Easy and crispy fried tofu

October 31, 2022 from Tanya Sheff · This post may contain affiliate links

This fried tofu The recipe is super easy and tastes fantastic! Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, it’s a perfect addition to any meal.

If you don’t consider yourself a tofu fan, you probably just haven’t eaten tofu properly. I bet if you had this Easy Fried Tofu you would change your mind about tofu! Serve as a snack or as an accompaniment to just about any meal.

Watch How to Make Fried Tofu

First, let’s learn about tofu.

What is tofu

People often wonder what tofu is made of. Tofu is a food made from condensed soy milk that is pressed into firm, white blocks. The process of making tofu is relatively similar to making cheese from milk. So think of it as cheese made from soy milk. There are many different types of tofu, such as B. Soft/Silky Tofu, Firm Tofu, Extra Firm Tofu and Fermented Tofu.

Learn more about tofu from Wikipedia.

What kind of tofu to buy

If you fry tofu, you definitely want to buy it extra hard tofu. I also recommend you to opt for organic, non-GMO Tofu, especially since it is very cheap.

Ingredients for fried tofu

• Extra Hard Tofu. You cannot use soft/silky or medium tofu in this recipe or it will fall apart in the pan.
• cornstarch. It helps the tofu get crispy. You can use arrowroot powder instead if you are sensitive to corn products.
• Spices. Cajun seasoning and salt bring lots of flavor and a bit of heat. I absolutely love this combination!
• Oil. You can use olive, avocado, sunflower, grapeseed, coconut, or peanut oil. Choose your oil based on personal preferences and availability.

How to make fried tofu Step by step

1. Drain the liquid from the tofu pack and dry the tofu with paper towels. Cut into approximately 1 inch slices.

2. Place the slices on 2-3 paper towels and season with Cajun seasoning and salt. Turn and season again.

3. Place 2 more paper towels on the tofu slices and gently press them down with your hands. This will remove excess moisture and push the spices into the tofu.

4. Dice the tofu and place on a large plate. Add the cornstarch and stir gently to coat (I like to use my hands for this).

5. Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the tofu and cook until golden and crispy, 2-3 minutes per side.

tips

• Squeeze the liquid out of the tofu. Wrap the tofu block in paper towels and gently squeeze until the excess liquid is absorbed by the towels.
• Use a coated pan. A cast iron skillet can also be used, but make sure it is thoroughly heated before adding the tofu. Nonstick pans work best because they never fail.
• Don’t fumble. Allow the tofu to golden brown and crisp before turning. Be patient.
• Adjust spices. You can also use other spices instead of Cajun. Old Bay, fajita, and chicken seasoning would also work.
• If necessary, work in batches. If your pan isn’t big enough to hold all of the tofu, simply fry it in two batches. Do not overfill the pan as the tofu pieces may stick together and not cook properly. My pan is 13 inches in diameter and I can fry in one go.

How to store and reheat fried tofu

Keep your leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days. The fried tofu won’t crisp up when reheated, but it still has a nice texture and flavor. The best method for warm up is to do over the stove since the microwave can give it an odd texture and make it rubbery. Just add the tofu to the pan, along with anything else you want to cook with it. Add a tablespoon of olive or coconut oil to the pan and heat over medium-high heat until heated through.

How to freeze fried tofu

I wouldn’t recommend freezing the fried tofu because the beauty of this dish is the crispy outer layer that won’t be the same once frozen. However, if you decide to go this route, you can place these on a tray, freeze them, then transfer to a Ziploc bag and store for up to 3 months.

How to serve fried tofu

Serve this fried tofu as a snack, along with a dipping sauce. Ketchup, sweet chili sauce, and ginger sesame sauce are among my favorites.

Or serve it on (or on the page) of your favorite dishes. Here’s my fried tofu on zucchini noodles. YUMMY!

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