Asian Garlic Tofu cooks up crispy with tons of salty, sweet, and spicy flavor. Serve with broccoli and rice for a fantastically delicious vegetarian meal.
My daughter has been a vegetarian for 2 years. Or maybe it has been 3 years. I can’t even remember. Every now and then I like to share some of her favorite things to eat like Orange Cauliflower and Vegetarian BBQ Nachos.
She doesn’t like beans so tofu is a major source of protein for her. I actually really like to cook with tofu and eat it as well. I love that it has a very neutral flavor that lends itself to being paired with all kinds of seasonings and ingredients.
It’s hard to get tofu crispy but it is possible if you start with super firm tofu and wrap it in paper towels (lots of them) and set something heavy on top. I use a cast iron pan (they are so handy!)
The longer you let it sit, the better. And replace the paper towels a few times. They will get completely wet.
A quick marinade in a mixture of Hoisin sauce, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, and a little sugar gives the tofu plenty of flavor.
One more trick to crispy tofu is cooking it in a cast iron pan and heating it well before you add the tofu. Move the tofu around as little as possible. I let it get a nice sear on the bottom and then flip the pieces and let them get a sear on a second side.
Never miss a recipe. Follow Spicy Southern Kitchen on Pinterest and Instagram.
Watch the video below to see how to make Asian Garlic Tofu
Asian Garlic Tofu
Ingredients
- 1 package super firm tofu
- 1/4 cup Hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic,, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- green onions for garnish
- rice for serving
Instructions
- Remove tofu from packaging. Place about 4 paper towels on a plate. Set tofu on top of plate and cover with more paper towels. Place a cast iron pan or something else that is heavy on top. Let sit 30 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, stir together Hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sugar, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
- Cut tofu into bite-sized pieces. Place in bowl with sauce and toss to coat. Let sit 30 minutes.
- Heat olive oil in a medium cast iron pan over medium-high heat. Once really hot, add tofu. Once nicely seared on the bottom, flip over. Continue to cook until seared on bottom.
- Drizzle with sesame oil and remove from heat.
- Sprinkle with green onions and serve with rice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Great tofu recipe! Followed directions and turned out as stated. Added broccoli to pan, after removing tofu, to saute with additional olive oil. Returned tofu after broccoli was adente .
Great recipe. Tasted amazing
Great recipe. Tastes amazing!
This is my first time making tofu. I couldn’t get it to crisp up. What did I do wrong?
After you cut the tofu in cubes, coat lightly with cornstarch then pan fry..
It could be many factors. Make sure you buy firm or extra firm tofu. Make sure you get the water out either by pressing or you can freeze it and then thaw. Make sure the pan is hot before you add the tofu and yes, cast-iron is best. Lastly, patience is key. Wait for it to sear before you flip it on all sides. I have also covered it with a dusting of corn flour. It works either way. Good luck!
This is the best tofu recipe I have come across, yum!
Easy and tasty, just made this for my family, it was a hit! Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this great recipe! I will definitely make it again.
Cook time 1 hr 50mins?!?!
That includes marinating time. Cook time is 10 mins.
If you have a salad spinner, use it to drain the tofu. Cut them in cubes first. It always worked for me!
That is a great tip! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for the tip, it worked great.
Using the spinner doesn’t break the tofu?
It shouldn’t break the extra firm tofu. Use extra firm tofu.
Made this for lunch today. Delicious! I love these Asian flavors. I didn’t make anything to go with it-just the tofu. Only problem is I ate the whole thing!!😃👏