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Steamed Tofu
Quick and easy 10 minutes Chinese steamed tofu with garlic, scallion, and soy sauce that is vegan friendly and gluten-free, and prepared in a microwave.
This easy steamed tofu is my go-to recipe when I am in a hurry to prepare a quick dish for lunch/dinner. It only needs very basic ingredients, like garlic, scallions, and two kinds of soy sauce. Plus, I can make this in a microwave, which is perfect for days when I am too lazy to deal with the kitchen stove. The biggest bonus point for me though is that this steamed tofu is so easy and so fast to prepare, everyone in my family love it, and it’s also gluten-free and vegan-friendly!
What other toppings can I use for the steamed tofu?
What I love with this recipe is how versatile it can be. Here, I use thinly sliced scallions, scallion ribbons, and a couple of cilantro sprigs as toppings. But these are not the only toppings you can use. I have made this countless time with different kind of toppings. Some of my favorite include:
- thinly sliced bell peppers
- thinly sliced Chinese celery
- katsuobushi (Japanese shaved bonito flakes)
- toasted sesame seeds
- century egg
- pork floss
- e.t.c.
So go wild, experiment, and have fun.
Steamed Tofu
Ingredients
- 1 block silken tofu (about 340 gram)
- 1 scallion, chop the green part into 2 inch ribbons and thinly slice the white part
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sweet soy sauce (Indonesian: kecap manis)
Instructions
- Prepare a steamer, place the tofu in a steam proof plate and steam for 5 minutes. Drain the liquid from the plate that collects during steaming.
- In a microwave proof bowl, combine garlic and canola oil. Heat in 450 Watt for 3 minutes, or until the garlic turns golden brown. Remove from microwave, add light soy sauce and sweet soy sauce and mix well.
- Arrange scallion on top of the tofu and drizzle the garlic sauce onto it. Serve immediately.
Comments
Hi Anita, I am one of your reader in Jkt. I tried your steamed tofu, it was delicious. My husband likes it too. He told me to make this dish more often. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Hi Theresia, thanks for letting me know :) I learn this recipe from my Mom, she'll be so happy knowing that others like it as well.♥
I've made this a couple of times already. It's very simple and delicious. It has earned a spot in my recipe binder, although I have a feeling it won't be long until I learn this recipe by heart.
Hello! I was wondering if this only works with Silken tofu? Would a firm variety work as well? Thanks!
Hi Belen, I don't see why it won't work with firm tofu :) But I really like the texture of silken tofu in this recipe.
Hi mbak Anita, have been enjoying your recipes for a while now, but this recipe got me swooning ♡♡♡ Keep inspiring ya mbak!
Thanks Doti :)
Look very nice i will like to try at ones again
everytime i cook this dish is always turn greattt!!!!! they love it so much
I don't have canola oil, what could I substitute?
Hi Erika, you can use peanut oil, corn oil, and olive oil, just to name a few.
what is sweet tofu? any recommended brands?
Hi Yag, it's silken tofu, not sweet tofu. If you look at tofu sold in the market, they have different firmness level, from silken, to soft, to firm, to extra firm. For this recipe, either silken or soft should work quite well. Or, are you asking about sweet soy sauce? Sweet soy sauce is Indonesian kecap manis, and the the easiest to find in the United States is kecap manis ABC.
I've never tried silken tofu served up this way. So smart and love the flavorings.
I love tofu in all forms! My family too loves tofu, though we have not yet tried a steamed version. It'll be so exciting to try your recipe. Thanks for the share!
You had me at scallions and 2 kinds of soy sauce! Looks yummy and perfect with a salad!
I have made this so many times I have lost count, but I haven't ever paired this with a salad before. Seems like I should give your idea a try for next time. :)
Love how easy this is to make! Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner!
Indeed, this is one of my life-saver dishes. :) One of the reasons I always stock tofu at home, so I can still have a quick, easy, and healthy meal even in a pinch of time.
I have never tried steamed tofu, but your deliciously looking pictures made me running to the kitchen to try this. It is DELICIOUS!
This is such an easy and delicious recipe! Love the flavours and how quick it is to make.
This is the absolute best tofu recipe I've ever tried! Thanks so much for sharing!
I have never steamed tofu. I am going to have to try this.
Hi Anita, Can i use oyster sauce instead of that indonesian sauce. I'm afraid I won't find it in my place...
You can, though you can get a pretty close approximation of Indonesian sweet soy sauce by mixing regular soy sauce with coconut palm sugar. So 1 tablespoon of sweet soy sauce is about 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce + 1/2 tablespoon coconut palm sugar. :) Also, I think hoisin sauce is probably a better substitute since it has that sweet note which is missing in oyster sauce.
I hardly ever cook silken tofu, but was interested to try this recipe. And I wasn't disappointed! Can't believe how lovely it was, given that it's cooked in the microwave with very minimal effort! Thanks for the recipe!
I am always looking for new ways to cook with tofu and this looks delicious.
Love tofu but never tried something like this before. So delicious.
My kids loved it, and I am so glad it's healthy and gluten-free. My daughter needs to avoid gluten, and it can be pretty hard sometimes, thanks!
This is a new one for me but we love tofu so will try it this weekend. Looks delicious.
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