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    Oh My Veggies » Vegetarian Recipes » Tofu and Tempeh Recipes

    Easy Vegan Crispy Tofu (Baked Or Fried)

    Published: Nov 27, 2020 · by Nicole · Updated: Mar 10, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    How to make easy vegan crispy tofu that's chewy on the inside, with a delicious breading and plenty of flavour! Perfect for adding to dinners or lunches, as well as for snacking on. With a baked and fried option.

    Easy vegan crispy tofu baked or fried

    Tofu is one of those ingredients that unfortunately has a bad rep because it's often prepared wrong. When done wrong, it comes out dry, bland and weirdly textured. Done right, however, it can become a delicious staple food.

    I'm all about disputing the myth of boring tofu. Thus, I have a post all about how to make tofu taste good. Here, however, we will go into one specific method - making crispy tofu! This is probably my personal favourite way of cooking with tofu. I will share two methods: baking and frying. Keep reading to learn the details of each one.

    Crispy baked tofu with rice and a sweet and sour sauce

    What tofu variety to use for crispy tofu?

    It's really important to use extra firm tofu for making crispy tofu - this will inevitably lead to the best results. This tofu variety has the lowest level of water, and therefore the firmest texture that turns sponge-like during the cooking process.

    Baked tofu cubes with rice and sweet and sour sauce

    Do not use silken tofu - while great for recipes like soups or even desserts, it does not hold its shape very well. If you can only find firm, as opposed to extra firm, tofu, it may be necessary to press it for longer.

    Fried tofu and creamy kale pasta

    How to press tofu

    First of all, I want to say that you should not press tofu for too long. This will result in a texture that's quite dry and unappetising. Usually, 20-30 minutes is enough.

    Fried tofu cubes over a bowl of pasta

    Before pressing, pat the tofu dry and cube it into bite-sized pieces. You can press tofu using a tofu press, which you can buy online for around $10. Alternatively, layer a set of paper towels on top of it, followed by a frying pan, and then heavy objects such as books.

    Making crispy fried tofu

    Crispy fried tofu is great because it takes no time to make, and the preparation process is so straightforward.

    Ingredients for crispy fried tofu
    Batter for fried tofu

    Firstly, cube and press the tofu as necessary. Meanwhile, whisk together breadcrumbs (gluten-free if necessary), salt and cumin. In a separate bowl, add cornstarch to plant based milk and whisk together thoroughly.

    Breading for fried tofu
    Fried tofu cubes on a plate

    Heat a thin layer of sesame oil (around 3 tbsp) in a frying pan or wok. Add the tofu cubes to the oil, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Allow to cook for 2-3 minutes, lightly shaking the pan occasionally, before rotating the cubes. Repeat until golden brown on all sides.

    How to make crispy baked tofu

    This method also works very well, and does not require any oil. You will be amazed by how delicious and flavourful it is!

    Start by marinading the tofu. Stir the tofu cubes together with tamari and maple syrup, setting aside for around 30 minute.

    Tofu cubes in a bowl
    Tofu cubes in a marinade in a mixing bowl

    When done, preheat the oven to 200 degrees C (400 F) and lining a baking tray with a sheet of parchment paper.

    Whisk together breadcrumbs (gluten-free if necessary), paprika and onion granules. Dip each tofu cube in the breadcrumb mixture and lay out on the baking tray. Once again, it's important not to overcrowd. If necessary, use more than one baking tray.

    Baked tofu cubes on a baking tray
    Baked crispy tofu on a baking tray

    Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, until golden and crispy.

