Stuffed Tofu, Hakka Style (客家酿豆腐)

Prepare a tasty filling

Like making Chinese dumplings, a good filling is key to the success of this stuffed tofu dish. It should taste tender but not overly wet and have a well-balanced flavour.

Proteins

I choose to have a mixture of minced pork and shrimp, like my favourite filling for Shumai. You could use only pork, or beef/chicken if you wish, like how you stuff Shanghai pan-fried pork buns. Alternatively, use only shrimp if you enjoy the filling for dim sum classic Har Gow.

Vegetables

It’s nice to add a touch of vegetables to the filling. I use shiitake mushrooms, one of my favourite ingredients for dumpling fillings.

Use the dried version if available. Rehydrate them in water until plump. Don’t discard the tea-like water after soaking. You can use it later when making the sauce. 

Seasoning

To season the filling, add minced ginger, light soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch and a little sugar. 

Simply mix everything mentioned above until a well-combined, sticky mass appears. Set aside and move on to the next step.

What type of tofu to use

Firm tofu works best for Hakka style stuffed tofu since it’s less fragile and retains its structure well while handling. It’s the same type I use to cook Sichuan Braised Tofu, Scallion Tofu, Tofu & Vegetable Soup, and more.

Medium-firm tofu could work but you might find it challenging to deal with if this is your first time to try it.

I highly recommend you purchase tofu made by a Chinese/Asian brand or sold in Chinese/Asian stores. The tofu found in many mainstream supermarkets in the vegan/vegetarian section is often too crumbly or lacks a good texture.

🛎 NOTE: Avoid using silken tofu (绢豆腐) which isn’t pressed and breaks easily. Regardless of its firmness, if the word “silken tofu” appears on the package, it’s not the one you need for this recipe (Want to know how to use this type of tofu? Check out my recipe for Silken Tofu Salad).

Carve the tofu

First, cut the tofu into chunky blocks. There isn’t a set rule on sizes but you need to make sure they’re thick enough to be hollowed out for adding the filling. For your reference, each of my tofu blocks measures around 2½ cm/1 inch in thickness.

Now you need to free space in the middle of the block for the filling. If you don’t care too much about the appearance, simply use a small spoon to scoop out the centre. 

Or, if you prefer a neat look, follow my ways: Use the tip of a knife to cut out a square/rectangle halfway through the tofu. Then scoop out the middle piece with a spoon (as shown in the image above).

No matter how you achieve the goal, be careful not to break or tear the sides as they help the filling to stay in place.

🛎 TIP: Don’t waste the leftover tofu pieces. Add them to a soup, such as Hot and Sour Soup, Egg Drop Soup, etc.

Stuff the tofu

Hold the tofu in one hand with your fingers supporting the sides (as shown in the image above). Gently push a spoonful of the filling into the hollowed out centre. It’s fine if some filling  bulges out slightly.

Pan-fry the tofu

Once you’ve finished assembly, heat a good layer of cooking oil in a frying pan/skillet (non-stick ones are easier to work with for this recipe). Put in the tofu blocks with the stuffed side facing down.

Fry over medium-low heat until the filling turns golden. Flip over to fry the other side.

Then stand the blocks up to brown all the sides (this is an optional step since the stuffed tofu is already fully cooked). 

The pan-frying process takes 10-15 minutes depending on the quality of your cookware and the level of heat.

Alternatively, use an air-fryer to replace pan-frying (like the option I introduced for Salt and Pepper Tofu). Spray a layer of oil over all sides of the stuffed tofu. Preheat the air-fryer at 200°C/390°F. Fry in a single layer for about 12 minutes.

Make a flavourful sauce

You could eat the stuffed tofu right after pan-frying as it is. But to make it even tastier, cook a quick sauce to serve with.

Fry some minced garlic in a little oil. Then add a mixture of light soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, white pepper, sugar and the mushroom water you saved earlier.

Turn off the heat and use the remaining heat of the pan to thicken the sauce while stirring constantly to avoid lumps.

When the sauce becomes thick enough to coat the spoon, pour it over the stuffed tofu. Garnish with scallions and serve!

It goes down very well with steamed rice, paired with one or two vegetable dishes, such as Hot and Sour Napa Cabbage, Oyster Sauce Gai Lan, Sichuan Dry Fried Green Beans, etc.