Name: 5-Minute Silken Tofu with Spicy Soy Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 Tbsp soy sauce (30 mL); 1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger; 1 Tbsp chili garlic sauce (15 mL); 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil (15 mL); 1 tsp rice vinegar (5 mL); 1 16-oz block silken tofu (453 g); ¼ cup finely chopped cucumber; ¼ cup chopped green onions

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With tangy ginger and toasted sesame oil, this silken tofu recipe with spicy soy sauce is an easy, show-stopping vegetarian meal! The sauce comes together quickly, and the tofu doesn’t require cooking, so it’s ready to eat in less than 5 minutes.

Silken tofu with spicy soy sauce and green onions on top.

Tofu is an ingredient I cook with and eat regularly. It can be used in a variety of ways, from making vegan scrambled eggs to vegan chocolate pie and even tofu brulee! Despite the more Western ways of using silken tofu (desserts!), one of the common ways it’s eaten in Korea is as a side dish topped with a spicy sauce.

This traditional Korean recipe inspired my silken tofu recipe. It has the most delicious spicy garlic and ginger-filled sauce, is ready in 5 minutes, and only requires 8 simple ingredients. And because it’ll take you more time to read this post than to make the recipe, let’s get going!

Why you’ll love it

Insanely fast, I mean like so fast. The sauce only has to cook for 5 minutes and the tofu does not need to be dried.
Can be an appetizer or a side dish enjoyed before a meal or alongside other Asian-inspired recipes.
Easy preparation and clean-up make this vegan and vegetarian dish perfect for when you’re too tired to make anything difficult.

Reader rating

★★★★★

“You are a masterful flavor maker. Love this, ate 1/2 of it myself with crackers.” —Tam

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Grab these ingredients

This silken tofu recipe only requires eight ingredients that are specifically chosen to have the most flavor impact! Jump to the recipe card for the full measurements.

Soy sauce: Regular soy sauce is ideal for this recipe since we are not seasoning the sauce with any additional salt.
Ginger: Freshly grated ginger is a must for this recipe! It can be grated with a microplane or cheese grater in a pinch.
Chili garlic sauce: This sauce is available at most stores now, and Trader Joe’s sells its version with onion. It’s usually found in the international aisle of the market or by the dressings.
Toasted sesame oil: Untoasted sesame oil lacks the flavor needed for this sauce, so be sure to use toasted! So be sure to use toasted sesame oil!
Rice vinegar: This vinegar is lighter and milder than other vinegars, making it ideal for bringing a slight acidity to the sauce.
Silken tofu: Silken tofu can be found with all other tofu in the store’s refrigerated section and should be labeled as such. Shelf-stable silken tofu can be used, but you may need two blocks because they are typically smaller.
Cucumbers: I like to pair the silken tofu with cucumbers for added crunch. Any type of cucumber will work: English, mini, snacking, or standard.
Green onions: These add additional crunch and bright notes, and help to enhance the garlicky flavor of the sauce.

How to make Spicy Garlic Silken Tofu

Grab a small saucepan and a plate, and we can start making this recipe! This is just an overview. Jump to the recipe card for the full instructions.

Make the sauce by adding the sauce ingredients to a pot and heating until warm.
Prep the tofu, cucumbers, and green onions while the sauce cooks.
Assemble by placing the sauce on the tofu and topping it with vegetables.

Storage

Any leftovers can be kept in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can eat leftovers cold and do not need to reheat them.

Recipe Testing Notes

Firm tofu does not work because the dish should be eaten like a savory flan. You should be able to cut into it with a spoon or crackers!
Using coconut aminos in place of soy sauce will work, but I had to add ample amounts of salt to make up for the fact that it isn’t nearly as salty as soy sauce.

What to Serve This With

This silken tofu recipe is perfect eaten alongside rice or spring rolls for a fresh and easy dinner! Or pair it with:

Thai Cucumber Salad for a crunchy pairing that we can’t get enough of.
15-Minute Kimchi Fried Rice is another easy dish that uses a lot of the same ingredients as this tofu recipe.
Loaded Kimchi Fries paired with this spicy garlic silken tofu would make a great small bites spread!

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