    How to serve crispy tofu

    • There are so many ways to serve crispy or fried tofu! I love snacking on it by itself while it's still fresh for ultimate deliciousness.
    • You can serve it with a simple sauce. For instance, you can simply stir together 2 tbsp tamari, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp maple syrup and 3 tbsp water. Transfer that to a pan together with 1 tbsp cornstarch and whisk over a medium heat until it thickens. You can then pour over the tofu and enjoy!
    • Serve it with a dip of your choice, such as simple ketchup, chunky guacamole, sour cream, or cashew cream.
    • You can add it to salads as a great topping and a source of plant based protein, or on top of soups such as spicy butternut squash soup.
    • Add it to wraps, burritos, tacos, sandwiches and nourish bowls for extra deliciousness and a crunchy texture.
    Fried tofu with coconut pasta

    Other tofu recipes you might like

    • The best scrambled tofu
    • Sesame peanut tofu
    • Tofu eggplant pasta
    • Oat and tofu vegan 'egg' muffins
    • Simple tofu curry
    Easy vegan crispy tofu baked or fried-

    Let me know in the comments: how do you like to serve crispy tofu? If you give either of these recipes a go, be sure to tag me on Instagram (@ohmyveggies) together with a star rating, and leave your feedback in the comments below together with a star rating.

    Easy Vegan Crispy Tofu (Baked Or Fried)

    How to make easy vegan crispy tofu, either baked or fried! With a crunchy breadcrumb coating and a spongey, soft texture, this tofu is perfect for a snack or as an addition to dinners like pasta, burritos, salads and wraps. You'll be amazed at how easy it is!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Email Recipe
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Course: Main Course, Snack
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: comfort food, earth of maria, easy, to move, Tofu
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 184kcal
    Author: Oh My Veggies

    Equipment

    • Conventional oven
    • Baking tray
    • Mixing bowl
    • Frying pan or wok

    Ingredients

    For fried crispy tofu

    • ½ cup breadcrumbs gluten-free if necessary
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ½ tsp cumin
    • ½ cup cornstarch
    • 1 cup plant based milk
    • 3 tbsp sesame oil
    • 10 oz extra firm tofu cubed

    For baked crispy tofu

    • 10 oz extra firm tofu cubed
    • 2 tbsp tamari
    • 1 tbsp maple syrup
    • ½ cup breadcrumbs gluten-free if necessary
    • ½ tsp paprika
    • ½ tsp onion granules
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    To make fried tofu

    • Whisk together the breadcrumbs, salt and cumin.
    • In a separate bowl, add cornstarch to plant based milk and whisk together thoroughly.
    • Heat a thin layer of sesame oil (around 3 tbsp) in a frying pan or wok. Add the tofu cubes to the oil, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Allow to cook for 2-3 minutes, lightly shaking the pan occasionally, before rotating the cubes. Repeat until golden brown on all sides.

    To make baked tofu

    • Stir the tofu cubes together with tamari and maple syrup and set aside to marinade for 30 minutes.
    • When done, preheat the oven to 200 degrees C (400 F) and line a baking tray with a sheet of parchment paper.
    • Whisk together the breadcrumbs, paprika and onion granules. Dip each tofu cube in the breadcrumb mixture and lay out on the baking tray, making sure not to overcrowd. If necessary, use more than one baking tray.
    • Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, until golden and crispy.

    Video

    Notes

    Use extra firm tofu for best results, and press it if not using a pre-pressed variety. Before pressing, pat the tofu dry and cube it into bite-sized pieces. You can press tofu using a tofu press, which you can buy online for around $10. Alternatively, layer a set of paper towels on top of it, followed by a frying pan, and then heavy objects such as books. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 184kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 8gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 582mgPotassium: 151mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 71IUCalcium: 87mgIron: 2mg
    Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!
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    Earth of Maria, Gluten-free Vegan Recipes, Tofu and Tempeh Recipes, Vegan Dinner Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes Breadcrumbs, Cornstarch, Cumin, Extra firm tofu, maple syrup, Onion powder, Paprika, plant based milk, Sesame oil, Tamari, tofu

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    Nicole is a life long vegetarian and the author of the popular vegan cookbook, Weeknight One Pot Vegan Cooking. She loves sharing her recipes and showing the world just how easy and delicious meatless meals can be!
    Learn more here.

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