Fried Tofu
I’m not vegan but we all love this crispy pan fried tofu! Kids call it “chicken. It’s that good!!! And I’m convinced to convert you as well with this best fried tofu recipe in the world. You will never say “I hate tofu” again.
My recipe is simple and requires no extra steps. Like to press the tofu or pat with paper towels – “Ain’t nobody got time for that”.
Crispy Fried Tofu Facts
- Tofu is made of condensed soy milk that is pressed into blocks.
- It is a great plant-based source of protein. We all should eat less meat for health reasons!
- To avoid GMO soy, I recommend to buy organic tofu. Mine is from Costco.
- Raw tofu has zero flavor and spongy texture.
- You cannot use soft or medium tofu.
- You do not have to press tofu to remove extra liquid with my crispy pan fried tofu recipe. I don’t even own paper towels.
- You don’t need to use cast iron skillet either.
Pan Fried Tofu Ingredients
- Firm or extra firm tofu
- Soy sauce
- Cornstarch
- Garlic powder
- Olive oil or toasted sesame oil
Firm Tofu FAQs
Do I have to cook tofu?
Yes. Raw fresh tofu has no taste. Technically it is cooked. One of my kids likes to pop a cube or two in his mouth while I’m preparing tofu for frying. You have to cook tofu mostly to give it flavor. Otherwise, it tastes like “nothing”.
How long to cook firm tofu?
My easy crispy fried tofu requires only 2-3 minutes of cooking per side. It’s quick!
How do I know when tofu is cooked?
Tofu does not pose a risk of eating undercooked like meat does. You can tell that crispy fried tofu bites are ready when they are nicely golden and look crispy.
How to Cut Tofu into Cubes
- Remove tofu from plastic package.
- Drain the liquid it’s packaged in. Remember no need to pat dry or press.
- Cut in half lengthwise.
- Then cut into 1 inch cubes.
That’s it!!!
How to Make Fried Tofu
1. Quickly Marinate Tofu Cubes
- In a medium bowl, add cubed tofu.
- Drizzle evenly with 2 tbsp soy sauce on top. Helps to stir less.
- Stir gently with silicone or wooden spoon.
- Metal spoon will do more damage to tofu’s delicate texture.
- Set aside.
2. Make Pan Fried Tofu Breading
- In another medium bowl, add 3 tbsp cornstarch, 1 tsp garlic powder and ground black pepper to taste.
- Stir well with a fork.
- Preheat large ceramic non-stick skillet on medium high heat.
3. Combine Both
- Add tofu pieces to a bowl with cornstarch breading.
- Gently stir to coat.
- Tofu will be coated in sticky wet cornstarch mixture. Perfect!
4. Pan Fry Until Crispy
- Swirl half the olive oil or toasted sesame oil onto preheated skillet.
- It should be hot enough to make tofu sizzle right away.
- Add half the tofu to a pan in a single layer.
- Stir fry until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
- Flip each cube with a spatula and fry for a few more minutes or until crispy.
- You can add half of the soy sauce mixture now too.
- Transfer crispy pan fried tofu to a plate.
- Repeat this step with remaining tofu.
5. Garnish Crispy Pan Fried Tofu and Enjoy!
- Garnish crispy garlic tofu with sesame seeds and green onion.
- Crispy tofu is best served immediately as it loses its crispiness after half an hour I would say. Or if you cover it. Still delish!!!
What to Serve Pan Fried Tofu With
- Quinoa or brown rice – both are made in a pressure cooker. Prepare to be amazed!
- Fresh or steamed vegetables
- Cucumber and tomato salad
More Healthy Meat Free Dinner Recipes
PrintCrispy Pan Fried Tofu
Your kids will call this easy 20 minute crispy fried tofu “chicken”. It’s that good!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
- 2 x 12 oz packages firm or extra firm tofu, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- 2–3 tbsp olive oil
- Green onion, finely chopped
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, add cubed tofu and soy sauce on top. Stir gently with silicone or wooden spoon (metal will do more damage to tofu’s delicate texture). Set aside.
- In another medium bowl, add cornstarch, garlic powder and pepper. Stir well with a fork and set aside.
- In the meanwhile, preheat large ceramic non-stick skillet on medium heat. Add half of the olive oil. It should be hot enough to make tofu sizzle right away.
- Add tofu cubes to a bowl with cornstarch mixture and gently stir to coat. Tofu will be coated in sticky wet cornstarch mixture. Perfect!
