Breaded Crispy Tofu Recipe

Name: Breaded Crispy Tofu Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 12 ounces extra firm tofu ((350g)); 4 tablespoons soy sauce ((or tamari)); pinch black pepper; 1/2 tablespoon crushed hot chilis; 1 clove garlic (minced); 1 cup flour ((120g)); 1 cup water ((250ml)); 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (plus more as needed); oil for frying

July 29, 2020

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Last Updated on July 29, 2020 by Slow The Cook Down

Get ready to love tofu! This breaded crispy tofu recipe is easy to make with simple ingredients and is great to serve as a vegan appetizer or part of a main. Marinated and covered in a thick batter, the panko covered tofu is then deep fried for a wonderfully crispy bite full of flavor and texture. Easy to make gluten-free.

Overhead shot of crispy tofu on a plate of noodles with a fork

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I’ve had a love and hate relationship with tofu…ok, mainly hate! I mean, I’ve had some great tofu dishes when I’ve eaten out, but never had too much success at home. Until now. This, my friend, is a game changer!

These crispy tofu sticks are great to serve up as an appetizer with your favorite dip, or serve them as a main course with noodles or rice and smothered in your favorite Chinese sauce.

I’m hesitant to call them a vegan chicken bite, but honestly, they come pretty close!

Everyone knows, everything tastes better fried! Be sure to check out my Frickles, they are cooked in a similar way, just with pickles!

Ingredients

Tofu: Use extra firm tofu for this recipe.
Soy sauce: Use tamari if you are gluten intolerant.
Crushed hot chilis: The chilis add more flavor than spice, but you can omit them if you are particularly sensitive to heat.
Black pepper: You just need black pepper for a little flavor. No need for salt as we are using soy sauce.
Garlic: Everyone knows everything tastes better with garlic!
Panko breadcrumbs: Panko guarantees perfectly crispy tofu. Use a gluten free variety if you have an intolerance.
Batter: Flour (GF 1:1: can be substituted), water, baking powder, salt and pepper.
Oil: For frying. Use a high heat oil like canola, peanut oil, sunflower or vegetable.

How to make this crispy tofu recipe

Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!

Press the tofu.
Mix together the ingredients for the marinade.
Cut the tofu and cover in the marinade (photo 1).
Whisk together the ingredients for the batter (photo 2).

The marinated tofu in a bowl and batter mixed in a jug

Dip each piece of tofu in the batter (photo 3).
Coat in breadcrumbs (photo 4).
Place on a lined baking sheet (photo 5) and continue until all of the tofu is breaded.

Three shots to show how to dredge the tofu

Cook the tofu in a large pot of hot oil until golden brown.
Drain on kitchen towel and serve.

A crispy tofu stick with the end bitten off

Do you really need to press the tofu?

One hundred times yes. Do not skip this step! Pressing the tofu removes excess water, if you don’t do this it won’t hold it’s shape, so it’s essential when you fry it. Pressing it also allows the flavors from marinade to be absorbed much more quickly resulting in a more flavorful bite.

How to press tofu

If you have a tofu press then you are on to a good thing. If not:

Line a plate with several layers of paper towel (you can also use a clean and absorbant tea towe).
Place the tofu block on top.
Cover with more kitchen towel.
Place another plate on top.
Weigh it down with a heavy can or bag of sugar.

Ideally you want to press the tofu for about an hour, but I’ve done it in 30 minutes before and it turned out great. You can leave it for longer depending on your timings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you need to marinate tofu?

To really get the flavor into the tofu, you wan to marinate it for at least 30 minutes. For a stronger flavor you can leave it to marinate overnight.

Is tofu good for you?

Tofu is a great source of protein and is a great addition to a meat free or plant based diet. It contains good amounts of iron, calcium, minerals and vitamin B1.

Can you make crispy tofu ahead of time?

Ideally you want to serve the crispy tofu as soon as it’s made. Saying that, I had a few left over that I enjoyed the next day cold with a salad and they were still delicious! You can marinade it a day before you plan to cook it.

A breaded tofu stick being dipped in a red sauce

Serving Suggestions

These breaded tofu sticks can be served as an appetizer with a dip like:

Marinara
Ranch
BBQ
Ketchup
Sriracha

Serve them as a main with a sweet and sour sauce with noodles or rice, or serve them like you would breaded chicken, with some fries and veggies.

Recipe Notes and Tips

Your hands will likely get messy after a few dips as the batter is super thick. Add the panko in small amounts to the bowl so it doesn’t clump together and refill as you go.
Take care not to over crowd the tofu when frying, I did about 4 at a time.

Three pieces of breaded tofu on boodles and drizzled with sauce

More Easy Vegan Recipes

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