Recipe 01. Dooboo Jorim / Braised Tofu.

Side That Could Be a Main

A true classic of a Korean side which I think gives main character energy much to my mom’s disdain. When I told her I was planning to bring this dish to our annual “Diversity Dinner” (lol) she immediately raised her eyebrow and promptly told me none of my white friends will want to eat dooboo jorim (lol x2). After much back and forth of her INSISTING I change to Kimchee fried rice with sausage because people on the mainland don’t like Spam, she acquiesced and I marched on with my dooboo in hand. 

Can we also take a moment to appreciate the Korean word for tofu? Dooboo would be a great name for a pet don’t you think? Just imagine yourself calling out DOOBOO!!! into the ether of your home and a blob of fur appearing like a magically conjured carpet.

Every Korean recipe is “easy” if you already have the giant containers of sauces in your arsenal! So here goes: 

1. Cut the tofu into shapes; I prefer the shapes seen below. Put them in a pan with oil. I used avocado. Assemble into a pattern reminiscent of patchwork cloth like bojagi!! See example. 

2. Fry for a bit; cry as you realize there’s too much water in the pan and your tears are adding to the water so stop and flip over. 

3. Make the sauce! Add thinly sliced onion, 5 minced garlics, 3-ish glugs of soy sauce, 1-ish glug of sesame oil, 1 glug mirin, 1 glug fish sauce, and one smattering of red chili pepper flakes. For context, this is how my mom teaches me her recipes and “glugs” are the measurement that she prefers

4. Try to evenly coat the dooboo with the sauce and simmer for ~7 minutes (?) 

5. Throw some green onion and sesame seeds on top and gently lay them on a bed of rice to rest for all of their days 

4. Ask your husband to take a picture of your outfit with the aforementioned dooboo

   

    

5. Wait for your work husband to pick you up and leave dooboo on wall bc the pie plate was a mistake and far too heavy for your tiny woman fingers 

And voila!! You’re all ready for your night on the town being diverse. 

oo,

BitNan

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