How to make the best fried tofu: quick and easy, no pressing! He has irresistible taste and cooks in 15 minutes.
Are you a tofu fan? I admit that Alex and I weren’t until recently. But this plant-based protein is starting to win our hearts! Why? Well, it’s great for weeknight meals, and that’s where this recipe comes in. And you know what? Above all, tofu can be delicious, with proper preparation. Drizzle it with some smoked sauce and sesame oil and pan fry it until golden brown and it’s frankly irresistible! This perfect fried tofu is our pick for easy plant-based dinners (along with this scrambled tofu, another favorite). That’s how it’s done!
What you need for this fried tofu
Tofu is curdled from soy milk (just like cheese is made!) and pressed into blocks. It was invented in China and is used in many Asian cuisines, from Chinese to Thai. In itself it has no taste (ew!). But pair it with some simple flavors and powders! It tastes spicy and meaty at the same time. Here’s what we used for this fried tofu:
- Tofu, firm or extra firm: It is important! Don’t buy, we repeat, soft or silky tofu. It doesn’t work in this recipe.
- olive oil
- Toasted Sesame Oil: Make sure it’s toasted! Regular sesame oil is neutral and meant for cooking; grilled has a nutty taste and is intended for cooking.
- Smoked Soy Sauce or Soy Sauce: Smoked shoyu is becoming widely available; if you find it 100% worth it! Read on to find out more.
Wait: you don’t have to press it?
No, this tofu recipe works without pressing! If you’ve made tofu before, you might notice that many recipes call for wrapping the tofu in a towel and placing a heavy object over it for 30 minutes. Who has 30 minutes for this?
This fried tofu recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners because you don’t have to spend time squeezing it! Simply pat dry with a towel and you’re good to go. Score!
How to Make Fried Tofu (Basic Steps)
Before we start, let’s be clear: it’s not crispy tofu! This fried tofu yields golden chunks that are crispy on the edges. It’s not super crunchy, but it has a nice texture that we like even more. Sometimes crunchy tofu can get too crunchy. Here are the basic steps to making fried tofu (or jump straight to the recipe):
- cut it: Cut the tofu into large cubes. Dry it with a towel.
- Cooking side 1: This is where it gets a little interesting. Place the tofu in the cold oil. Then bring to medium heat and fry for 5 to 6 minutes until golden brown on one side.
- Flip! Here’s the only hard part! Remove pan from heat to reduce spitting. Then turn the tofu: The easiest way is with chopsticks!
- Cooking side 2: Back to the fire. Cook for another 5 to 6 minutes.
- Season and cook some more: Add toasted sesame oil and soy sauce. Fry an additional 2 minutes on each side. Do!
Use smoked soy sauce (shoyu) if you can find it!
Smoky soy sauce (or shoyu, the Japanese word for soy sauce) is popping up in mainstream grocery stores these days. Alex and I couldn’t be happier! Years ago we found a bottle of smoked shoyu at a Japanese restaurant in Santa Fe and became obsessed. The intensely spicy, smoky taste is unbelievable for use in vegan recipes.
Since smoked shoyu was hard to find, we never called for it in our recipes: until now! If you can find it, a fillet adds the perfect garnish. You can also order it online! Here is the type we use: Order smoked soy sauce (Shoyu) online.
Is tofu healthy?
We get this question a lot because of the tofu rumors circulating in the rumor mill. Here are our two cents: Tofu is part of a healthy diet. According to the Harvard TH Chan School of Nutrition, soy is a nutrient-dense source of protein that is safe to eat several times a week. It likely has health benefits, especially when eaten as an alternative to red and processed meat. (See Straight Talk About Soy for more details.)
So you can feel good about adding this fried tofu recipe to your weekly fried meal plan! Speaking of…
How to serve fried tofu
Here comes the fun part! Alex and I love making this fried tofu. It was actually inspired by a method Alex invented one weekday and we loved it so much we wrote how to do it! It’s so easy to throw in a bowl of veggies for an easy vegan dinner. How we serve it:
This fried tofu recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
The description
How to make the best fried tofu: quick and easy, no pressing! It has an irresistible taste and cooks in 15 minutes.
- Cut the tofu into large cubes (approx. 1.5″ x 2″) and pat dry with a towel. Pour the olive oil into a nonstick skillet and add the diced tofu and a few pinches of kosher salt.
- Turn the heat to medium-high. Fry for 5 to 6 minutes until lightly browned on the underside.
- Take the pan off the heat to reduce splattering. Flip the tofu with chopsticks (the easiest way!) or tongs. Turn the heat back to medium-high and cook for another 5-6 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove from the heat and drizzle with sesame oil and soy sauce (watch out for spitting). Return to low heat and cook 2 minutes, then turn and cook another 2 minutes until dark in color. Serve immediately.
- Category: main course
- Method: stove
- Kitchen: Asian
- Diet: vegan
More tofu recipes
If you’re a tofu fan, here are some other tofu recipes you might enjoy:
- Easy Tofu Scramble These easy scrambled eggs have the same texture as scrambled eggs but are 100% plant-based! This is one vegan breakfast idea you’ll want to make again and again.
- Baked Crispy Tofu This baked tofu is super versatile! Serve with rice or use on a tofu salad.
- Coconut Tofu Curry A family favorite! Coconut milk and red curry paste spice up this quick and healthy dinner idea.
- Go-To Tofu Stir Fry This scrumptious stir fry is our go-to for healthy plant-based dinners! It has the best wok sauce and you can use any veggies.
- Plain Pickled Tofu This one doesn’t even need to be cooked! Flavored with soy, sesame oil, and ginger, this easy tofu recipe will be your new favorite. (It’s ours.)
- Tofu Ramen features crispy pan-fried tofu and slurping miso broth! This is a delicious plant-based dinner recipe.
