
Calcium
136mg
(14%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2 to 4 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 81
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 81kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 4.6g | 2% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 4.3g | 7% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.6g | 3% |
| Sodium | 264mg | 11% |
| Potassium | 184mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 0.6g | 2% |
| Calcium | 136mg | 14% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.