A light, aromatic seafood tofu dish with endless variations β shrimp, crab roe, yellow croaker, or mushrooms. This version features tender shrimp with silky tofu, gently seasoned and simmered to perfection. The method is flexible and forgiving, great for everyday home cooking.
- β²οΈ Prep Time: 20 minutes
- π³ Cook Time: 15 minutes
- π½οΈ Servings: 2β3 people
Ingredients
Main
- 300g soft tofu, cut into small cubes
- ~10 medium shrimp, deveined, cleaned, and chopped into bite-sized pieces
Shrimp Marinade
- 1⁄2 tbsp cooking wine
- Salt to taste
- A little egg white
- A small amount of cornstarch or starch slurry
- (Optional) a few drops of oil
Optional Add-ins
- 2 salted egg yolks (for crab-roe style version)
- Mushrooms, wood ear, bamboo shoots, minced meat, or yellow croaker
Instructions
- Cut tofu into small cubes. Boil briefly in salted water, then drain and set aside.
- Mix shrimp with cooking wine and salt. Add egg white gently (do not overmix), then add cornstarch and mix again. Optional: add a few drops of oil. Let marinate for 10 minutes.
- Heat oil in a wok or skillet. Lightly fry the tofu, add a pinch of salt and enough hot water to cover.
- Add light soy sauce, cooking wine, and a little oyster sauce (optional). Bring to a boil, then add shrimp.
- Simmer for ~2 minutes until shrimp are fully cooked. Thicken with cornstarch slurry. Garnish with chopped scallions and a few drops of sesame oil. Serve hot.
Variations
- Crab Roe Tofu: Steam crab, pick out meat. Stir-fry crab meat first, then remove. Stir-fry tofu next, and follow the same method as above, swapping shrimp for crab. Finish with a dash of vinegar and cilantro on top.
- Yellow Croaker Tofu: Steam small yellow croaker with scallion, ginger, cooking wine, and salt. Debone and use the meat in place of shrimp.
- Salted Egg Version: Stir-fry two mashed salted egg yolks in oil until bubbly and sandy. Add tofu and hot water, then proceed as above for extra richness.
- Extra Ingredients: Mushrooms, wood ear, bamboo shoots, meatballs, green soybeans, or even julienned asparagus can be added to customize the texture and color.
This dish is light and comforting with a creamy white broth β perfect alongside rice or as part of a larger meal.