Why it works: Tofu and sesame match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 250 recipes. Both carry 2,4-decadienal, which smells seaweed. The science ↓
Broiled Tofu
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Preheat the broiler.
Cut the tofu into ½" slices.
Lightly brush a rimmed baking sheet with vegetable oil, place the tofu in a single layer on the sheet, and lightly brush the top with oil.
Broil and simmer
Broil, as close to the heat as possible, until the tofu is lightly browned.
Turn over and brown on the other side.
Combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, Splenda, garlic, sesame seeds, and hot bean paste.
Heat the soy mixture to a boil in a large pan over medium heat.
Gently add the tofu in a single layer.
Turn down to a simmer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, spooning the mixture over the top of the tofu.
Sprinkle with the green onions and serve.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 8 of 10 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Sesame | 1 tbsp (14g) | 120 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Tofu | 100g firm | 76 |
| Sugar Substitute | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Soy Sauce | 1 tbsp (15ml) | 9 |
| Clove | 1 tsp ground (2g) | 7 |
| Garlic | 1 clove (3g) | 4 |
| Toasted Sesame Seed | not in our table | 0 |
| Red Bean | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Tofu + sesametop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together250 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Garlic + oniontop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together29,058 recipes
Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).
-
Sauce + sugar substitutetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together5 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Sesame + oniontop 4% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together2,192 recipes
Shared aroma: gamma-nonanolactone (coconut, sweet).
-
Sesame + garlictop 5% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together2,000 recipes
Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Firm tofu
- Provides the main body of the dish, and its surface browns under the broiler.
- Soy sauce
- Supplies salty, savory flavor and darkens the glaze as it simmers.
- Sesame oil
- Adds a toasty, nutty aroma to the sauce.
- Splenda sugar substitute
- Adds sweetness to balance the salty soy sauce and hot paste.
The step that matters
Broil as close to the heat as possible. Tofu has little fat and high water content, so it dries and browns unevenly if it sits too far from the heat. Close placement gives quick surface browning and a firmer exterior.
Swap the clove
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (tofu, sauce, sesame, sugar substitute, garlic, onion):
- Gingerfits better
- Cuminfits better
- Turmericfits better
- Clovethe original
Fit is the average pairing score against tofu, sauce, sesame, sugar substitute, garlic, onion. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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