Did someone say double fried crispy tofu nuggets? Oh yeah! Our Tofu Karaage recipe is a fantastic vegan alternative to the classic Japanese snack. Small in size but big in flavor, you’ll be begging for more!
The secret to the perfect karaage is in the marinade and frying, which we’ll show you how to make like a pro! But first what is carage Exactly? The word karaage (唐揚げ, から揚げ) means “fried”. More specifically, it refers to the cooking technique that involves marinating, breading, and deep-frying.
Chicken karaage is probably one of the most famous karaage dishes, just as our friends in Japan enjoy fried chicken. It’s crispy, meaty and flavorful – a real treat! So we thought why not give it a herbal spin for everyone to enjoy?
So here are our gorgeous fried tofu nuggets! They are just as tasty as the classics, but without the meat. Firm tofu is the first choice here. Squeeze out as much brine water as you can and it becomes even firmer and drier, giving you a “meatier” feel.
We marinated the tofu in it traditional karaage sauce, which contains garlic, ginger and soy sauce. But we swapped sake for rice vinegar, which is easier to find. Also, we used more marinating sauce than usual. Because tofu absorbs it like a sponge and compared to chicken it also needs an extra kick of taste.
The karaage coating consists only of starch, unlike that used for tempura. This means that if you use Tamari Instead of regular soy sauce, your tofu bites will be too gluten free. Excellent! It remains only to fry these beauties, not just once, but twice maximum crispiness. Arm yourself with a kitchen thermometer for perfectly crispy nuggets. Let’s begin!