
Three Delicacy Tofu Soup (三鲜豆腐羹)
三鲜豆腐羹 · sān xiān dòu fu gēng
The bowl that appears when someone is tired or coming down with something: silky tofu, three kinds of seafood, thickened just enough to hold heat.
Recipe author: HǎoWèi Test Kitchen
Home-cooking research team
Reviewed by HǎoWèi editorial team · Last updated 2026-08-29
Ingredients
- soft tofu, cut into 1 cm dice嫩豆腐(切1厘米丁)🛒 local350 g
- shelled shrimp, halved虾仁(对半切)🛒 local100 g
- squid, scored and sliced鲜鱿(剞花切片)🛒 local100 g
- seaweed or wakame, soaked海带/裙带菜(泡发)🏮 asian10 g
- chicken or seafood stock鸡高汤/海鲜汤🛒 local900 ml
- cornstarch玉米淀粉🏮 asian25 g
- ginger, shredded fine姜(切细丝)🛒 local8 g
- light soy sauce生抽🏮 asian15 ml
- white pepper白胡椒粉🛒 local2 g
- scallion, finely sliced葱(切细花)🛒 local15 g
🌶️ Adjust to your taste
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Spice level
Saltiness
Oiliness
Make it vegetarian
Instructions
1Cut tofu into 1 cm dice and soak in warm salted water 5 minutes; drain gently.
泡豆腐
🔍 Look for 5 分钟 · 5 minutesVisual: 豆腐丁棱角分明、不碎。Cubes hold sharp edges instead of crumbling.
You know it's right when: 水基本清澈。Water stays mostly clear.
2Bring stock to a bare simmer with ginger shreds; cook 3 minutes to infuse.
煨汤底
🔍 Look for Medium-low 3 分钟 · 3 minutesVisual: 锅边挂细泡、汤面几乎不动。Tiny bubbles cling to the pot wall; surface barely moves.
You know it's right when: 姜香清暖。Ginger aroma is clean and warm.
3Add shrimp and squid; poach 90 seconds until the shrimp turn pink and squid curls.
汆海鲜
🔍 Look for Medium heat 90 秒 · 90 secondsVisual: 虾仁粉白、鱿鱼卷紧。Shrimp are opaque pink; squid forms tight curls.
You know it's right when: 海鲜弹、不橡皮。Seafood feels springy, not rubbery.
4Slip in tofu and seaweed; simmer 2 minutes without stirring hard.
下豆腐
🔍 Look for Low heat 2 分钟 · 2 minutesVisual: 豆腐完整、微微浮起。Tofu cubes stay whole and float slightly.
You know it's right when: 汤色微浑、鲜而不散。Broth looks cloudy-savoury, not broken.
5Season with soy sauce and white pepper; pour in the cornstarch slurry in a thin stream while stirring one direction.
勾芡
🔍 Look for Low heat 1 分钟 · 1 minuteVisual: 羹变亮、能薄挂勺背。Soup turns glossy and coats the spoon lightly.
You know it's right when: 表面气泡缓破。Bubbles break slowly on the surface.
6Off heat, scatter scallion and serve hot.
出锅
🔍 Look for 10 秒 · 10 secondsVisual: 热气带胡椒与海鲜香、表面平滑。Steam carries pepper and seafood aroma; surface is smooth.
You know it's right when: 热可入口、不稠到烫嘴。Soup is hot enough to sip, not scalding-thick.
Tips
- · Soften tofu in warm salted water so it will not shatter.
- · Add the slurry slowly and stir one direction only.
- · White pepper is the signature — do not swap it for black.
Sources & references
Quantities, technique notes, and substitution ratios are cross-checked against established Chinese cookery references and standard food-science sources.
- Read our editorial policy
- Fuchsia Dunlop, Land of Plenty: A Treasury of Authentic Sichuan Cooking
- USDA FoodData Central — ingredient nutrition and portion data
- Traditional Chinese family-kitchen practice and regional taste records
Common questions
What type of tofu should I use?
Silken/soft tofu (嫩豆腐) for mapo tofu and soups — silky, falls apart gently. Firm/extra-firm (老豆腐) for stir-fries, braises, and anything you want to keep its shape. If the recipe doesn't say, firm is the safe default for stir-fries.
Source: HǎoWèi ingredient guide
Is there a vegan substitute for oyster sauce?
Yes — 'mushroom oyster sauce' (often labeled vegetarian/vegan) is sold in most Asian grocers and increasingly in mainstream supermarkets. It behaves 1:1 and adds the same glossy umami. Watch labels if you're also gluten-free; most brands are GF, some aren't.
Source: HǎoWèi substitution engine
What's the difference between light and dark soy sauce?
Light soy (生抽) is the everyday salty seasoning — thin and salty, used in most recipes. Dark soy (老抽) is thicker, darker, slightly sweet, and used mostly for color (braises, fried rice). If you only buy one, get light soy. For dark soy's color: 1 tbsp light soy + a pinch of sugar + a few drops of molasses.
Source: HǎoWèi pantry guide
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