Crispy Fried Tofu
Crisp on the outside, firm on the inside, yummy bites of perfect tofu! Flash fried to keep it on the healthy side, this quick and easy recipe for Crispy Fried Tofu is a great addition to any vegan meal adding both protein and yummy goodness to bowls, noodles, salads, or even eaten alone with dipping sauce!
Servings: 5
Ingredients
- 16 oz extra firm tofu, pressed and cubed
- ⅓ cup cornstarch or potato starch
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- Pinch turmeric for color (optional)
- Grapeseed oil for frying (peanut oil is another option)
Instructions
- Press all the water out of the tofu. You can do this by wrapping the tofu in dish towels and then setting something heavy on top like a pan or book. The weight of the pan will help to push as much liquid out as possible, so that when cooked the tofu stays nice and firm. Then cut your tofu into bite size cubes. Here some more help on how to press tofu if you have never done it before.
- Mix the cornstarch, garlic power, onion powder, salt, and turmeric in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- Heat up 4 inches of oil in a deep pot to 390 to 400 degrees fahrenheit. Do not fill the pot up with more than ⅓ oil. You may also use a deep fryer if you have one.
- Once the oil has reached the correct temperature, toss a third of the cubed tofu into the cornstarch mixture. Make sure to coat all sides of the tofu cubes.
- Now place the coated tofu in the pot or fryer right away. Use a spatula to swish the tofu cubes around a few times to make sure they don’t stick together. Cook for about 30 to 60 seconds until the tofu is golden and crispy. You will want to fry the tofu in 2 to 3 batches so you don’t overcrowd the pot.
- Drain on a paper towel and repeat the process until all the tofu is fried.
Notes
*Time to press the tofu is not factored into the total cooking time. This will add on an additional 20 minutes. Yet, the pressing time requires no effort or attention on your part. Therefore, it's 20 minutes you could be doing whatever you like while the tofu preps itself.
*The tofu can be seasoned with any spice you wish, so have fun with it and get creative.
*The amount of oil used is not the amount you consume. Flash frying allows you to fry food in a way that is not greasy and much better for you.
Nutrition
Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 12.2g | Protein: 14.2g | Fat: 11.9g | Saturated Fat: 1.7g | Sodium: 246mg | Potassium: 220mg | Fiber: 2.2g | Sugar: 0.2g | Calcium: 610mg | Iron: 2mg
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