Tahu Kecap Kudus - Fried Tofu in Sweet Soy Sauce

5.0 from 6 reviews

Author: Anita Jacobson

Categories: Main Dish

Cuisines: Indonesian

Ingredients: Tofu

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 45 mins

Total Time: 1 hour

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 block (each 450 gram/1 lb) firm/extra-firm tofu
• 2 tablespoon cooking oil
• 2 daun salam (Indonesian bay leaves)
• 500 ml (2 cup) chicken stock/water
• 3 tablespoon sweet soy sauce (Indonesian: kecap manis)
• Grind the following into spice paste
• 100 gram (3.5 oz) shallots (Indonesian: bawang merah)
• 3 cloves garlic (Indonesian: bawang putih)
• 5-10 red chilies such as bird-eye, cayenne, or Fresno
• 1 inch ginger (Indonesian: jahe)
• 1 inch galangal (Indonesian: lengkuas)
• 1 teaspoon terasi (shrimp paste), toasted (Note 1)

Instructions

1. Fry tofu: Drain the tofu blocks well, then cut each block into eight pieces and pan-fry over medium heat with a little bit of oil in a non-stick frying pan or a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet until golden brown.
2. Set aside to cool, then cut each fried tofu cube into two pieces. You will get a total of thirty-two pieces of fried tofu cubes.
3. Grind spice paste: Use a food processor or a mortar and pestle to grind garlic, shallot, red chilies, ginger, galangal, and toasted shrimp paste into a smooth paste.
4. Cook the sauce: Heat two tablespoons of oil in a wok over medium heat. Sauté spice paste and Indonesian for 3-5 minutes, or until fragrant. Add sweet soy sauce and chicken stock/water, mix well and cook until boiling.
5. Add tofu: Add fried tofu cubes into the wok, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook without a lid until the sauce is reduced and thick. Stir frequently towards the end until the sauce glazes the tofu.
6. Serve: Transfer the dish to a serving plate and serve immediately with steamed white rice.

Notes

• (1) Toaste shrimp paste/terasi in a microwave for 30 seconds, or in a frying pan without any oil until pale, fragrant, and crumbly.