Description
A vibrant and flavorful Crispy Tofu with Peanut Sauce recipe featuring super firm tofu baked to golden perfection and coated in a creamy, tangy peanut sauce. Perfect for a quick and satisfying vegetarian main or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Tofu
- 1 pound super firm tofu dried and cubed
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Peanut Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted creamy or crunchy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- Hot water as needed for sauce consistency
Garnish
- Green onion for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare tofu: In a medium bowl, toss the tofu cubes with oil until evenly coated. Then add cornstarch and mix well to coat all pieces evenly. Rinse and dry the bowl to use later for tossing with sauce.
- Bake tofu: Arrange the tofu cubes on a sheet pan in a single layer. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes, flipping the tofu halfway through the cooking time to ensure even crispiness and golden color.
- Make peanut sauce: While the tofu bakes, combine peanut butter, sesame oil if using, soy sauce, brown sugar, and lime juice in a small bowl. Add a splash of hot water and stir vigorously until the sauce is smooth. Add more hot water gradually as needed to reach a creamy, pourable consistency.
- Coat tofu with sauce: Once the tofu is golden and crispy, transfer it back to the cleaned medium bowl. Pour the peanut sauce over the tofu and gently toss to coat each piece evenly and thoroughly.
- Serve: Garnish with sliced green onions and serve the crispy tofu immediately while warm for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- For the crispiest tofu, press extra-firm tofu or pat super-firm tofu dry, don’t skip the cornstarch coating, and avoid overcrowding the pan while baking.
- To minimize clean-up, re-use the same bowl for tossing the tofu and making the sauce, and line the baking tray with parchment paper or foil.
- Adjust peanut sauce thickness by adding hot water a splash at a time and whisking to achieve desired consistency.
- For a drier peanut coating, toss baked tofu with half the peanut sauce, then bake for an additional 4-6 minutes before tossing with remaining sauce to serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
