Cold Silken Tofu with Chilli Crisp

A block of silken tofu straight from the fridge, tipped onto a plate and covered in chilli crisp. That is the entire dish, and it is genuinely one of the best five minutes of cooking you can do.

The contrast is what makes it work: cold, plain, custardy tofu against hot, salty, crunchy oil. Serve it as a side, or eat the whole block yourself with rice.

Servings
2
Prep Time
5
mins
Cook Time
0
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Ingredients
8
Total Time
5
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Ingredients

  • 300g silken tofu, well chilled
  • 2 tbsp chilli crisp
  • 1 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tsp black vinegar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
  • 1 handful coriander leaves

Instructions

  1. Drain the tofu carefully and tip it onto a shallow plate in one piece. Pour off any water that pools around it.
  2. Mix the soy sauce, black vinegar and sesame oil in a small bowl.
  3. Pour the dressing around the base of the tofu rather than over the top, so it collects underneath.
  4. Spoon the chilli crisp over the tofu, taking plenty of the crunchy bits from the bottom of the jar.
  5. Scatter over the spring onion, sesame seeds and coriander.
  6. Serve immediately, breaking it into rough spoonfuls at the table.

Notes:

  • Silken, not firm. Firm tofu turns this into a completely different and much worse dish
  • Keep the tofu in the fridge until the second you need it — the cold is half the point
  • Tip the plate gently to drain rather than pressing, or it will collapse

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