Silken Tofu with Sesame Soy Sauce Recipe

Name: Silken Tofu with Sesame Soy Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 (16-ounce) packet silken tofu (see Recipe Note); 3 tablespoons soy sauce; 2 tablespoons Chinese sesame sauce (see Recipe Note); 1 scallion, trimmed and thinly sliced; 2 teaspoons toasted or untoasted sesame seeds

This is a really easy and delicious recipe that you can make in just five minutes. Silken tofu is topped with soy sauce for a bump of umami, creamy Chinese sesame sauce for nuttiness and depth of flavor, scallions for sharp brightness, and sesame seeds for light crunch—my kitchen is always stocked with these ingredients so I can whip it up in a moment's notice.

This is my go-to for a quick weeknight bite, side dish, or main course served with rice if I am really hungry. It is vegan, gluten-free, and even keto-friendly, but more importantly, it packs a punch of flavors even if it’s just a few simple ingredients sprinkled on silken tofu. Serve it cold, as I would because it’s so refreshing, or if you prefer it warm, microwave it for 30 to 45 seconds after you assemble it.

Block of Silken Tofu on a Platter for Silken Tofu with Sesame Soy Sauce Recipe — Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

What Is Silken Tofu?

Silken tofu is just one of the many types of tofu available—these days it can be found in all grocery stores. It’s what I turn to often as a source of plant-based soy protein and love for its light and delicate texture. As the name suggests, it is silky smooth and very soft, which makes slicing effortless. Plus, it can be eaten without cooking. It's a common ingredient used in many Chinese dishes such as mapo tofu, tofu stuffed with prawn, deep-fried fermented tofu, and doufu fa, a dessert with a gingery sweet syrup.

Guide to Tofu

What Is Chinese Sesame Sauce?

Chinese sesame sauce is similar to tahini, a paste of ground sesame seeds often used in Middle Eastern cooking. The only difference is that tahini uses untoasted sesame seeds whereas Chinese sesame sauce uses toasted seeds.

Because the sesame seeds are toasted, Chinese sesame sauce has a deeper and more complex flavor, and the color is a few shades darker. Feel free to use tahini if it’s more readily available.

Close Up: Platter of Silken Tofu with Sesame Soy Sauce Next to a Small Bowl with More Soy Sauce and Another Small Bowl with Sesame Sauce — Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Gluten-Free? Vegan? Keto-Friendly? Watch Out For the Soy Sauce

I care that my ingredients are gluten-free, vegan, and keto-friendly. There are a variety of soy sauces that do not use wheat, which makes it gluten-free. Some do. Also, many manufacturers only use soy beans without umami enhancers such as fish, so that their soy sauce is vegan. Others do add fish. When in doubt, flip the bottle and read the ingredient list.

This Is Where You Should Be Storing Your Soy Sauce, According to Kikkoman

More Topping Ideas

This is a visually stunning yet simple dish that relies on just a few simple ingredients. Serve it cold and garnished with a variety of toppings—release the inner chef in you! Here are some ideas to get you started:

Fried garlic chips
Seaweed flakes
Bonito flakes
Chili crisp
Hong Kong XO sauce
Century duck egg

More Tofu Recipes

Silken Tofu with Sesame Soy Sauce

Prep Time 5 mins

Total Time 5 mins

Servings 2 to 4 servings

You can find silken tofu in block-form or in a cylindrical packet. You want the one in block-form for this recipe.

If you can’t find Chinese sesame sauce, use tahini.

1 (16-ounce) packet silken tofu (see Recipe Note)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons Chinese sesame sauce
1 scallion, trimmed and thinly sliced
2 teaspoons toasted or untoasted sesame seeds

Prepare the tofu:

Drain the tofu and gently remove it from its packaging onto a large plate. Carefully slice the tofu into 1/2-inch slabs widthwise. With the palm of your hands, gently push the sliced tofu sidewise so that they fan out over the plate.

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Garnish with toppings and serve:

Drizzle the soy sauce and sesame sauce on top. Then garnish it with scallions and sesame seeds, and serve.

Tightly cover leftovers and refrigerate for up to 2 days. You can enjoy it cold straight out of the fridge or you can reheat it by microwaving in 30-second increments until warmed through.

Did you love the recipe? Leave us stars below!

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
129	Calories
9g	Fat
4g	Carbs
11g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories	129
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g	11%
Saturated Fat 1g	6%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 669mg	29%
Total Carbohydrate 4g	2%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 11g
Vitamin C 1mg	6%
Calcium 156mg	12%
Iron 2mg	11%
Potassium 239mg	5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.