🍲 Babi Tauhu, also known as Braised Pork in Dark Soy Sauce, is a delicious and flavorful dish that hails from the Peranakan cuisine, which is a unique blend of Chinese and Malay culinary traditions. This dish is especially popular in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. It features tender chunks of pork braised in a rich and savory dark soy sauce, often with the addition of tofu and hard-boiled eggs.
📜 History:
Babi Tauhu is a dish with a diverse cultural background. The Peranakan culture emerged from the intermingling of Chinese immigrants and local Malays. Babi Tauhu reflects the fusion of these culinary traditions and is a testament to the vibrant and diverse food culture in the region.
🥘 Components:
The main components of Babi Tauhu include:
- Pork: Typically, pork belly or pork shoulder is used for this dish.
- Tofu: Firm tofu is cut into cubes.
- Hard-boiled Eggs: These are often included for extra flavor and texture.
The key to the dish is the aromatic sauce, which typically includes ingredients like dark soy sauce, garlic, ginger, shallots, and spices. The sauce is what imparts the rich, dark color and intense flavor to the dish.
👩🍳 Steps to Prepare Babi Tauhu:
Here’s a simplified recipe for preparing Babi Tauhu:
Ingredients:
- 500g pork belly or pork shoulder, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 300g firm tofu, cubed
- 4 hard-boiled eggs
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 shallots, finely sliced
- 2 slices of ginger
- 3 tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- Cooking oil for frying
- Chopped cilantro and sliced red chilies for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Heat oil in a wok or large skillet and fry the tofu cubes until they turn golden brown. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, add a little more oil if needed and sauté garlic, shallots, and ginger until fragrant.
- Add the pork pieces and cook until they turn brown.
- Stir in the dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. Mix well.
- Add water and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 30-40 minutes until the pork becomes tender.
- Add the fried tofu and hard-boiled eggs to the simmering sauce. Simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes.
- Adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro and sliced red chilies.
- Serve hot with steamed rice.
⏱️ Time Needed:
The preparation and cooking time for Babi Tauhu can take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the cut of pork and the heat used. The slow braising is essential to ensure the pork becomes tender and absorbs the rich flavors of the sauce.
Enjoy your Babi Tauhu – it’s a delightful dish that combines the best of Chinese and Malay flavors! 🍽️🇲🇾🇸🇬🇮🇩
Sure, here are the approximate nutrition facts and some health information for Babi Tauhu (Braised Pork in Dark Soy Sauce):
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving, assuming 4 servings):
- Calories: Approximately 450-500 kcal
- Protein: 20-25 grams
- Total Fat: 30-35 grams
- Saturated Fat: 10-12 grams
- Carbohydrates: 15-20 grams
- Dietary Fiber: 2-3 grams
- Sugars: 2-4 grams
- Sodium: 800-1000 mg
Please note that these values are rough estimates and can vary depending on the specific ingredients and cooking methods used. Babi Tauhu is a flavorful and hearty dish, but it can be relatively high in calories and fat due to the pork and the rich soy-based sauce.
Health Information:
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Protein: This dish is a good source of protein from the pork, tofu, and eggs. Protein is essential for muscle growth and repair.
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Fats: The dish contains a significant amount of fats, primarily from the pork. While fats are an important energy source, it’s advisable to consume them in moderation, especially saturated fats.
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Sodium: The soy sauce and oyster sauce used in this dish can be high in sodium, which is important for flavor but should be consumed in limited quantities. Excessive sodium intake can contribute to high blood pressure.
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Fiber: While the dish contains some dietary fiber from the ingredients, it’s not particularly high in fiber. You can increase the fiber content by serving it with brown rice or adding vegetables to the dish.
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Micronutrients: Babi Tauhu may provide some essential vitamins and minerals, such as iron from the pork, calcium from tofu, and various vitamins and minerals from the sauce ingredients. However, the exact content can vary.
Overall, Babi Tauhu is a delicious dish, but like many rich and flavorful dishes, it should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. You can make it more nutritious by incorporating vegetables and opting for leaner cuts of pork.
