Braised Tofu Sheet and Eggs

Tofu Sheet is sliced and folded into beautiful flower-like shapes, then braised with eggs and flavorful spices. It may look fancy, but it’s actually very easy to make. Hearty, savory, and absolutely delicious—let’s get started with my Braised Tofu Sheet and Eggs!

Recipe

Serving: 4 to 6
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:
1 (18 oz) package tofu sheets (gan dou fu)
½ piece cinnamon stick
1 pod star anise
1 piece bay leaf
3 pieces dried red chili peppers
3 cups chicken stock, unsalted (or replace it with water)
5 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
6 boiled eggs

Instructions

1. Prepare:

• Fold the tofu sheet in half. Slice it crosswise, without cutting all the way through, and about 1/4 inch apart. Roll it into a flower-like shape. Tie it up with a piece of cooking twine. Do the same with the rest.

2. Cook:

• In a pot over low heat, place the cinnamon stick, star anise, bay leaf, and dried red chili peppers inside. Stir until aromatic for about 2 minutes.
• Pour in the unsalted chicken stock (or replace it with water), soy sauce, and sugar. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved. Over high heat, bring it to a simmer.
• Over low heat, add the flower-like tofu sheets, and boiled eggs. Cover the lid and cook for 20 minutes.

3. Serve:

• You could serve immediately. Or, for a deeper flavor, continue to soak in the pot for another 2 hours. Cut out the twine before eating, and enjoy!

Tips & Notes 

• Tofu sheet is a type of tofu that has been compressed into thin sheets.
• It’s sold in all the Chinese supermarkets in the refrigerator section.