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My store
Usually ready in 24 hrs
Free
123 John Doe Street
Your Town, YT 12345
Store Hours
Sun: Closed
Mon-Fri: 9:00 - 17:00
Sat: 10:00 - 13:00
What to expect at pickup
My store
Usually ready in 24 hrs
Free
123 John Doe Street
Your Town, YT 12345
Store Hours
Sun: Closed
Mon-Fri: 9:00 - 17:00
Sat: 10:00 - 13:00
What to expect at pickup
Select store
Select store
Steamed Silken Tofu with Black Bean and Garlic Sauce
Cooking Tool:
8-inch Bamboo Steamer
Prep & Cooking Time:
5 + 12 mins
Servings:
2-4 person
Difficulty:
Beginner
Ingredients
10.7ouncessilken or soft tofu
1tablespoonsfermented black beans, rinsed and roughly chopped
1.5piecesgarlic cloves, minced
0.3ouncesfresh ginger, finely grated
1tablespoonssoy sauce
0.5tablespoonsoyster sauce or vegetarian oyster sauce
0.3teaspoonssesame oil
0.3teaspoonssugar
1piecesspring onions, thinly sliced
1tablespoonsvegetable oil
0.5piecesred chilli, thinly sliced, optional
Steps
Prepare the tofu:Remove 21.4ouncessilken or soft tofu from its packaging carefully. If in a block, slice into pieces approximately 1.5cm thick and arrange in a single layer on a shallow heatproof plate that fits inside your steamer tier. Pat dry gently with paper towel — excess moisture dilutes the sauce.
Make the black bean sauce:Combine 2tablespoonsfermented black beans, rinsed and roughly chopped, 3piecesgarlic cloves, minced, 0.5ouncesfresh ginger, finely grated, 2tablespoonssoy sauce, 1tablespoonsoyster sauce or vegetarian oyster sauce, 0.5teaspoonssesame oil, and 0.5teaspoonssugar in a small bowl. Stir well. Spoon the sauce evenly over the tofu — it should coat every piece.
Steam on the plate:Place the plate of tofu directly onto the steamer rack — no liner needed as you are steaming on a plate. Fill your pot with an inch of water and bring to a simmer. Place the steamer on top, lid on. Steam for 10–11 minutes until the tofu is heated through and the sauce is bubbling gently around the edges.
Heat the finishing oil:While the tofu steams, heat 2tablespoonsvegetable oil in a small pan over high heat until just smoking — about 1m 30s. This is the same hot oil finishing technique as the steamed salmon recipe.
Finish and serve:Remove the tofu plate carefully from the steamer using tongs or oven mitts — the plate and the accumulated liquid will be very hot. Scatter 2piecesspring onions, thinly sliced and 1piecesred chilli, thinly sliced, optional if using over the top, then immediately pour the hot oil directly over the spring onions. It will sizzle and release the aromatics. Serve immediately.
Spoon the sauce over rice:Serve directly from the plate at the table with steamed rice. The sauce at the bottom of the plate is the best part — spoon it generously over the rice.
Silken tofu is delicate — handle it as little as possible and never move it once it's in the steamer. If it breaks during transfer to the plate, it will still taste exactly the same.
Fermented black beans are available at any Asian supermarket and keep indefinitely in the fridge — they are one of the most versatile ingredients in the Cantonese kitchen and worth keeping in stock.
For a fully vegan version, swap oyster sauce for vegetarian oyster sauce or an extra teaspoon of soy sauce.