Braised Tofu

Cut the tofu into long blocks about 2cm thick. If it's too thin, it will be difficult to fry, won't absorb sauce well, and the texture will be harder.

Chop the green onions.

Heat oil in a pan, add half of the chopped green onions and sauté until fragrant, then remove the fried onions, leaving the scallion oil in the pan.

Place the tofu into the pan and fry one side first. Use medium-low heat if you're worried about burning. Make sure to fry thoroughly before flipping to prevent breaking. The final texture should be crispy on the outside and tender inside.

Flip the tofu and continue frying the other side until done.

Cover with a lid and cook until the sauce reduces to one-quarter. Add sugar and chicken essence, and then turn the heat up to thicken the sauce. Sprinkle the remaining chopped green onions for extra fragrance.