What kind of tofu should I use?

You can use firm or extra firm tofu for this recipe. I prefer firm tofu but both work well.

Can I make crispy tofu in an air fryer?

Yes. To air fry the tofu, cook for about 10 minutes at 380 F, flip or shake, then cook another 5-10 minutes until crisped to your preference.

Can I pan fry the tofu?

Yes. To make pan-fried crispy tofu, simply fry the tofu in a pan over medium heat, flipping occasionally, until it's brown and crispy on all sides.

Can I make crispy tofu without oil?

Yes! The great thing about baked crispy tofu is you don't need oil. I included 1 tbsp oil in the recipe because it does come out a little crispier that way but it also works without oil so feel free to omit it.

Is crispy tofu gluten-free?

As written the recipe is not gluten-free. To make it gluten-free, substitute gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos for the soy sauce.

Do I have to press the tofu?

Not necessarily. The recipe will still work without pressing. I sometimes skip pressing or just press it a few minutes. Because tofu has water in it, squeezing it out allows the tofu to absorb more flavour. If you have time, go ahead and press it but not an absolute must, especially for extra-firm tofu (more tofu and less water than soft, medium, etc).

Crispy Oven Baked Tofu

Description

This crispy oven baked tofu is quick and easy to make and perfect for adding protein to soups, salads, noodles, stir fries and more!

Ingredients

1 16 oz. package extra firm tofu
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder, optional
1 tbsp cornstarch

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Instructions

Remove the extra firm tofu from the package and drain the water. Place tofu in a tofu press. If you do not have a tofu press, wrap the tofu in a clean tea towel (or kitchen towel) and place on a cutting board. Place a heavy book or skillet on top. Press the tofu for at least 15 minutes and then pat dry.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut the tofu into small cubes about ¾-in size then add to a medium-sized bowl.
Add the soy sauce, oil, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to the tofu. Gently stir with a spatula to fully coat the tofu.
Sprinkle the cornstarch over the tofu and continue mixing gently until all the cubes are coated.
Evenly distribute the tofu cubes out on the prepared baking sheet, avoiding them touching one another.
Bake at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes, flipping the tofu over and baking for another 10-15 minutes.
Serve with a dipping sauce or over rice, or add to a stir fry, noodles, curry or anywhere else you’d use tofu.

Notes

You can omit the oil for an oil-free recipe. It gets a little crispier when you use oil but still works well without it. You can also make it without cornstarch. The cornstarch adds somewhat of a breading, or crisp layer around the cubes but the recipe will still work without it.

You can increase the garlic powder and black pepper up to 1 tsp if you like. If you’re not using onion powder, add an extra 1/2 tsp of garlic powder.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1
Calories: 101
Sugar: 0.4 g
Sodium: 4.5 mg
Fat: 5.2 g
Carbohydrates: 3.5 g
Fiber: 1.5 g
Protein: 10.2 g

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Crispy Garlic Black Pepper Tofu

Description

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition