Honey-Gochujang Tofu
with Korean-style cold soba noodles
This meal has quite a bit of prep, but, if you do it ahead of time, the only thing to do right before dinner is cook the tofu.
Smarts #1: Be sure to prepare an ice bath (a bowl filled with ice water) for the noodles. It will quickly stop them from cooking and will also rinse off excess starch.
Smarts #2: You don’t need much lettuce for the cold soba noodles (and can skip it if you’d like), but it adds great texture.
Cooking methods: This recipe includes instructions for using the grill or stovetop. Select your preferred method.
Smarts #1: Be sure to prepare an ice bath (a bowl filled with ice water) for the noodles. It will quickly stop them from cooking and will also rinse off excess starch.
Smarts #2: You don’t need much lettuce for the cold soba noodles (and can skip it if you’d like), but it adds great texture.
Cooking methods: This recipe includes instructions for using the grill or stovetop. Select your preferred method.
Tags
Proteins
Cuisines
Ingredients
Honey-Gochujang Tofu:
- Tofu, extra-firm - 16 oz, slices or cubes (vacuum-packed preferable)
- Honey - 2 Tbsp
- Gochujang - 1 Tbsp (plus more for serving)
Korean-Style Cold Soba Noodles:
- Ginger, fresh - 1 tsp, grated
- Soy sauce, low-sodium - 1 Tbsp
- Vinegar, rice - 1 Tbsp
- Oil, toasted sesame - 1 Tbsp
- Sugar - 2 tsp
- Red pepper flakes (opt) - 1/2 tsp
- Sesame seeds, white - 1 tsp
- Noodles, soba - 8 oz
- Cucumbers - 8 oz, diced
- Lettuce, romaine - 1/2 heart, finely chopped
- Tomatoes, medium - 1, thinly sliced
Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
Calories
393
Just a moment...
% Daily Value
Total Fat
9g
14%
Just a moment...
Saturated Fat
1g
7%
Just a moment...
Trans Fat
0g
Just a moment...
Cholesterol
0mg
0%
Just a moment...
Sodium
843mg
35%
Just a moment...
Total Carbohydrate
61g
20%
Just a moment...
Dietary Fiber
4g
14%
Just a moment...
Sugars
14g
Just a moment...
Protein
23g
Just a moment...
Choose Cooking Method
Prep
- Tofu - (If prepping right before cooking, get grill heating before continuing with prep.) If tofu is packaged in water, press out liquid first, like in this video. Then slice into 1/2” / 1.3 cm thick strips (make sure that these will easily fit on the grill without falling through the grates). (Can be done 1 day ahead)
- Make dressing - Grate ginger. Combine with soy sauce, vinegar, toasted sesame oil, sugar, red pepper flakes, and sesame seeds. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
- Make glaze - Whisk together honey and Gochujang. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
- Boil noodles - Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Place a bowl of ice water near the stove. Add soba noodles to boiling water and boil according to package directions. Drain noodles and then immediately transfer to bowl of ice water to cool down and stop cooking.
- Cucumbers / Lettuce / Tomatoes - Prep as directed and combine.
- Dress noodles - When noodles have cooled down, drain off ice water. Toss noodles, cucumbers, lettuce, and tomatoes with dressing. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
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Make
- Heat grill to 425F / 218C degrees, keeping one part over direct heat and one part over indirect heat. Clean grates and brush with some oil.
- Place tofu over direct heat. Grill on both sides until grill marks appear. After grill marks appear, begin brushing generously with glaze while turning. If the glaze starts to burn, move the tofu to indirect heat to keep cooking. Cook until tofu is coated in a thick layer of glaze and is heated through.
- Just before serving, gently toss noodles (some of the dressing will have settled in the bottom of the bowl, so you’ll have to stir it to combine everything together).
- Serve tofu over noodles. Add extra Gochujang if you’d like. Enjoy!
Prep
- Tofu - If tofu is packaged in water, press out liquid first, like in this video. Then slice into 1/2” / 1.3 cm thick cubes. (Can be done 1 day ahead)
- Make dressing - Grate ginger. Combine with soy sauce, vinegar, toasted sesame oil, sugar, red pepper flakes, and sesame seeds. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
- Make glaze - Whisk together honey and Gochujang. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
- Boil noodles - Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Place a bowl of ice water near the stove. Add soba noodles to boiling water and boil according to package directions. Drain noodles and then immediately transfer to bowl of ice water to cool down and stop cooking.
- Cucumbers / Lettuce / Tomatoes - Prep as directed and combine.
- Dress noodles - When noodles have cooled down, drain off ice water. Toss noodles, cucumbers, lettuce, and tomatoes with dressing. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
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Make
- Heat a wok or skillet over medium heat. Brush with some cooking oil. Add tofu and cook on one side until golden brown. Flip tofu and continue cooking on all sides until golden. When tofu is nearly finished cooking, add glaze and cook for a minute or two more until tofu is coated in glaze.
- Just before serving, gently toss noodles (some of the dressing will have settled in the bottom of the bowl, so you’ll have to stir it to combine everything together).
- Serve tofu over noodles. Add extra Gochujang if you’d like. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
Calories
393
Just a moment...
% Daily Value
Total Fat
9g
14%
Just a moment...
Saturated Fat
1g
7%
Just a moment...
Trans Fat
0g
Just a moment...
Cholesterol
0mg
0%
Just a moment...
Sodium
843mg
35%
Just a moment...
Total Carbohydrate
61g
20%
Just a moment...
Dietary Fiber
4g
14%
Just a moment...
Sugars
14g
Just a moment...
Protein
23g
Just a moment...
Reviews
Ratings
Most Helpful
The soba noodles were not my favorite and I agree it needed more dressing. I left out that lettuce and tomatoes. Being unfamiliar with Korean food, they seemed out of place. I dressed the noodles a few hours before dinner and the little liquid there was got absorbed. Bummer.
1 Helpful32 reviews
Love the soba noodle salad especially! I say add the dressing beforehand so it doesn't soak up too much.
0 HelpfulWe don't care for soba, so I served the shrimp with some rice I already had on hand and just left the noodles out of the salad. It was all good, but not really loved by any of us.
0 Helpful