People who hate tofu have one chief complaint about — it tastes bland. But the truth is the blandness does not come from the tofu itself but on the way the tofu is prepared. Experts claim that the healthiest and easiest way to cook tofu is to steam it. But how to steam tofu?

How can you be able to bring out the unique flavor of tofu using a simple cooking method? Simple. The key here is to identify what are the steps and cooking tips that you need to take to properly steam tofu.

Well, you are lucky to be on this page because that is exactly what this article is all about. Read on and discover the best way to steam tofu.

What You Will Need:

Before we give you the steps and tips to properly steam tofu, let us first identify what are the ingredients or cooking tools you may need for this tutorial. These are as follows:

For The Basic Steaming Method:

• 14-ounce packaged block tofu (firm or extra firm)
• Kitchen Towel
• Stovetop Steamer

– If you do not have a steamer with you, a microwave would definitely come handy.

• Tofu Press

– If you do not have a tofu press on hand, you can use a heavy plate or pan for pressing.

For Recipe #1:

• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• 1 piece of green onion (finely sliced)
• 1 clove of garlic (minced)
• 2 tablespoons of mirin
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

For Recipe #2:

• 1 tablespoon of black bean sauce
• 2 teaspoons of sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons of sugar
• 2 sprigs of cilantro
• 1 piece of green onion (julienned)
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
• 1 small piece of red bird chile (sliced diagonally)

Steps to Take on How to Steam Tofu

Steaming is considered to be the healthiest and easiest way to cook tofu. It is also considered to be the best cooking method for tofu because steaming tofu can help maintain the tofu’s original texture and bring out its unique taste.

Here are the steps you need to take to steam tofu the right way:

Step 1: Press the Tofu.

Place the block of tofu in the press and follow the instructions stated in the press’ label. When using tofu press, you will just need to press tofu for up to 30 minutes.

If you do not have a tofu press, line a plate with a lint-free kitchen towel and place the tofu block in the middle. Place another towel over the tofu block.

Afterwards, set a pan or plate over the tofu. Place a 16 to 20-ounce canned item on the plate covering the tofu.

When pressing the tofu manually, you should press it for 45 minutes one and a half hour.

Pro Tip: Pressing removes the excess water from the tofu, allowing it to fully absorb the sauce of the dish, making it more flavorful. But please keep in mind that you should only press firm to extra firm tofu. Any other tofu type that is softer than that will become mushy when pressed.

Step 2: Steam the Tofu.

Fill half of the steamer with water and place it in the stove. Bring the water to a boil using high heat. Once the water is already boiling, add the block of tofu.

How long to steam tofu? According to experts, 7 to 10 minutes would be enough to thoroughly steam tofu.

Pro Tip: Can you microwave tofu? Sure, you can! In fact, microwaving your tofu is the best alternative to steaming tofu when you don’t have a steamer because the resulting texture will be similar as that of a steamed tofu.

Place the tofu block in a microwave-safe bowl then cover the bowl with plastic cling wrap. Microwave the tofu for about 5 minutes.

Steamed Tofu Recipes to Try

Once you have steamed your tofu block, you can proceed on whipping up one or both of these recipes:

Recipe #1: Steamed Tofu Recipe with Garlic Soy Dressing

This recipe works well because the sweetness of mirin perfectly complements the savory flavor of soy sauce and the garlicky flavor of the dish.

Step 1: Prepare the sauce.

Add garlic and vegetable oil in a microwave-safe dish. Place microwave on high heat and cook the mixture for 1 and ½ minutes.

Remove the dish from the microwave then add in the mirin and soy sauce. Stir everything well to properly combine.

Step 2: Garnish the steamed tofu with the resulting mixture.

Place your steamed block of tofu in a serving dish. Using a spoon, pour dressing all over the tofu block until it is almost fully covered.

Sprinkle chopped green onions over the sauce and serve.

Pro Tips: You can add other toppings too. Some of the recommended toppings are toasted sesame seeds, 7-flavor chili pepper, and dried bonito shavings.

You may also add cooked minced meat if you are craving for something meaty, but please keep in mind that doing so may boost the calorie content of the dish.

Recipe #2: Steamed Tofu With Black Bean Sauce

The strong flavor of the black salted beans is neutralized and tamed by the unique flavor of tofu, marrying a hot and spicy flavor with a smoky and savory taste that is quite irresistible.

This delicious dish is perfect for a lactose-free, kosher and vegetarian diet.

Step 1: Make the sauce.

In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, black bean sauce, sugar and sesame oil. Stir the mixture until the sugar has completely dissolved.

Step 2: Slice the tofu.

Cut the steamed tofu into 8 slices, widthwise. Place the slices in a heat-proof dish.

Step 3. Cook the tofu with the sauce.

Add the sauce to the dish and microwave the tofu slices on high heat for two minutes more.

Step 4. Garnish the dish.

Transfer the dish to a serving dish and top it off with cilantro, green onion, and chile. You can add more toppings of your choice. If you want a seafood dish, you can add steamed scallops on top of the tofu slices.

Step 5. Pour vegetable oil over the dish.

Pour the oil into a small sauce pan and place it over medium-high heat. Continue heating the oil until it is almost smoking. Pour the smoking oil all over the dish and serve it right away

Conclusion

Many people are having problems on how to steam tofu, but the truth is, steaming tofu is quite a simple and hassle-free process. The key to maintaining the texture and flavor of tofu is pressing it so you should invest extra time in doing this additional step.

Want to put the information mentioned above to test? If so, whip up one or both of the recipes that we have mentioned above so you can taste the difference!

We hope that you have enjoyed this simple tutorial of ours. If you did, please share it with your family and friends so they can get to have a taste of it too! If you have a steamed tofu recipe that you would like to share with us, you can leave them in the comments section below!