Make this 10 minute Korean Spicy Marinated Tofu inspired by Korean Yangnyeom sauce for your next weeknight dinner or meal prep. This dish is super flavorful (sweet and spicy) that will turn tofu haters (like my husband) into tofu lovers!
🔍 Quick Look:
- What is it? Silken tofu marinated in a Korean sweet and spicy sauce inspired by the popular Yangnyeom (means spicy sauce) flavor that is used to season Korean raw marinated crab. If you’re a tofu fan, my Easy Mapo Tofu or Korean Braised Tofu is a quick and flavorful addition to your must-try recipes.
- Why you’ll love this recipe: You can make this tofu dish in less than 10 minutes! The sweet and spicy flavor is good on anything –noodles, rice and toast! A protein packed dish that is perfect for a busy weeknight or make a large batch for meal prep.
- 🕒 Total Cook Time: 5 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Method: Just boil the silken tofu for 2 minutes, drain it well, then add the Korean sauce on top. The tofu tastes best marinated overnight to soak up the flavor, yet still tastes super delicious if you eat right away.
- 👩🍳 Flavor Profile: This dish is spicy, savory, and slightly sweet. The creamy tofu that soaks up the umami flavor from the sauce.
- ⭐ Difficulty: Super easy! Just boil the tofu, marinate it, then enjoy it with hot rice, noodles or your favorite veggies.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Korean Spicy Marinated Tofu recipe is inspired by the addicting Yangnyeom (means spicy sauce) flavor that is used to season Korean raw marinated crab—without the crab. The silken tofu texture is similar to soft poached eggs and the Korean spicy sauce is thick and packed with umami flavor. This recipe is great for vegetarians and meat lovers, because the sauce is truly so addicting with the Korean red pepper flakes, garlic and sesame oil!
The spicy sauce is so versatile that you can use on soft boiled eggs, raw marinated crab crab, raw salmon sashimi (my favorite method), or on top of white rice.
If you want more easy simple tofu recipes, check out my Chinese Stuffed Tofu – Hakka Style, Tofu with Black Bean Sauce and Easy Tofu Miso Soup.
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Key Ingredients
Here’s a look at what you need to make this Korean Spicy Marinated Tofu. The highlights are here but the full ingredient list and quantities of each are in the recipe card.
- Silken tofu – I love the soft tofu texture as it resembles the luscious texture of raw marinated crab (where this recipe was inspired from). I am using the soon tofu used for Korean Soft Tofu Stew that I bought at the Korean market. You can use soft tofu or silken tofu for this recipe.
- Green onion – thinly sliced green onions soften up and provide a nice mild onion flavor to the silken tofu. You can use leeks or white onion flavors (sliced thinly), if that is what you have on hand.
- Grated garlic – the texture of finely minced garlic melts into the spicy sauce and provides that sweet and umami flavor. If your garlic is chopped, there may be a difference in texture.
- Gochugaru known as korean red pepper flakes is recommended for this spicy sauce. You can get mild or spicy gochugaru depending on your spice preference. You can’t substitute with red chili flakes or cayenne as the authentic Korean flavor won’t taste the same.
- Honey or sugar is used to balance the spicy and salty flavor. This is a must for authentic Korean flavor!
- Fish sauce is preferred for the umami flavor. You can sub with soy sauce if you’re vegetarian, still tastes delicious (I tried both variations).
- Sesame oil – is a must for flavor! The nutty sesame oil balances the sweet and spicy flavors so well, I recommend buying the Kadoya brand I have above for best flavor.
Substitutions and Variations
- Add in Chinese chives, cucumbers, and carrots if you want some crunchy texture. Just make sure you adjust the sauce seasoning so your tofu is not too bland.
- Adjust your heat level. Every gochugaru brand is different and can be spicier than others, so adjust to your taste. Keep in mind that the texture might not look the same as my recipe if you’re using less. Still delicious nonetheless!
- Add in soft boiled eggs as they have very similar texture to the tofu. The spicy eggs will taste delicious marinated overnight or served alongside this sauce.
How to Make Korean Spicy Marinated Tofu
Step 1: Slice green onions and grate garlic.
Step 2: To make the sauce, combine gochugaru, honey, fish sauce (or soy sauce), sesame oil, sesame seeds, sliced green onions, and grated garlic until well combined.
Step 3: Boil silken tofu for in boiling water for 2 minutes.
Step 4: Strain the tofu well so the water doesn’t get into the sauce.
Step 5: In a airtight container, add tofu and your spicy sauce on top. Marinate for at least 1 hour to overnight for the best flavor (you can also eat right away if you can’t resist like me hehe). Enjoy with hot rice, noodles or vegetables!
Expert Tips
- Drain thoroughly: Make sure to strain the tofu completely after boiling. Any leftover water can dilute the marinade and weaken the flavor.
- Handle tofu gently: Silken tofu is delicate, so slice and transfer it carefully to avoid breaking it before or after boiling.
- If you have extra time, marinating the tofu overnight makes the tofu extra delicious. The flavor penetrates into the tofu and makes it saltier & sweeter.
Korean Marinated Tofu FAQs
Yes, you can replace fish sauce with soy sauce or tamari for a vegan-friendly option that still gives the marinade a savory, umami kick.
Yes, you can use soft tofu or regular tofu depending on what texture you like. I prefer the silken tofu because I love how silky and smooth it is!
Yes, this recipe is great for meal prep. The flavors of the tofu become more salty and delicious as the days go by. The texture of the tofu doesn’t change and can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Korean marinated tofu goes great with rice, nori, kimchi or noodles, and serving it alongside hearty dishes like Korean Pork Belly BBQ, One Pot Kimchi Fried Rice With Spam or Japchae Potstickers makes for a full Korean-inspired meal!
Korean Spicy Marinated Tofu
Ingredients
- 1 silken tofu
- 1 green onion
- 2 garlic grated
- 1.5 tablespoon gochugaru (korean red pepper flakes)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1.5 tablespoon fish sauce or sub with soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Slice green onions and grate garlic.
- To make the sauce, combine gochugaru, honey, fish sauce (or soy sauce), sesame oil, sesame seeds, sliced green onions, and grated garlic until well combined.
- Boil silken tofu for in boiling water for 2 minutes.
- Strain the tofu well so the water doesn’t get into the sauce.
- In a airtight container, add tofu and your sauce on top. Marinate for at least 1 hour to overnight for the best flavor. Enjoy with hot rice!
Notes
- Drain thoroughly: Make sure to strain the tofu completely after boiling. Any leftover water can dilute the marinade and weaken the flavor.
- Handle tofu gently: Silken tofu is delicate, so slice and transfer it carefully to avoid breaking it before or after boiling.
- If you have extra time, marinating the tofu overnight makes the tofu extra delicious. The flavor penetrates into the tofu and makes it saltier & sweeter.
Sam Lee says
Just tried this recipe and I love the sweet-spicy sauce, it is soo good with the tofu. I couldn’t stop snacking on it with rice. This is for sure going into my regular meal rotation!