- Add half of the tofu to a pan in a single layer. Cook until browned, about 2-3 minutes. Flip each cube with a spatula and pan fry for a few more minutes or until crispy (you can add half of the soy sauce mixture now too). Transfer to a plate and repeat this step with remaining tofu.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and green onion. Crispy tofu is best served immediately as it loses its crispiness after half an hour I would say. Or if you cover it. Still delish!!!
Notes
You can use toasted sesame oil in place of olive oil. So good and that’s what I usually do. I just ran out of it.
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating in the comments.
Great recipe! It’s so simple and easy to follow. This was my first time using tofu and I was able to do this following yr easy steps. A big thank you x
That is so amazing to hear! Glad you enjoyed my recipe!
Easy! Convenient! Almost to good to be true. Love it! It’s almost too convenient to be good for you…. Thanks Again for Sharing your Recipes, Olena!
★★★★★
That is so awesome to hear! I agree. I could not believe how much kids love tofu this way lol
Looks yummy. How long can the pieces last in the fridge after you’ve cooked them? Thank you
2-3 days.
Holy crap this is delicious! Used the sesame oil instead of the olive oil so I didn’t loose out on the sesame oil flavor because I didn’t have the garnishes. I’m glad because I probably would have lost my mind, it was so phenomenal without them.
Here’s what I did diff than the outlines recipe:
-Added 1/8 tsp Accent to powder mix (gotta love that msg)
-Drizzled soy sauce on the tofu rather than stir (I’m cooking for 1 so I cut the recipe in 1/2. Besides I don’t have a large ceramic pan, only small so what I’m cooking in the pan is only 1/2 of 1 package).
-Doubled the garlic, which really means that I kept the same amount recommended but since I’m cooking a 1/2 batch, well… you get it
-Didn’t stir to coat the powdered ingredients on the tofu, my small batch size made it super easy to roll them they the powder and evenly coat each side w my fingers.
-Used chopsticks rather than a spatula to flip while cooking.
-Made a dipping sauce:
1 part rice vinegar
2 parts soy sauce
Heavy dash sesame oil
2 heavy dashes white sugar (I used the c&h quick dissolve)
★★★★★
Oops forgot to mention…
I know every stove is different. I’m working with a Samsung electric flat top.
Turned heat down to medium-medium-low.
Just finished eating the first batch (1/2 of 1 package). I’m cooking the other 1/2 right now and I’m going to eat that too. Right now. I’m going to hate myself when I’m done. But as mentioned, life is short so **** it.
Thank you for the recipe. This will be made ALL THE TIME in my house moving forward.
★★★★★
Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
I have been searching ways to try tofu but so many have long ingredient and cooking list I just glance over them. I’m trying to replace some meat so need a healthy substitute. Came across your will be tying soon.the 3 stars are for easy and few ingredients. Will rate again after cooking.
★★★
So delicious. My family loved it and they are typically anti-tofu. I found that I need a lot more of the cornstarch mixture. Thanks for sharing.
★★★★★
Creespy
Loved it, thanks. I was afraid to eat Tofu, people say so many things about it that I never dared. I did your recipe and I can’t stop eating it, thanks for sharing such an easy and yummy recipe.
★★★★★
Welcome. Don’t be. It’s not worse than steak or chicken. One of my kids loves tofu thanks to this recipe. I mean both do love it but one orders tofu instead of meat in a restaurant lol.
It’s the best crispy tofu I’ve made. Thanks for the recipe.
★★★★★
You are welcome!!!
Made these last night, and find myself craving them this morning! Best fried tofu recipe I’ve EVER tried!
★★★★★
Yay! I was shocked when my kids loved it too. I know.
Just wrote a long comment and clicked submit too soon, omitted email, and it told me to go fix it but it erased my whole comment. I can’t type it again. But the tofu was good.
★★★★
Awesome! I make it regularly. If I write smth substantial online these days I copy it before hitting Submit button lol. Just never know.
My daughter and I love crispy tofu!! I made it years ago at home when the kids were little and it was the same, they loved it and it was such a great surprise. It’s all about the crispy cubes 🙂
You are inspiring me to make it again, my daughter has been asking since she tried mine at a thai place recently.
Question – what skillets do you use? I have been using same for years but keep going through them (the nonstick ones) and they are not cheap.
I go through new one every 6 months. No way around it friend. I buy ceramic ones. Still they lose their stickiness. Everyone does buy new ones all the time lol. Enjoy sweetie!
I’ll try a ceramic one. I like the ones I have but you’re right, it’s about every 6 months. Glad it’s not just me, ha ha.