Crispy Fried Tofu Recipe

Fried tofu cubes garnished with sesame seeds and green onion in a skillet.

4.95 from 117 votes

Crispy Fried Tofu Recipe

Your kids will call this easy 20 minute Crispy Fried Tofu Recipe “chicken”. It’s that good! Tofu is pan fried in a skillet on the stovetop with a simple marinade and no pressing required.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Asian

Diet: Vegan

Servings: servings

Calories: 123kcal

Author: Olena Osipov

Ingredients

2 x 12 oz packages firm or extra firm tofu cut into 1 inch cubes
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
2 green onion sprigs finely chopped
1 tablespoon sesame seeds for garnish

US Customary - Metric

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 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 marinade now, from step 1 & 2 - it will collect at the bottom of the bowl, and the other half with next batch). 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!!!

Video

Notes

Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Has to be firm or extra firm tofu: You cannot use soft or medium tofu as it will release more water and fall apart.
Skillet has to be hot and non-stick: No cast iron or old skillet that lost its non-stick qualities.
Type of oil: You can use toasted sesame oil in place of olive oil.
Utensils: It's best to use wooden or silicone spatula or spoon to handle tofu. Metal would damage its delicate texture and the skillet.
Don't throw away marinade: The marinade of soy sauce, cornstarch etc. doesn't have to be thrown away. You can pour on top of cooking tofu for more flavor.

Nutrition