Crispy Tofu With Spicy Peanut Sauce Recipes

BAKED CRISPY PEANUT TOFU

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Start pressing tofu using a tofu press, or wrap in clean, absorbent towel and set something heavy - like a cast iron skillet or books - on top to press out the moisture. Press for about 15-20 minutes.
• In the meantime, prepare peanut sauce by combining peanut butter, tamari, chili garlic sauce, lime juice, maple syrup, and sesame oil in a small mixing bowl and whisking thoroughly to combine. Set aside.
• Cut pressed tofu into 3/4-inch cubes and add to a large plate. Top with tamari or soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil, and maple syrup. Gently toss to combine using hands or a spoon. Let marinate 2-3 minutes, stirring/tossing occasionally.
• Use a slotted spoon or your hands to transfer tofu to a quart-size or large freezer bag. Add cornstarch 1 Tbsp at a time and toss to coat. Continue adding more cornstarch and tossing until tofu is coated in a gummy, white layer (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size).
• Transfer tofu to the prepared baking sheet and bake for about 20-25 minutes, flipping at the 18-minute mark to encourage even baking. It should be firm to the touch, firm on the edges, and slightly browned on the exterior once removed from the oven. Bake slightly longer if needed.
• Heat a large metal or cast iron skillet (12 inch) over medium heat. Once hot, add tofu and the peanut sauce. Toss to coat. Stirring frequently, sauté the tofu for about 2 minutes, or until the tofu is hot and well coated with peanut sauce.
• At this point it's ready to eat! Enjoy as is or with any Asian-inspired dish. We love it with our Mango Curry, Noodle-Free Pad Thai, or these Thai Noodle Bowls!

SPICY PEANUT TOFU (PAN-FRIED)

Steps:

• Slice the tofu into ten slices, width-wise. Cut each slice in half so that you have 20 squares of tofu. To remove excess moisture, pat each side lightly with a clean dish towel or paper towel.
• In a large saucepan, heat peanut oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the minced garlic and ginger. Saute until aromatic, about 1 minute.
• Add the tofu to the pan in a single layer; depending on the size of your pan, you may need to do this in batches. Cook each side for 5 minutes, until lightly browned.
• Meanwhile, making the spicy peanut sauce by mixing together the peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, vegetable broth, rice wine vinegar, lime juice, and sriracha. It should be smooth and creamy, like a thick sauce.
• Use a basting or pastry brush to brush the peanut sauce lightly onto the exposed side of the tofu. Flip over, cooking another 1-2 minutes, until browned. Repeat with the other side of the tofu.
• Remove the tofu from the pan once browned on both sides. Enjoy with additional spicy peanut sauce, rice, and veggies.

CRISPY TOFU WITH SPICY PEANUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Drain tofu.
• Cut into 4 equal lengthwise slices.
• Place on a double thickness of tea towel, cover with another double thickness of tea towel and allow to stand for 15 minutes.
• Gently pat tofu dry.
• Using large nonstick frying pan, heat oil over medium heat.
• Coat tofu with cornstarch.
• Fry in hot oil until crispy and lightly coloured (about 4 to 5 minutes per side).
• Drain on paper towel.
• Place slices on dinner plate, drizzle with peanut sauce and sprinkle with green onions.
• Serve immediately.

CRISPY SPICY PEANUT TOFU STIR FRY

Steps:

• Slice tofu block into 1/2 inch thick slices. Place several paper towels down on a cutting board, lay the slices on top, top with several more paper towels and add weight to the top. I used a cutting board, ceramic insert from a slow cooker, and added a large can of tomatoes to the insert to add extra weight.
• This can be done in advance (see notes section below recipe).
• Drain tofu for 15-30 minutes, the longer the better!
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Slice tofu into strips, then cut across them to make small cubes.
• Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, spray lightly with cooking spray and bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden and crispy.
• Set pan aside while you make the sauce.
• Whisk sauce ingredients together in a small bowl.
• Add cooked tofu to the sauce and let it marinate for about 10-15 minutes.
• Steam broccoli (and/or other veggies) and set aside.
• Drizzle a bit of sesame or vegetable oil into a large skillet or wok, and heat over MED-HIGH heat.
• Using a slotted spoon, add the marinated tofu to the skillet and stir fry for a few minutes until seared and caramelized.
• Serve over rice, vegetables, and drizzle with remaining sauce if desired.
• Use a slotted spoon to spoon tofu into the preheated pan. Add a few spoonfuls of the sauce to coat. Cook, stirring frequently for a few minutes until browned. It will stick to the pan a bit, so don't worry. Remove from pan and set aside and cover to keep warm.

PAN-FRIED TOFU WITH SPICY PEANUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Drain tofu (i pressed gently between paper towels).
• Cut into bite-sized cubes.
• Toss with cornstarch, coating the cubes.
• Sprinkle a little salt and pepper.
• Heat some oil (about 3-4 tablespoon, just ensure pan is coated).
• Fry the tofu cubes in batches, making sure all sides are lightly browned.
• Drain on paper towels, then sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired.
• Sauce: Heat the milk in small saucepan (you can make sauce in microwave too).
• Add peanut butter, stirring well.
• Add other seasonings, according to personal taste (I love spicy food, so i added LOTS of chilli flakes!). If you use coconut milk, add 1/2 - 1 tsp of lime juice too - it will be great!
• Serve hot, as a snack or appetizer. Sometimes i serve them with a sweet Chinese dessert: Green Bean Soup.