Bestever 10 minutes Crispy Tofu Recipe

If you are looking for a quick vegan side dish or an easy tofu recipe for dinner, then this 10-minute crispy tofu is just perfect for you.

This crispy tofu is a pan-fried tofu dish with an alternative to the baked crispy tofu recipe. These are quick and easy to make. This is a versatile dish that pairs up in many dishes or simply you can have them as appetizers.

What is Tofu?

Tofu is a soy product. Soy milk is coagulated, and curd (after separating from the whey) is finally pressed to shape it. Soy products are rich in protein (plant-based protein), and these are the best dairy alternatives. This versatile product goes well in curry (e.g., Thai red curry), in salads, in Buddha bowls, and whatnot. Check out my vegan high-protein meals and vegan tofu recipes on this blog.

What is the best way to cook crispy tofu?

Tofu itself has no taste. It's very bland if you taste raw tofu. It absorbs the flavor from marination or gravy where it is used.

For best tofu recipes, the first step is to press the tofu block or pieces and remove the excess flavorless water. This adds more space to absorb the marination flavor. This takes 10 - 15 minutes extra to remove excess liquid from the tofu brick but it's an essential part of cooking tofu perfectly. It results in a firmer end product which means it will be more crispy, softer, & chewy. It will absorb more flavors.

(Read more about plant-based protein sources for vegans.)

How to make crispy tofu in 2 ways (pan-fried & baked)?

This is a quick tofu recipe that takes hardly 10 minutes. You may saute the tofu cubes or bake them, as you choose. Either way, they will be equally delicious.

Ingredients:

Extra-firm Tofu: The only choice of tofu for this is extra firm. Otherwise, it will not be as crispy and good as this tofu.

Tamari/ soy sauce:- Take tamari for gluten-free or soy sauce for marination.

Garlic Powder & Onion Powder - Garlic powder and onion powder add flavor to the tofu.

Cornstarch/ Arrowroot - This is for the coating of marinated tofu. This makes the tofu crispy. Cornstarch is a better option for crispier tofu than the latter one.

Olive Oil - Even if it's baking or sauteing, olive oil is the best option and is healthy too.

Maple Syrup (optional) -: If you want to make it sweeter to balance the flavors. Substitute - tomato ketchup.

Method of Preparation:

Step 1 - Press the tofu block to remove excess liquid from it. Don't press very hard to break. Then slice to the desired size, preferably bite-sized cubes.

Step 2 - Mix marination with tamari/ soy, onion powder, and garlic powder. Marinate the tofu cubes for 5 - 10 minutes.

Step 3—Transfer the tofu to a mixing bowl and toss it with cornstarch or arrowroot. I have used cornstarch, as this makes the tofu crispier.

Step 4 - Bake or Saute the tossed tofu.

Pan-fried Tofu Saute

Saute: Heat oil in a pan. Saute the marinated and coated tofu cubes until all sides turn brown. Keep flipping the cubes at regular intervals.

Baked Crispy Tofu

Bake: Preheat the oven to 350F. Spread parchment paper on the baking sheet. Place the coated tofu on the sheet and bake for 15 - 20 minutes on high heat until it turns a little brown and crispy.

Tips for perfect pan-fried crispy tofu

Type of Tofu: For crispy tofu, go for only extra-firm tofu. This is the best option to get crispy ones. Medium-firm will not give an equally good yield.

Pressing the tofu brick: This is the most important part of any tofu recipe. Tofu is normally flavorless. To add flavor, we need to expel the excess water to create space for other flavorful marinades. This also makes the tofu extra firm.

Marination is important: Marinating tofu in desired sauces or spices is essential; otherwise, it will be very bland. Here, you can play around with spices and ingredients as you wish.

Use heavy-bottom pan: I prefer heavy-bottom pans in my cooking as they distribute heat equally, and food tends to stick to the pan. This helps the tofu or any vegetables not to stick to the pan. Use non-stick pans for fewer oil options. Otherwise, cast iron frying pans give the best brown tofu.

Similar Recipes-

Baked Vegan Chicken Nuggets

Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets

Vegan Tofu Recipes

Vegetable Hash Breakfast Skillet

Serving Ideas for Crispy Baked Tofu/ Pan-fried Tofu

As an appetizer/snack - This is one of the healthiest snacks or appetizers and won't add any fat to your body. On the other hand, the protein-rich snack will give you satiety and keep you full for longer.

Add it to curry—You can add this baked tofu to your curry recipes. Here, you may marinate with curry paste or powder in place of soy or tamari. This will help the tofu absorb more curry flavor.

Add to salads—This crispy tofu can be added to any salad or baked veggies, like my roasted veggie quinoa salad.

If you like this post and want to stay updated, subscribe via email. Also, Like and share my Facebook Page. Follow My Dainty Kitchen on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

This recipe is inspired by the cooking lessons from The Kitchn.