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Niku Dofu (Simmered Beef and Tofu)
Serves 2 · About 30 min (10 min of this is just letting the tofu drain)
Beef, tofu and onion simmered in a sweet and salty soy sauce broth. Made in just one frying pan.
① Drain the tofu→② Cut the ingredients→③ Simmer the beef in the broth→④ Simmer the tofu and onion→⑤ Finish with leek
What to buy
Meat
Tofu & vegetables
Seasonings & dry goods
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How to make it
1
Drain the tofu
- Take the tofu out of the pack and wrap it in paper towels
- Put it on a plate and let sit 10 min
While you waitCut the onion into 1 cm wide wedges (cut lengthwise) and the leek into 1 cm wide slanted slices.
2
Cut the tofu
- Take off the paper and cut the tofu into 8 equal pieces (cut in half lengthwise, then into 4 crosswise)
How to tell it's doneThe tofu is in 8 pieces of about the same size.
3
Boil the broth and simmer the beef
- In a frying pan, mix 150 ml water, 1/2 tsp dashi granules, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp mirin, 2 tbsp sake and 1 tbsp sugar, and bring to a boil over medium heat
- When it boils, add the beef and simmer, breaking it apart with chopsticks
- Skim off the brownish foam (aku) that floats up with a spoon and throw it away
How to tell it's doneThe beef has turned brown all over (the inside will cook through later).
Be carefulIf you add the meat in a lump, it sticks together and is hard to cook through. Separate it one slice at a time.
4
Add the tofu and onion and simmer
- Push the beef to the side of the frying pan and add the tofu and onion
- Cut aluminum foil into a circle a little smaller than the pan, poke a few small holes in the center, and put it right on top of the ingredients (drop lid)
- Medium-low heat for 10 min. After 5 min, lift the foil and gently turn the tofu over with a spatula or spoon
How to tell it's doneThe tofu is brown on both sides. The onion is see-through and soft. Lift 1 slice of beef with chopsticks: no red parts are left (for pork, no pink parts).
Be carefulTofu breaks easily if you grab it with chopsticks. To turn it, slide a spatula or spoon underneath.
5
Add the leek to finish
- Take off the foil and add the leek
- Simmer 2 min, spooning the broth over the tofu
- Taste it. If the flavor is weak, add soy sauce 1/2 tsp at a time
ReadyWhen the leek is soft, serve in bowls with the broth. Eat with rice.
📚 Learn more about this dish
🥬 Ingredient guide
🔪 Cutting & cooking tips
If it didn't work out
The tofu fell apartIt was moved too many times while simmering. Next time, turn it only once, with a spatula. The taste is the same, so you can eat it as is.
The flavor has not soaked into the tofuIt did not simmer long enough. Turn off the heat and let sit about 10 min. The flavor soaks in as it cools.
Too saltyToo much broth boiled away. Add water 2 tbsp at a time, warm it and taste.
The broth is watery and the flavor is weakThe tofu was not drained enough in step 1, and water came out of it. Take off the foil and cook down the broth over medium heat for 2–3 min.
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