"Tofu is bland" or "Can you really make tofu taste good?" is what I hear all the time when I tell people I love tofu. While a block of tofu may not look exciting, it is. You just need the proper preparation and seasoning. Tofu is made from one of my favorite humble ingredients, the soybean. This bean is mighty! Why? It can turn into soy milk, tofu, yuba, and much more.

Ingredients

• 2 (14-ounce) blocks firm tofu, drained, frozen, then thawed
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 90 grams (3/4 cup) all-purpose flour
• 90 grams (3/4 cup) rice flour
• neutral oil, for brushing
• gochujang glaze
• 2 teaspoons neutral oil
• 8 dried thai red chiles, seeds removed
• 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon gochujang
• 2 teaspoons distilled or rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup toasted cashews
• toasted sesame seeds, for sprinkling
• pickled korean radish (chicken mu), for serving

Directions

1. 2 (14-ounce) blocks firm tofu, drained, frozen, then thawed
2. 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
3. Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4. 90 grams (3/4 cup) all-purpose flour
5. 90 grams (3/4 cup) rice flour
6. Neutral oil, for brushing
7. Gochujang Glaze
8. 2 teaspoons neutral oil
9. 8 dried Thai red chiles, seeds removed
10. 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
11. 3 tablespoons soy sauce
12. 1 tablespoon maple syrup
13. 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
14. 1 tablespoon gochujang
15. 2 teaspoons distilled or rice vinegar
16. 1/4 cup water
17. 1/4 cup toasted cashews
18. Toasted sesame seeds, for sprinkling
19. Pickled Korean radish (chicken mu), for serving