This Salted Duck Egg Tofu is crispy and smothered in a rich salted egg yolk sauce with curry leaves and chili, ready in under 30 minutes. ✨ Crispy tofu + rich salted egg yolk sauce = a match made in heaven! Ready in under 30 minutes, this dish is full of umami goodness. You NEED to try this! #SaltedEggTofu #TofuLovers #UmamiDelight
Salted egg lovers, get ready for a dish that combines the silky texture of tofu with the rich, buttery flavour of salted duck eggs. Salted Egg Tofu is a simple yet irresistible dish that’s crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, bathed in a luscious, salted egg yolk sauce. It’s one of those recipes that comes together in under 30 minutes but leaves a lasting impression.
The golden, crispy fried tofu pairs beautifully with the umami-rich salted duck egg yolk sauce, which is brightened up by fragrant curry leaves and given a little heat with chili. This combination hits all the right notes, creamy, crispy, salty, and spicy, all in one bite.
Why I Love Salted Duck Egg
I’ve always had a thing for salted duck eggs, and if you’ve followed my blog, you’ll know I’ve written a round up post about salted duck eggs but since then I added a few more recipes, so probably will need to create a part two of that series. The yolks are rich and full of flavour, and the salty, buttery taste is addictive. When paired with tofu, the dish becomes this soft, crispy, and deeply flavourful delight.
If you’re new to salted duck eggs, they’ve been around for centuries in East Asian cuisine, but it wasn’t until the mid-2010s that the flavour exploded into the food scene, particularly in Southeast Asia and China. Suddenly, salted egg yolk was everywhere, from crispy fish skins to chips, popcorn, and even ice cream! The trend caught on fast, and salted duck egg became the go-to flavour for a lot of snacks and dishes. It wasn’t just a trend—it became a staple in kitchens all over the world.
The Salted Duck Egg Craze
Around the mid-2010s, brands like Irvin’s Salted Egg Fish Skin and The Golden Duck Salted Egg Potato Chips really put salted duck egg on the map. These products flew off the shelves and became must-try snacks for anyone looking for that umami-salty kick. Even salted egg yolk-flavoured ice cream and popcorn made an appearance, proving just how versatile and widely loved this flavour had become.
What Exactly is a Salted Duck Egg?
A salted duck egg is a traditional preserved food, typically found in Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisines. The preservation process involves soaking duck eggs in a brine solution or packing them in salted charcoal for several weeks. This gives the eggs their distinct taste and texture: a salty, gelatinous egg white and a rich, bright orange yolk that’s creamy and less salty than the white.
In the Philippines, salted duck eggs were traditionally eaten as a simple side dish or mixed into salads like Salted Duck Egg and Tomato Salad. You’d also find them topping Filipino treats like puto and bibingka. But with the recent salted egg craze, these humble eggs have made their way into a lot of unexpected dishes, showing just how versatile they can be.
A New Twist on an Old Favourite
Although I’ve coated various ingredients like pork, chicken, squid, and prawns with salted egg yolk, I realized I haven’t tried it with fried tofu yet. I’ve made a saucy dish before, like Soft Tofu with Shrimp and Salted Egg Yolk, but never with fried tofu. And let me tell you, it’s a match made in heaven! The tofu is crispy and light, the sauce is creamy and buttery with that signature salted egg flavour, and the addition of curry leaves and chili elevates it even more. This dish has quickly become one of my favourite ways to use salted duck eggs, and I think you’ll love it too!
Stir in the mashed salted duck egg yolks, followed by the milk and sugar. Cook the mixture until it begins to bubble. If the sauce seems too thick, add a bit more milk to loosen it to your preferred consistency.
Add the deep-fried tofu into the salted egg yolk sauce. Stir-fry the tofu until each piece is evenly coated with the rich, savory sauce.
Serve.
This Salted Duck Egg Tofu is the perfect blend of crispy tofu coated in a creamy, savory sauce made with rich, salted duck egg yolks. The dish’s bold flavours are complemented by aromatic curry leaves and a touch of chili heat, creating a satisfying and addictive dish.
The salted duck egg yolks must have given the tofu lots of flavours.