Century Egg with Silken Tofu (10 minutes)

If there is one appetizer that reminds me of Taiwan and home, it is Century Egg with Silken Tofu (皮蛋豆腐).

Century Egg with Silken Tofu is a classic appetizer that takes only 10 minutes to make at home.

This easy appetizer is the perfect recipe if you want to try Century Egg for the first time!

Thank me later; this might be your new favorite dish to share. 

Nothing beats a refreshing and savory Century Egg with Silken Tofu on a hot summer day in Taiwan.

The umami century egg, paired with cold and silky tofu, finished off with a savory and spicy garlic sauce.

The first time I tried it, I was quite surprised as I had never tried Century Egg before.

But after trying a few bites, the creaminess of the century egg compliments the cold tofu well. Smash everything together, so you get the perfect bite every single time. 

The main star of the dish is Pi dan 皮蛋, also known as century egg and 1000-year-old egg.

Century eggs are cured duck eggs; similar to cheese, the aged smell may take you by surprise when you first try it. But the the savory and umami flavor adds so much depth and flavor to a dish.

The outside of the egg is gelatine, while the inside is creamy and thick.

If it’s your first time, and you are worried, try steaming the egg for 5 minutes. After steaming, the inside yolk will become less runny, and the flavour will be more mild. 

Here are a few tips when it comes to Silken Tofu.

Silken tofu does not need to be cooked, but make sure it is silken or soft block tofu when reading the label. If you are unsure, you can steam the tofu for 5 minutes.

Cut a slight opening at the pack, and peel off the plastic. Gently put the tofu upside down on some paper towels to soak up the water. 

If you want more TAIWANESE RECIPES, here are some of my go-to that you will love! 

Ingredients 

• 1 pack of silken tofu (750g) 
• 3 Century Egg, sliced 
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped 
• 2 stalks green onion, chopped 
• 2-3 red chili, chopped (optional) 
• 1 tsp sugar 
• 2 tablespoons vegetarian oyster sauce
• 1.5 tablespoon soy sauce 
• ½ tablespoon sesame oil 
• 3 tablespoons oil 
• Cilantro to garnish 

1. Prepare the sauce by heating 3 tablespoons of hot oil. 
2. Add chopped green onion, garlic, and red chili in a bowl. Once the oil is hot, drizzle the oil over the ingredients. 
3. Drizzle in soy sauce, sesame oil, vegetarian oyster sauce, and a pinch of sugar. Mix well and set aside 
4. To present the dish, add the silken tofu in the middle of the plate. Surround the tofu with century egg, and finish by drizzling the sauce and garnishing with cilantro.