With these Fermented Bean Curd Recipes, you can bring the funky and salty flavors of fermented tofu to your dinner table!
From crispy pork ribs to dipping sauces and smoky stir-fries, there's something for everyone.
What is Fermented Bean Curd?
Fermented bean curd is preserved tofu made from fresh tofu, salt, rice wine, and other flavorings. It's also known as fermented tofu, wet bean curd, or tofu cheese and comes in a white or red version.
Red fermented tofu is made with the addition of red rice during fermentation, giving it a red color and a more savory flavor. White fermented tofu is paler in color and has a milder, more neutral taste.
The red variety is often used in savory sauces and marinades, while the white variety is commonly used as a topping in milder dishes like Congee.
Fermented Bean Curd Uses
- Marinades: Mash fermented bean curd to give meats a savory and cheesy flavor. Char siu pork is one of my favorite ways to use it.
- Braises: Fermented tofu is excellent as a seasoning in braising liquids. A small amount goes a long way. Typically, only one or two pieces are required.
- Sauces: A small amount added to sauces can help add a savory depth. It's refreshing from the usual flavors of soy sauce, chili oil, and sesame paste.
- Congee and Steamed Buns: Add it to congee or smear it on steamed buns for flavor.
1. Chinese Fried Ribs With Fermented Tofu
These Chinese ribs will become a favorite in your household!
They're made with a flavorful marinade consisting of fermented red bean curd, Chinese cooking wine, five-spice powder, soy sauce, and maple syrup.
Moist, succulent, and crispy all at once!
Serve with rice and stir-fried bok choy as an appetizer, finger food, or as part of a Chinese meal. Take a bite and enjoy the explosion of flavor!
2. Braised Beef Shank & Master Stock
This delicious appetizer captures the essence of traditional Chinese cuisine. Although it takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to cook, this dish rewards you with tender, flavorful beef slices infused with a rich, aromatic broth.
Simply marinate boneless beef shank in a flavorful marinade, then simmer it with spices, ginger, and scallions to create succulent and fragrant meat.
Serve as an appetizer with chili oil and scallions, or use the beef slices in various dishes like noodle salads or Chinese breads.
3. Red Bean Curd Buddha’s Delight
Buddha's Delight is one of the tastiest vegan Chinese dishes. It's traditionally eaten on the first day of the Chinese New Year as a Buddhist practice to eat vegetarian for the first five days of the New Year.
This version is a Cantonese twist featuring the fermented red bean curd, transforming an already tasty vegetable dish into something unique.
Serve this Buddha's Delight with pride, just as you would in a fine traditional Cantonese restaurant. You can welcome the new year with a delicious feast!
4. Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken With Furu
Deep-fried chicken gets a creamy boost of flavor from fermented bean curd! This recipe features deep-fried chicken coated in a flavorful mix of fermented bean curd, soy sauce, and spices.
Simply marinate chicken thighs, coat them in sweet potato starch, and double-fry for a crisp exterior.
Season the hot fried chicken with chile powder, white pepper, and salt for a Taiwanese flavor!
5. Sweet Potato Leaves
This recipe combines sweet potato leaves with a sauce of aromatic dried shrimp, garlic, and fermented yellow beancurd. A popular and versatile recipe that is quick and easy to prepare!
It has no over-complicated steps or hard-to-prepare ingredients! The subtle sweetness of the potato leaves compliments the spiciness and richness of the sauce.
For this recipe, prepare chopped garlic, dried shrimp, fermented tofu, oil, salt, and a small amount of corn starch for thickening.
6. Best Braised Pork Ribs
These braised pork ribs are a simple yet flavorful dish that takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to make. These tender ribs are perfectly cooked, with a rich and savory flavor.
Blanching the ribs rather than browning them ensures a cleaner and juicier result. Ginger, green onion, nutmeg, star anise, and cloves enhance the meat's flavor, while salt and soy sauce are added halfway to tenderize the meat.
Serve this family favorite with steamed rice or noodles!
7. Hakka Steamed Pork Belly With Taro
Enjoy the rich flavors of this steamed pork belly dish, a show-stopping Chinese comfort dish that takes approximately 5 hours to prepare.
Create this flavorful masterpiece by blanching pork belly, frying taro until richly toasted, slicing, marinating, and steaming for 90 minutes, then drizzling with a thickened sauce to coat the meat.
Serve the dish by carefully flipping it onto a serving plate to reveal the beautifully arranged pork belly and taro slices. Garnish with chopped scallions and eat with freshly steamed rice.
8. Stir-Fried Cauliflower With Fermented Bean Curd
Try this salty and funky Stir-Fried Cauliflower, a quick and flavorful 15-minute dish! The fermented bean curd adds a unique salty-sweet richness to the cauliflower.
Heat oil in a wok, stir-fry thinly sliced cauliflower for about 4 minutes, add garlic until golden, then simmer with water or stock. Finally, mix in cubes of fermented bean curd, season with salt and pepper, and serve.
Only seven ingredients are required! Try it tonight for a quick and unique meal!
9. Braised Pork Belly With Arrowhead Root
Discover the flavors of Cantonese cuisine with this Braised Pork Belly with Arrowhead Root! This dish is simple to prepare and takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.
It has a delicious combination of savory and sweet flavors.
To make, blanch the pork belly, then set it aside. In a wok, melt rock sugar, add red fermented bean curd and pork belly, and simmer with Shaoxing wine, dark soy sauce, and water until the meat is tender and the sauce thickens.
Serve this dish with rice and your favorite greens for a hearty meal!
10. Red Bean Curd Stir Fry
This is a delicious vegetarian dish that takes only 20 minutes to prepare! This stir fry features firm tofu, shiitake mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, and Napa cabbage in a savory sauce that includes soy sauce and fermented bean curd.
The red bean curd adds a unique, slightly red hue and a distinct flavor you'll love.
Serve this flavorful stir fry over white rice for a filling meal that will keep you wanting more.
11. Long Beans and Tofu Stir Fry
Try this long bean and tofu stir fry that only takes 30 minutes to prepare! This stir fry combines extra firm tofu, long beans, and a rich fermented chili beancurd sauce.
The tofu is pan-fried to perfection, giving the tofu a crisp texture.
Serve this stir fry with steamed rice or plain congee for a filling and nutritious meal. If Chinese long beans aren't available, you can substitute them with regular green beans.
12. Stir-Fried Water Spinach with Fermented Tofu
Try this stir-fried water spinach, a family favorite that takes only 20 minutes to prepare! It combines fresh water spinach with the savory depth of fermented tofu.
Begin by washing and draining the water spinach, then stir-fry it with ginger, garlic, dried chili peppers, fermented tofu, sugar, salt, and white pepper. Finish with a splash of Shaoxing wine.
This recipe uses white fermented tofu instead of red tofu because its lighter flavor better suits the subtle taste of the water spinach.
13. Beijing Hot Pot Dipping Sauce
This nutty, savory, Beijing-style hot pot dipping sauce goes perfectly with hotpot soups or grilled barbeque meats.
It's an easy 8-minute recipe that yields a sauce with hints of sesame, garlic, and the distinct flavor of red fermented bean curd.
It can also be made vegan or gluten-free!
For this recipe, you'll need Chinese sesame paste, warm water (or hotpot broth), bean curd, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, garlic, and cilantro.
Did you enjoy these fermented bean curd recipes? Be sure to check out the other delicious recipes on this blog by checking out our Recipe Index.
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