This quick and easy Silken Tofu with Soy Sesame Sauce is made in less than 5 minutes with only a handful of ingredients! This silken tofu recipe features cold tofu and a savoury sauce is the perfect banchan, aka side dish.
This silken tofu recipe has been our go-to side dish lately as it takes literally next to no time to make. H loves this Korean silken tofu has it reminds him of the banchan (Korean side dish) we get at our favourite Korean restaurant in Toronto and I love this Korean style silken tofu because it’s refreshing and light! It’s pretty much a soft tofu version of Braised Tofu (dubu jorim).

Why You’ll Love This Soft Silken Tofu Recipe
- It’s a no-cook recipe so it’s perfect for hot summer days. I make this at least once a week in the summer when it’s hot out and I just don’t feel like cooking. The tofu is enjoyed straight out of the fridge so it’s chilled and refreshing.
- It literally takes less than 5 minutes to put together. After a while, you’ll be able to eye-ball just how much of each ingredient you’ll need for the sauce and it’ll take you next to no time to stir it together and have this side dish ready.
- It’s SO good. The soft silken tofu will melt in your mouth! And since the tofu has neutral flavor, the savoury soy garlic sauce gets to shine.
- It’s naturally a vegetarian recipe but it’s protein packed! Perfect for if you’re trying to consume less meat or want a meatless side dish.

What is Silken Tofu?
Soft tofu has a delicate and smooth consistency. It’s silky and has a creamy texture to it. Silken tofu is undrained and unpressed tofu so it cannot be used interchangeably with regular tofu in most recipes since it’s fragile. In other words, you can’t stir fry soft tofu, bake them, or air fry them as you do with regular/firm tofu. However, they’re wonderful in soups, dips, smoothies, and this delicious side dish is my favourite thing to make with silken tofu!
Ingredients You’ll Need

- soy sauce — I recommend using low sodium soy sauce as you don’t want this silken tofu recipe to be too salty.
- mirin — a staple in my house, this is a Japanese version of rice wine.
- sesame oil — I’m a fan of pure sesame oil for this but you can also use toasted sesame oil as well for a deeper sesame flavour in this Korean tofu recipe as toasted sesame oil tastes more nutty!
- gochugaru (고추가루) — aka Korean chili/hot pepper powder.
- brown sugar — I use light brown sugar but regular or dark brown sugar will work as well.
- coarse black pepper — you only need a pinch.
- sesame seeds — I always go with toasted sesame seeds.
- green onions
- silken tofu — soft tofu is solid in a cube/tub as well as in a cylinder. For this tofu side dish, you’ll need to get the one in the tub if you want it presented like how mine is. You can try using firm silken tofu if you’re worried that your tofu will fall apart when flipping it.
How to Make Silken Tofu with Garlic Soy
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the soy sauce, mirin, sesame oil, gochugaru, brown sugar, black pepper, sesame seeds, and green onions. Mix to combine.
- Drain the soft tofu, I usually just cut off the top of the plastic wrap and tilt the liquid out into the sink and pat the top with some paper towel. Place the silken tofu onto a plate.
- Pour the soy sesame mixture on top of the soft tofu and serve immediately.

Recipe Tips and Notes
- The easiest way to get the tofu onto a plate is by placing the plate on top of the tofu then flipping it over. This way you don’t risk the tofu falling apart.
- If you don’t have green onions, you can use chives or finely diced shallots.
- This recipe is very versatile. You can tweak the sauce to your personal tastes. H loves black pepper so I’ll add a pinch more for him and if we’re in the mood for a spicier tofu, we’ll add more gochugaru.
- If you don’t like eating tofu cold, you can bring it to room temperature before serving. You can enjoy silken tofu recipes either way!
Make Ahead Tips
- Meal prep: you can make this ahead of time and store it in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days in the fridge.

Silken Tofu with Soy Sesame Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp soy sauce, low sodium
- 1 tsp mirin
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp gochugaru
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- ¼ tsp coarse black pepper
- 1½ tsp toasted sesame seeds, or more
- 3 sprigs green onions, sliced
- 1 block silken tofu, 300 grams
Instructions
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the soy sauce, mirin, sesame oil, gochugaru, brown sugar, black pepper, sesame seeds, and green onions. Mix to combine.
- Drain the soft tofu, I usually just cut off the top of the plastic wrap and tilt the liquid out into the sink and pat the top with some paper towel. Place the tofu onto a plate.
- Pour the soy sesame mixture on top of the tofu and serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
More Tofu Recipes To Try
- Tofu Dumplings
- Crispy Teriyaki Tofu
- Korean Spicy Tofu Meal Prep
- Air Fryer Tofu Cubes
- Maple Soy Tofu
- Stir Fry Tofu with Vegetables
More Korean Recipes to Try
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Enad says
Great recipe. Thanks for it!
Allyssa says
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing silken tofu with soy sesame sauce recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Patty says
I love tofu recipes, and this looks amazing. I have everything to make this in my house except for the gochugaru. What can I substitute in the recipe for that? Can I use another type of chili powder or is the gochugaru something I absolutely must use?
Carmy says
Red chili flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper could work in a pinch but I haven’t tried it!
veenaazmanov says
Looks so delicious and a perfect side dish at the Table. Love that it is vegan and the sauces looks tempting too. Tofu sounds healthy.
Colleen says
I actually do have gochugaru from another recipe so I just need the tofu, and I can’t wait! Thanks for all the great tips!
Brianna says
I made this for a vegetarian cocktail party and it was a hit! The soy sesame sauce is fantastic.
Adriana says
I love this silken tofu! I was not a big fan of tofu, but I love this one with the sesame seeds and the soy sauce-based dressing.
Aya says
My sister is a massive fan of Korean food, so when I saw your recipe, I knew I had to make it for her. She LOVED it! It was so easy to make and delicious.
Amanda Dixon says
This tofu was a hit! It really made entertaining super easy to be able to throw together an appetizer so quickly, and it was perfectly flavored with the soy.
Katie Crenshaw says
The sauce on this tofu is so tasty. It was easy to put together and turned out delicious!
Ramona says
My kids love tofu and I haven’t made it in quite some time. I love silken tofu, it’s so delicious! You have convinced me to make it this weekend and I can’t wait. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Lilith says
can i use gochujang instead of gochugaru? i have been craving this from a local restaurant but i don’t have a car and i have everything but the gochugaru 😭
Carmy says
Hi Lilith, would it be possible to order gochugaru online, such as Amazon (linked above). While gochujang would have a similar flavour, it will add thickness to the sauce and you would need more liquid to even it out.