Black Pepper Tofu
Black pepper tofu is an easy and quick tofu recipe that is vegan and can customize to gluten-free easily. Here the crispy tofu is coated with flavorful sauce. This is too delicious and takes less than 30 minutes.
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 236kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb tofu extra firm
- 6 - 8 large garlic cloves minced
- 1 inch ginger finely chopped
- 2 dried red chilli
- 1 cup chopped green onions
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp (heaped) corn starch
Sauce
- 3 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tsp hot sauce/ sriracha adjust depending on taste
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ - 1 tsp red pepper flakes as per taste
- ⅓ - ½ cup water depending on consistency required
- 1 tbsp corn starch
Instructions
- Press tofu with help of a tofu press or skip if it's extra-firm and doesn't require more press.
- Sprinkle corn starch and coat the tofu cubes nicely. Add light soy sauce and marinate for 5 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F/ 200 C. Place the marinated tofu on a greased pan and bake for 8 - 10 minutes, flipping through halfway.
- Remove to a clean bowl once done. (You can also crisp them on a skillet on the stovetop. Follow my crispy tofu recipe for stovetop.)
- Now heat a wok or skillet and add some oil to it. When oil is hot add chopped ginger and garlic.
- Saute for 40 - 60 seconds (or till they begin to turn brown), and then add the red chili and chopped green onions. Saute for 30 - 40 seconds.
- Add black pepper depending on how fiery you need.
- Next add the stir-fry sauce (mix of dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, hot sauce, maple syrup, corn starch, and water). Corn starch will help thicken the sauce.
- Now add baked crispy tofu and give a nice stir and simmer till the sauce thickens and coats the tofu well.
- Garnish with some more spring onions and turn off the heat.
- Serve hot with steamed rice. Sprinkle some green onions or toasted sesame seeds and some roasted veggies or simply some crunchy cucumber.
Notes
- Press the tofu depending on the firmness. To press tofu either use heavy chopping boards or a simple tofu press.
- Marinate the tofu before cooking as this will add an umami flavor to it.
- Make crispy tofu by baking in the oven, air fryer, or sauteing on a skillet. However, the oven and air fryer helps to make oil-free crispy tofu.
- Add black pepper as per taste and heat you need in the sauce. Also, the chili sauce and chili flakes are optional and skip them if you can't take so much heat. But the spicy flavor will get balanced with maple syrup.
- I have used red dried chili, hot sauce, and chili flakes in the sauce. You can skip any of them.
- Add garlic and ginger generously as this makes the dish super tasty and flavorful. Saute them till the raw smell goes off.
- No need to add any extra salt since the soy sauce contains enough salt that is required for the recipe. If you still fill it's salty, you can dilute the sauce a little more and add some more corn starch slurry
- Normally this black pepper tofu is usually a thick sauce that coats the black pepper. so avoid adding too much water to the sauce. And consider adding low sodium soy sauce. For gluten-free substitute the soy sauce with tamari.
- If you don't get dark soy sauce and light soy sauce, then take the regular soy sauce.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 236kcal