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Red tofu is not only a familiar dish for vegetarian enthusiasts but also a 'divine' dipping sauce when enjoying grilled dishes or mushroom hot pot, beef hot pot. This type of tofu is loved for its eye-catching color, distinctive aroma, and rich taste that sets it apart from white tofu. Let's explore with Mytour how to make the most flavorful red tofu!
1. What is red tofu?
Red tofu is a dish originating from Guangdong, China, naturally fermented from tofu soaked in red rice water to create a deep red color and a particularly fragrant and rich flavor. To make red rice water, white rice is cooked, fermented with Monascus purpureus, ground into powder, and mixed with water. Red tofu is often used for vegetarian meals and as a dip for various steamed vegetables.
Red tofu can also be used to create dipping sauces for grilled dishes and hot pots. Additionally, you can use this type of tofu to marinate shrimp, crab, fish, squid, or make braised duck and braised pork hock. Besides its delicious taste, red tofu is also highly nutritious. It contains a good amount of protein, lipids, and carbohydrates that have been transformed, enhancing the digestive system's activity.
2. How to make delicious red tofu
The mildly fragrant red tofu adds exquisite flavors to dipping sauces and marinations. To make this delightful and cost-effective dish that is also hygienically safe, learn the recipe below.
Prepare the ingredients
- 1kg white tofu
- 60g sea salt
- 1.5l filtered water
- 15g chili powder, 10g cayenne pepper
- 100ml Vodka
Implementation steps
Step 1: Place a pot on the stove, add 500ml of filtered water, add 40g of sea salt, then boil. Stir well until the salt is completely dissolved, then turn off the heat and let it cool.
Step 2: Clean the cayenne pepper, crush it. Add crushed cayenne pepper, 15g of chili powder, and 100ml of Vodka to the pot of saltwater, then stir again. Close the pot tightly and let the mixture ferment for about 2 days.
Step 3: Pour 1 liter of filtered water into another pot, place it on the stove to boil, add 20g of sea salt. When the salt dissolves, add the whole tofu blocks to boil. After boiling for about 1 minute, turn off the heat. Let the tofu soak in the salted water for an additional 10 minutes, then remove and place on a tray lined with a clean cloth to drain.
Image: Collected
Step 4: Once the tofu is dry on the surface, cut it into square pieces with edges about 1cm. Place a layer of wax paper and a layer of banana leaves on the tray, then arrange the small tofu pieces. The distance between the tofu pieces should be 1cm. After arranging the tofu, place another layer of banana leaves on top and wrap the tray tightly with plastic wrap.
Image: Collected
Step 5: Take the tofu out for sun-drying for 2 to 3 days to allow the outer surface to dry and firm up slightly.
Step 6: After the tofu has fermented, place it in a glass jar, pour the prepared chili saltwater mixture until the tofu is submerged. Seal the jar tightly and let it sit for about 10 to 14 days to have a delicious red tofu jar.
3. Finished delicious tofu
Delicious red tofu has a solid, moderately soft texture, not too dense, naturally rich and fragrant, with an appealing color. When enjoying, you'll experience a salty, spicy, mildly sour taste with a delightful hint of fermentation. Store the red tofu in the refrigerator's cool compartment, and it can last up to 6 months.
When using, simply use a spoon to crush the red tofu, add a little soy sauce and sugar to make a dipping sauce for vegetables. If using as a seasoning, reduce the soaking water to avoid a sour taste in the dish.
See more: 3 ways to make authentic Pesto sauce that few people know
4. Notes when making red tofu
Following the red tofu recipe above, here are some important notes to keep in mind:
- Choose tofu that feels firm, not crumbly, has a slight fragrance of soybeans, and feels smooth to the touch, tender and fragrant without bitterness.
- When boiling tofu, use high heat and avoid boiling for too long to prevent tofu from breaking.
- Do not cover the pot while boiling tofu.
- Place tofu in a glass jar, do not compress too tightly, leave gaps for the chili saltwater mixture to evenly cover the tofu pieces.
- The jar for red tofu must be thoroughly cleaned to avoid affecting the fermentation process of the tofu.
5. Dipping sauce for grilled meat from red tofu
Dipping sauce for grilled meat is one of the creative recipes derived from red tofu shared among many homemakers. For this dipping sauce, prepare red tofu, sugar, MSG, pepper, chili sauce, satay, lime, and chili. After fermenting the red tofu, take the tofu and a little water to avoid the sauce being too salty.
Crush the tofu, add 1 tablespoon of sugar, 2 teaspoons of MSG, 1 teaspoon of chili sauce, then stir until the seasonings dissolve. For a smoother sauce, you can use a blender. Add to the red tofu sauce 1 teaspoon of satay, 1 teaspoon of pepper, 2 teaspoons of lime juice, and 2 finely chopped chili peppers, then mix well. The sauce is rich, flavorful, with a perfect balance of sweetness, sourness from lime, and spiciness from chili and satay, enhancing the grilled meat's taste and appeal.
Homemade red tofu is not only simple and time-saving but also safe for your health. This visually appealing dish with a delightful aroma and rich flavor will surely not disappoint you. Stay tuned with Mytour for more enticing recipes.
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