Chinese Silken Tofu

With summer coming up, this Chinese Silken Tofu is a perfect cold tofu dish that’s savory, spicy, and so delicious. The soft tofu soaks up the chili oil dressing and is such a great dish to eat by itself or as a side dish!

I love this Chinese Silken Tofu dish because it’s incredibly easy to put together in less than 10 minutes. It’s as simple as slicing your tofu, mixing the dressing, and pouring it over the tofu! It’s such a simple and flavorful dish to put together.

Watch the Chinese Silken Tofu Recipe Video Below!

Which Tofu Should You Choose For Chinese Silken Tofu?

Typically, when you go to Asian markets, the tofu is in the refrigerated section and can be a bit overwhelming because there are so many different kinds of tofu!

The varieties you’ll see in supermarkets typically range from soft to firm based on the water content in the tofu (softer tofu has more water content). Below are a few common types and which dishes they are best for:

Silken/Soft Tofu

• This type of tofu has the most water content and will be the softest of the varieties you’ll find in your grocery store. It’s silky and very pliable due to this high water content, similar to the consistency of a soft cheese. This is the type of tofu you’ll need for Chinese Silken Tofu!

Regular Tofu

• Regular tofu is typically best for soups and stewed and is a very middle of the road tofu in terms of firmness. You want to use this tofu if you want it to soak up any sauce or braising liquid in your dish.

Firm/Extra Firm Tofu

• Firm or extra firm tofu is the variety with the least amount of water content. The tofu is dense, similar to the consistency of meat, and is perfect for dishes like my Mapo Tofu recipe. It’s also great for pan-frying or deep frying!

Make Your Chinese Silken Tofu Dressing

You’ll only need a handful of ingredients to create this incredible dressing! These are probably items you already have in your pantry. Here is what you’ll need for the marinade:

• Light Soy Sauce (I use reduced sodium)
• Chili Oil (I used my homemade Sichuan Chili Oil)
• Sesame Oil
• Rice Vinegar
• Sugar
• Grated Garlic
• Grated Ginger
• Scallions
• Sesame Seeds

The recipe for the chili oil dressing over your silken tofu could not be easier! In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, chili oil, sesame oil, rice vinegar, sugar, grated garlic and ginger, chopped scallions, and sesame seeds.

Next, with a whisk or fork, mix together until thoroughly combined and that’s it!

My Top Ingredient Tips for Chinese Silken Tofu