🍳 The Easiest Way to Love Tofu: Korean Pan-Fried Tofu (Dubu Buchim)

Hey everyone! If you’ve ever wanted to love tofu but didn't know where to start, you’ve found the perfect recipe. Let me introduce you to Dubu Buchim (두부부침), which simply means Pan-Fried Tofu.

This is one of the most popular and classic ways Koreans eat tofu. It's incredibly simple, healthy, and fast. We’re not boiling, baking, or marinating overnight—we’re just pan-frying the tofu until it's golden brown on the outside and soft on the inside. The secret is the savory sauce we drizzle on top, which turns plain tofu into a satisfying, flavorful dish. This is the ultimate easy side dish or healthy snack!

Please check out the Korean Sauce Mom's YouTube video:

What You'll Need: Ingredients (For 1 serving)

You only need two main items for the frying, plus our simple sauce ingredients!

1 Package of Firm Tofu (Block Tofu): Make sure it's firm or extra-firm—not the super soft kind (sundubu).
3 Tablespoons of Perilla Oil (Deulgireum): This oil gives the tofu a unique, nutty, and traditional Korean flavor. If you can't find it, you can use sesame oil or vegetable oil, but perilla oil is the best!

The Perfect Sauce

Combine the following in a small bowl:

3 teaspoons of Soy Sauce
3 teaspoons of Finely Chopped Green Onions (Scallions)
1 teaspoon of Sesame Seeds
1 teaspoon of Sesame Oil

How to Cook Your Perfect Dubu Buchim

The key to great pan-fried tofu is removing the water first! Follow these steps for golden-brown perfection.

Drain the Tofu: Open your package of tofu and pour out all the water.
Pat it Dry (First Time): Remove the block of tofu and wrap it in a few layers of paper towels (kitchen paper). Gently press it to remove as much water as possible. This step prevents the oil from splattering when you cook!
Slice the Tofu: Place the block of tofu on a cutting board. Cut it in half lengthwise first. Then, slice the rest of the block into 1-centimeter (about half-inch) thick pieces that are easy to pick up and eat.
Pat it Dry (Second Time): Gently pat the newly cut sides of the tofu slices with fresh paper towels to remove any remaining surface water.
Heat the Pan: Put a frying pan over medium heat. Once heated, add your 3 tablespoons of perilla oil. Frying the tofu in perilla oil gives it that special, nutty, savory scent.
Start Frying: Carefully place all the sliced tofu pieces onto the hot pan, making sure they don't overlap. Keep the heat on medium.
Flip to Golden: After a few minutes, use tongs or a spatula to check one or two pieces. Once they are a beautiful golden brown, flip all the pieces over to cook the other side.
Serve Immediately: When all sides are golden and crisp, remove the tofu pieces and arrange them neatly on a serving plate.
Add the Sauce: Drizzle the prepared sauce evenly over the top of the hot tofu slices. This allows the sauce to soak in slightly.
Enjoy! Serve warm and enjoy this simple, comforting Korean side dish!