Gochujang Tofu

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This Gochujang Tofu is one of Eric’s favorite meals that I make! Whenever we’re unsure of what to cook for dinner, this recipe is a go-to for us. We usually have an extra block or two of tofu on-hand, and we always have the ingredients for the sauce in the pantry.

Table of Contents

• Ingredients for Korean Gochujang Tofu Sauce
• How to Make Gochujang Tofu
  • Make the Crispy Tofu
  • Prepare the Gochujang Tofu Sauce
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • Where to Find Gochujang?
  • Where to Find Mirin?
  • Mirin Substitutions?
• More Tofu Recipes

Ingredients for Korean Gochujang Tofu Sauce

My Gochujang Sauce recipe was originally inspired by a recipe I saw on Joshua Weissman’s YouTube channel a few years ago. He made Korean fried chicken tossed in a sweet, savory and spicy Gochujang Sauce. I make a few simple substitutions to make the sauce vegan-friendly and more easily accessible to the average home cook. I also adjusted the ratios to make the perfect amount of sauce to coat one block of tofu, plus a little extra for your rice or steamed veggies you might serve with it.

• Gochujang paste: This is a type of fermented Korean red pepper paste that lends the perfect amount of heat to the recipe! Nowadays I can find gochujang at many chain grocery stores in the Asian/International section, but if you can’t find it there, you can always check your nearest Asian grocer or purchase it online.
• Ketchup, rice vinegar, and brown sugar: This combo makes the sauce sweet and a little tart. You can reduce or omit the brown sugar if you don’t enjoy much sweetness in your savory dishes.
• Soy sauce: For salt and umami.
• Mirin: This is a Japanese rice wine that will add a little extra sweetness and umami to your sauce. It has a very unique and complex flavor that adds a lot to this dish, so I recommend adding it if you can! I can usually find mirin A) at my local Asian market, B) at regular grocery chains in the Asian/International section, or C) at health food stores such as Whole Foods. If you can’t find it, however, you can simply omit it from the recipe.
• Garlic: Measure this with your heart! I usually add a good 4-5 cloves.
• Sesame oil: This adds a nice toasted, nutty flavor to the sauce and makes it taste more like authentic Korean cooking.
• Scallions and sesame seeds: Optional but highly recommended toppings! Sliced scallions add so much flavor and freshness to this Gochujang Tofu – they also make the dish look more visually appealing! Toasted sesame seeds add some extra toasted flavor and a nice texture to the dish.

How to Make Gochujang Tofu

Make the Crispy Tofu

Crispy baked tofu is my go-to way to enjoy this delicious Korean-inspired Gochujang Sauce. But just know that the sauce goes phenomenally with so many things! Noodles, homemade bibimbap, glazed roasted eggplant, and stir fry are equally great options. Here’s how to make the tofu:

1. Press a block of firm or extra-firm tofu. There are a few ways to do this! Either you can wrap the block of tofu in a clean kitchen towel and weigh it down with something heavy like a cutting board for about 30 minutes, or you can purchase a tool like the EZ Tofu Press or Tofuture if you’re like me and eat tofu multiple times a week.
2. Cut the pressed tofu into roughly 1″ cubes, or you can tear it into irregular pieces. Tearing it is actually my preference because it gives the tofu a craggy surface that gets extra crispy when baked! It also gives the tofu more surface area for the sauce to cling to.
3. Add the tofu pieces to a mixing bowl and toss with oil and seasoning. Then toss with cornstarch and toss to coat. Tofu tends to be a bit delicate, so it helps to use a flexible rubber spatula to toss it gently in the ingredients so it doesn’t crumble.
4. Bake the tofu in a preheated 425°F oven on a lined baking sheet, till it’s deliciously crispy and golden brown. Give it a flip about 15 minutes into the cook time so it crisps up evenly.

Prepare the Gochujang Tofu Sauce

This gochujang sauce comes together ridiculously fast! All you have to do is mince a little garlic, then combine all the sauce ingredients together in a small saucepan. Bring it up to heat over medium-high heat, then reduce to low once it starts to bubble. Simmer it for a few minutes, stirring constantly, to cook out the raw flavor of the garlic.

The sauce will thicken slightly as you heat it. You can add an extra tablespoon or so of water if needed to thin out the sauce to your preferred consistency.

After a few minutes, toss in your crispy baked tofu and stir to coat. It’s ready to enjoy! I love to serve it with a big helping of steamed white rice. Sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds are a delicious and beautiful garnish for your Gochujang Tofu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where to Find Gochujang?

The most surefire way to find gochujang is to visit your local Asian market! This is a very popular ingredient in Korean cuisine.

