Tofu Dressed with Chili Oil
Tofu Dressed with Chili Oil is a classic Chinese cold appetizer, featuring silken or soft tofu topped with a vibrant, spicy chili oil sauce. The dish typically includes ingredients like minced garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, and sometimes scallions or peanuts, originating from Sichuan or broader Chinese cuisine.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is primarily a source of plant-based protein and healthy fats from the tofu and chili oil, with moderate calories. It provides key nutrients like calcium, iron, and magnesium from the tofu, and the chili oil may offer capsaicin, with a rough calorie ballpark of 150-200 kcal per serving.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 180 kcal |
| Protein | 12 g |
| Carbs | 5 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 450 mg |
| Calcium | 250 mg |
| Iron | 2.5 mg |
| Magnesium | 40 mg |
| Potassium | 150 mg |
| Phosphorus | 120 mg |
| Manganese | 0.8 mg |
| Selenium | 10 µg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.1 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, this dish is a staple in Chinese cold dishes (liang cai), often served to balance richer, hot meals, and nutritionally, it's a quick way to boost protein intake while adding flavor through spices that may have metabolism-boosting properties.
