🍽️ Dongjiang Stuffed Tofu

Hakka stuffed tofu, Dongjiang style.

The Dongjiang Stuffed Tofu is a representative Hakka dish from Huizhou, Guangdong, part of the Hakka tradition of 'stuffing.' Firm tofu is cut into squares, hollowed slightly, filled with a paste of pork, fish, dried shrimp, scallion and ginger, pan-fried on both sides until golden, then braised in stock until flavorful. The tofu turns tender and juice-soaked, the filling savory and firm, the sauce salty-sweet with fish and meat aroma. The Dong River basin was a key settlement for southward-migrating Hakka; lacking wheat fields, they are said to have substituted stuffed tofu for dumplings. It is both a home dish and a Hakka-restaurant signature, appearing at Huizhou New Year and guest tables to symbolize reunion, and is almost a must-order for visitors trying Hakka food in Huizhou.