Miso-Chile Asparagus With Tofu
Broiling asparagus gives it a charred exterior but still keeps the vegetables soft and sweet within. Here, the stalks share a pan with cubed tofu, and everything is glazed with a pungent miso sauce spiked with mirin, rice vinegar and a good hit of chile. Served over rice or noodles, it makes a salty, spicy and deeply flavored meal that’s ready in less than half an hour.
- Preparation:
- Cooking:
- Total:
- Serves: 2 persons
Ingredients
- 1(14- to 16-ounce) block firm tofu, well drained
- 1pound asparagus (about 1 bunch), trimmed
- 3tablespoons neutral-flavored oil (such as grapeseed or peanut oil)
- Salt
- 2garlic cloves, finely chopped
- ½teaspoon red-pepper flakes, plus more for serving
- 2tablespoons white or light miso
- 1tablespoon sake (or use white wine or vermouth)
- 1tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1tablespoon mirin
- 1teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- Sliced scallions, for garnish
Instructions
Step 1
Heat the broiler and place an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source. Line a rimmed sheet pan with foil if you like (for easier clean-up). Cut tofu into 1-inch cubes, then dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to absorb as much moisture as possible.Step 2
Put asparagus and tofu on the prepared pan and toss gently with 2 tablespoons oil. Spread everything out in one layer and season lightly with salt.Step 3
Slide pan under the broiler and broil until speckled lightly with brown, 3 to 6 minutes. Flip tofu and asparagus, then continue to broil until asparagus is tender and tofu is deeply browned in spots, 3 to 7 minutes longer, depending on the size of the asparagus and power of your broiler.Step 4
While the asparagus broils, make the miso-chile sauce. Heat a skillet over medium heat, then add remaining 1 tablespoon oil and heat until it thins out, about 30 seconds. Add garlic and red-pepper flakes to the pan; cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Turn off the heat. Whisk in miso, sake, vinegar, mirin and sesame oil.Step 5
Remove pan from oven, slather miso mixture over the asparagus and tofu, and return to broiler for another 30 seconds to 2 minutes, until the miso mixture bubbles and glazes everything (watch carefully so nothing burns). Transfer asparagus and tofu to a serving platter and garnish with more red-pepper flakes, if you like, and sliced scallions. Serve hot or warm.