Gochujang can also be purchased nowadays at many grocery chains such as Kroger or Safeway. Check the International section, where you would typically find things like soy sauce, sesame oil, and sriracha. It oftentimes comes in a red plastic tub so it’ll be hard to miss.

Otherwise, you can buy gochujang online. Gochujang is a pivotal ingredient in this recipe so unfortunately there are no good substitutions.

Where to Find Mirin?

Just like gochujang, the guaranteed place to find it is your local Asian market. Check where they stock various types of vinegars and cooking wines.

I have also had good luck purchasing it my regular grocery stores (like Kroger or Safeway) and at Whole Foods in the International section, usually alongside rice vinegar.

And of course, you can always purchase it online.

Mirin Substitutions?

If you don’t have any mirin in your pantry, you can simply double the amount of rice vinegar. Your Gochujang tofu will still taste delicious, just a little less flavorful. If you happen to have some sake, dry sherry or sweet marsala wine in your pantry, you can try substituting in one of those, though I haven’t personally tried this.

More Tofu Recipes

• Baked Tofu with Peanut Sauce
• Crispy Sesame Crusted Tofu
• Grilled Tofu Skewers with Balsamic Marinade
• Sesame Red Pepper Tofu
• Vegan Egg Salad

Print

Gochujang Tofu

Crispy oven-baked tofu coated in a spicy, sweet and savory sauce inspired by Korean cuisine. One of my favorite ways to enjoy tofu.

Course Main Course, Sauce

Cuisine Korean, Vegan

Keyword Korean, tofu

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Servings 5 servings

Author Sarah Sullivan

Equipment

• small nonstick skillet
• baking tray
• silicone baking mat or parchment
• mixing bowl
• rubber spatula

Ingredients

Crispy Tofu

• 1 block firm or extra-firm tofu
• 1 tablespoon olive oil or other neutral oil
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Gochujang Sauce

• 3 tablespoons gochujang
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon mirin
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons water or as needed

Optional Garnishes

• Sliced scallions
• Toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

Crispy Tofu

• Drain your tofu and either A) cut into approximately 1" cubes or B) tear into irregular pieces for crispy tofu nuggets. Lay tofu pieces on one half of a clean, lint-free kitchen towel. Fold over the other half of the towel and gently press to remove excess liquid. Leave the tofu to drain for at least 15 minutes.
• In the meantime, preheat your oven to 425°F and line a baking tray with parchment or a silicone baking mat.
• Transfer the pressed tofu to a mixing bowl. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle in salt and pepper. Toss until evenly coated. Try to be gentle so that the tofu cubes or nuggets stay intact. I find using a big flexible rubber spatula helps.
• Sprinkle the cornstarch over the seasoned tofu and once again toss until tofu is evenly coated and there's no dry cornstarch left at the bottom of the bowl.
• Arrange the tofu on your prepared baking sheet so that the pieces aren't touching. Bake for 15 minutes and give the pieces a flip. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the tofu is as crispy as you like it! The time will vary a little depending on how thoroughly you pressed your tofu.
• While your tofu bakes, measure ingredients for the gochujang sauce.

Gochujang Sauce

• You can measure all the ingredients for your sauce directly into a nonstick skillet. Whisk together.
• Heat the sauce over medium-high until it begins to bubble. Then reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring often, for about 3-5 minutes, until sugar has dissolved fully and sauce has thickened slightly. Add an extra tablespoon or so of water as needed to thin out the sauce to your preferred consistency.
• When your tofu is done baking, transfer it to your saucepan and stir to coat. Alternatively, you can serve the crispy tofu with the gochujang sauce on the side.

To Serve

• I love to serve this Gochujang Tofu with steamed white rice. Garnish with fresh sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds.

Video

Notes

Mirin: A type of sweet Japanese cooking wine. You can find it in the International section of many grocery chains, where you would locate soy sauce. Otherwise, check your local Asian grocer. If you cannot find it, increase the rice vinegar to 2 TBSPs.

Gochujang: A type of fermented Korean red pepper paste. You can find it in the International section of many grocery chains, or at your local Asian grocer. There is no good substitution for this ingredient, so if you can’t find it in person, you can order it online.

Leftovers: These keep up to 5 days in the fridge. Reheat on the stove over medium heat. The tofu is best enjoyed the day it’s prepared as it won’t stay crispy as leftovers. If you expect to have leftover tofu and want to be able to re-crisp it up, store it separate from the sauce and you can re-crisp it in the oven or air-fryer at 350°F for 10 minutes.

Other Uses for the Gochujang Sauce: It’s also great as a sauce for noodles or homemade bibimbap.

Did you make this recipe?We’d love for you to leave a review on the website! You can also share a photo on IG and tag @SarahsVeganKitchen_ or #sarahsvegankitchen.