Tofu Balls with Gochujang Glaze

Ingredients

• 200 g super-firm tofu (crumbled)
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 1 tbsp tomato puree
• 2 tsp white miso
• 1 garlic (grated)
• 0.5 inch ginger (grated)
• 0.5 cup fine breadcrumbs
• 0.25 cup water (add more if mix is too dry)
• 2 tbsp gochujang paste
• 2 tbsp rice wine
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 3 tbsp vegan honey or maple syrup
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• oil (for brushing)
• sesame seeds (for garnish)
• spring onions (for garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F).

2. 2

   Crumble the super-firm tofu into a large mixing bowl.

3. 3

   Add the dark soy sauce, tomato puree, white miso, grated garlic, grated ginger, fine breadcrumbs, and water to the bowl with the tofu.

4. 4

   Roughly mix the ingredients together with a spoon, then use your hands to work the mixture until it is well combined. If the mix feels too dry to hold together, add a very small amount of extra water at a time until it reaches the correct consistency.

5. 5

   Spoon out approximately 1 heaped tablespoon of the mixture into your hand and roll it into a ball. Repeat this process until all the mixture is used; you should have about 16 balls.

6. 6

   Place the balls onto a non-stick baking tray and brush them lightly with oil.

7. 7

   Bake for 20-25 minutes until browned, flipping the balls halfway through the cooking time to ensure even coloring.

8. 8

   While the balls are baking, whisk together the gochujang paste, rice wine, light soy sauce, vegan honey (or maple syrup), and sesame oil in a small bowl to create the glaze.

9. 9

   Once the balls are finished baking, pour the glaze mixture into a frying pan and bring it to a low simmer over medium-low heat.

10. 10

    Simmer the sauce for 1-2 minutes until it begins to thicken and look glistening.

11. 11

    Add the baked tofu balls to the pan and stir gently to coat each ball thoroughly in the glaze.

12. 12

    Serve the glazed tofu balls over rice and garnish with sesame seeds and sliced spring onions.

Notes

These balls can also be cooked in an air fryer. They are excellent served with rice or used as a filling for a banh mi sandwich.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• vegan
• vegetarian
• dairy-free
• baked
• tofu
• korean-inspired
• spicy