Description
Taiwan's unique thick pressed tofu 'Heidougan'—surface colored/hardened pitch-black with caramel/spices—simmered in star-anise soup, letting pores absorb sauce.
Restaurants serving Braised Black Dried Tofu (Lu Heidougan)
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We are researching restaurants that serve this dish.
On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Black dried tofu(Heidougan)
- Soy sauce
- Thick soy sauce
- Rock sugar
- Star anise
- Cinnamon
- Sichuan pepper
- Licorice
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- [Heidougan Oil Removal & Poring] Don't simmer Taiwan market's black/hard-surfaced 'Heidougan (or Da Dougan)' as is; boil
- mins in hot water (or freeze then thaw). This creates fine 'pores' inside the tofu, transforming it into a supreme sponge absorbing sauce later.
- [Maximally Savory Lu Zhi] Boil deep soup adding caramel from scorched soy/Jiangyou Gao/generous rock sugar, and a spice bag (Lu Bao) of star anise, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, licorice.
- [Long Steeping] Toss parboiled Heidougan, simmer on low
- mins. Turn off heat, let cool slowly in soup overnight (at least half a day). Soy color and spice aroma reach the thick tofu core; biting creates a massive explosion of soy sweetness and herb soup in the mouth in this Taiwan night market masterpiece.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Exotic sweet aroma of star anise and licorice
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Japanese Atsuage (but hardness and soy density are completely different)
Pairing
Beef Noodles、Taiwanese sweet black tea
Trivia
[For Everyone] Taiwan 'Dougan' made by dehydrating firm tofu to the limit and compressing it. Among them, the largest caramel-coated 'Heidougan' boasts bite and protein rivaling meat. The 'da-da-da!' high-speed slicing sound by the stall owner with a Chinese cleaver is Taiwan night's BGM.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Slice thin right before eating, toss with massive 'scallions', 'sesame oil', and 'chili oil', washing down with alcohol as a savory adult cold dish!
Allergen
Soy, Wheat (from soy sauce)