Snacking Tofu
Crispy fried tofu coated in a sweet and spicy glaze.
Prep Time: 20ish minutes
Cook Time: 20ish minutes
Yield: 2-3 servings, depending on how much snackin’ you do
Ingredients
1 block extra firm tofu
3 tbsp cornstarch
4 tbsp hoisin sauce
2 tsp sriracha
2 tsp salt
2 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ginger powder
1 tsp sesame seeds
2 green onions
2-3 tbsp of water
oil for frying
Instructions
Press the tofu to remove excess moisture. Wrap it in an absorbent kitchen towel, put a plate on top of it, then place something heavy and stable on top of the plate. A bag of sugar, large cans of tomatoes, or a heavy candle would work really well for this. Leave it alone for 15 minutes or so, or until most of the liquid has drained out of the tofu.
While the tofu is pressing, heat the oil in a large skillet. The oil should come about halfway up the pan. The best temp for frying tofu is around 360-375° F.
Make the sauce. Combine the hoisin, sriracha, and half of the ginger powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Mix until combined. Add tbsps of water until the sauce is thick, but easily pour-able.
One the tofu is pressed, tear it into bite size chunks. In a large bowl, combine the tofu, corn starch, and the rest of garlic powder, ginger powder, salt, and pepper. Toss until all the tofu is coated in cornstarch.
If you don’t have a thermometer, you can test if the oil is ready by sacrificing one small piece of tofu for the greater good. Gently put a small piece of tofu into the oil. If it starts to sizzle, the oil is ready!
Fry up the tofu until it’s golden brown and crispy. You might have to do this in batches if your pan isn’t large enough.
Transfer the fried tofu onto a cooling rack lined with paper towels. The paper towels will soak up any excess oil.
Once all the tofu is fried and crispy, put it back into a large clean pan over medium heat. Add the sauce.
Toss to coat all the tofu in the sauce. Let it cook until all the sauce has been absorbed by the tofu. It should be a delicious looking deep brown. Remove from heat.
Chop the green onions and sprinkle them on top. Sprinkle some sesame seeds while you’re at it.
Eat!! I call it snacking tofu because it’s delicious on it’s own just eaten straight out of the pan. It’s also a phenom addition to stir frys or rice bowls.