Crispy Pan Fried Tofu with Hoisin Sauce

Hearty, protein packed tofu is pan fried until crispy and tossed in a sweet and salty Hoisin Sauce. This dish is delightfully simple, full of flavor, and makes a perfect appetizer, side, or salad topping!

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Fun fact about me: I love tofu, especially Crispy Pan Fried Tofu.

We're not vegetarians in our house, but we do love playing around with plant based proteins.

And honestly, I find plant proteins a lot easier to prepare than meat.

For starters, I like that I don't have to worry about raw meat on my countertops. I also find that tofu and plant based proteins are easier to season AND I don't worry about overcooking them.

In the instance of this recipe, there is hardly any effort necessary. Simply toss nuggets of tofu in a little cornstarch and then fry until extra crispy in a combo of vegetable and sesame oil. The sesame oil gives the dish a wonderful toasty flavor, while the vegetable oil withstands the high heat.

But what really makes this dish, is the hoisin sauce!

Hoisin is like an Asian BBQ sauce-a little sweet, a little salty, and loaded with flavor. It's also deliciously sticky as any BBQ sauce should be.

Garnish with a few peanuts and a sprinkle of cilantro and you have a perfect plate of crunchy, saucy tofu snacks.

So if you've ever thought about dabbling in plant based proteins or more specifically tofu, this recipe is a great introduction. It's simple, delicious, and will be gobbled up in an instant.

Versatility of Tofu

Tofu tends to have a bad reputation of being a boring old health food-- a little bland and uninteresting.

But I'm here to tell you that's false! Tofu is a fabulous and delicious ingredient to work with!

Tofu's texture is (figuratively) like a sponge and ready, willing, and able to absorb a ton of flavor.

It's also incredibly versatile because it can be cooked a million different ways. You can fry it (like we do here), bake it and add it to different sauces like tikka masala or curry, steam it, add it to soups, or blend it into smoothies!

This versatility allows you to create a super flavorful, nutritious dish with minimal effort! And we love that around here.

What does tofu taste like?

To be honest?

On its own, not much. And that's a good thing for us!

What's great about tofu is that it acts as a sponge and will absorb any flavor you throw on it. And because it doesn't have a strong taste of its own, it won't compete with any herbs, spices, or sauces you toss it with.

It's essentially a blank canvas, and that's what makes tofu so versatile!

What tofu is best for frying?

There are several tofu options available at the grocery store these days, but for this recipe, we want to choose a block labled "firm" or "extra firm".

The firmer blocks of tofu are a lot more robust and will stand up to being tossed in the cornstarch and fried

Anything softer--like a silken--would just fall apart. Silken tofu tends to be better suited for smoothies, dips, and baked goods.

The tofu I like to use states that it is a "medium firm" consistency. I find this tofu holds up really well when sliced and fried.

The brand I use is Heiwa Tofu. It's Maine made, and has worked perfectly in every recipe I've used it in.

How to make Crispy Pan Fried Tofu with Hoisin Sauce

Ingredients:

Makes 4 servings

• 1 16oz package of firm or extra firm tofu
• 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
• 1 cup of vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame oil
• ¼ cup of hoisin sauce
• 2 tablespoons of dry roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
• Cilantro and scallions, sliced for garnish

Instructions:

Slice tofu in half lengthwise (butterflied) to make two thinner layers.

Line a sheet pan or plate with paper towels and place the tofu slices in a single layer on the paper towels.

Add another layer of paper towels to the top of the tofu and place a heavy pot or a weighted down sheet pan on top.

Allow the tofu to be pressed under the weights for 30 minutes.

Once pressed, remove the weights, discard the paper towels, and dice the tofu into cubes approximately ¾" to 1" in size. I got about 32 cubes total.

In a large bowl, add the tofu cubes and the cornstarch together. Gently toss, making sure the tofu is well coated in a thin layer of cornstarch.

In a 10" cast iron skillet (or saute pan) with high sides, add the vegetable and sesame oils and heat over medium heat until shimmering, but not smoking.

Carefully add the tofu. Turn the heat down if the oil starts splattering or if the tofu is browning too quickly.

Cook nuggets until golden brown on all sides, about 6-7 minutes per side. You'll know the tofu is ready to turn when it releases easily from the pan. If the tofu sticks when you try to turn it, give it another minute to cook and it should flip easily.

Once fried, remove cubes from the pan and drain on a plate lined with paper towels for a minute or two.

While the tofu drains, add the hoisin sauce to a large bowl.

Add the warm tofu to the bowl of hoisin and toss until well coated.

Transfer tofu to a serving plate and garnish with chopped peanuts, cilantro and scallions. Serve with additional hoisin sauce for dipping.

Why do I need to press the tofu?

Because tofu is a very wet ingredient, it's important to press the tofu before cooking.

By pressing the tofu before cooking, you are releasing any excess moisture. That moisture doesn't add much to the final product, so no need to keep it around!

Removing the excess water will help to keep the tofu's shape while cooking and it'll allow more room for flavors to be absorbed.

In the instance of frying, it's always best to dry the tofu as much as possible to ensure crispiness and to prevent the hot oil from splattering.

Can I make this dish without cornstarch?

Yes!

You can omit the cornstarch completely and fry the tofu as is in the oil, it just won't be as crispy and crunchy.

I use cornstarch in this recipe to help absorb excess moisture, but more importantly, it gives the tofu a really nice golden crispy crust.

But again, the recipe will still work without it!

Is Crispy Pan Fried Tofu Gluten Free?

Yes!

Tofu is naturally gluten free and if you choose to use the cornstarch in this recipe, that too is a gluten free ingredient.

Just make sure to check the labels on your tofu and cornstarch to confirm they haven't been processed in a facility that also processes wheat products.

As for the hoisin sauce, there are gluten free options available! Just check your local grocery store or here on Amazon!

Is Fried Tofu Good For You?

Tofu on its own provides a nice source of plant based protein--which is great for those on a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Tofu is also fairly low in calories, but rich in iron, calcium, and magnesium. It's also low in saturated fat and carbs!

The list of health benefits goes on, but if you were looking for more tofu nutrition facts, Cooking Light put out a really great article on the topic. You can read more about it here.

With that being said, I wouldn't say that fried tofu is a healthy dish. But it is better than a fried hot dog, and tofu has a lot of good stuff in it!

But just like everything, consume in moderation!

Other sauce options:

Hoisin sauce is my favorite condiment to toss tofu in. It's a little sweet, salty, and it reminds me of an Asian BBQ Sauce. If you're not a fan of hoisin, or do not have access to it, here are some other great options to toss your crispy fried tofu nuggets in!

• Your favorite sweet and spicy BBQ Sauce
• Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Sweet Chili Sauce
• Teriyaki Sauce
• Buffalo Wing Sauce

Other recipes you might like:

Easy Black Bean Burgers

Oven Roasted Frozen Cauliflower

BBQ Chicken Naan Pizza

Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers