Broiled Tofu With Miso (Tofu Dengaku)
A classic Japanese dish featuring firm tofu broiled until crispy and topped with a sweet-savory miso glaze. The tofu is first microwaved to remove excess moisture, then broiled and finished with a rich miso sauce and toasted sesame seeds.
Ingredients
- •1 block firm tofu
- •⅓ cup red (dark) miso
- •2 tablespoons sugar
- •2 tablespoons sake
- •1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- •12 pieces wooden picks
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Pat tofu dry with paper towels, then wrap in fresh paper towels and put in a microwave-safe dish (see cooks' note, below). Microwave at high power 30 seconds. Pour off any liquid and wrap tofu in fresh paper towels. Microwave 1 or 2 more times for 30 seconds each time, pouring off any liquid, until tofu feels firmer.
2 min
- 2.
Preheat broiler.
5 min
- 3.
Stir together miso, sugar, and sake in a small saucepan. (If miso mixture is very thick, stir in 1 tablespoon water.) Cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until bubbling, glossy, and the consistency of ketchup, 1 to 3 minutes.
3 min
- 4.
Cut tofu in half horizontally and arrange, cut sides up, on a cutting board. Cut each half into 6 squares (pieces might not be perfectly square).
3 min
- 5.
Arrange tofu on a foil-lined broiler pan, cut sides up, and broil about 2 inches from heat until a crust just forms, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from oven and spread crusted side of each square with about 3/4 teaspoon miso mixture. Broil until tops are just bubbling and starting to color, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Skewer each square with 1 two-pronged pick or 2 parallel straight picks. Sprinkle with seeds.
4 min