Description

This Crispy Tofu with Peanut Sauce recipe delivers a deliciously crunchy plant-based dish that's easy to prepare. The super firm tofu is coated in cornstarch and baked until golden and crispy, then tossed in a creamy, tangy peanut sauce made with peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, and sesame oil. Perfect as a main course or appetizer, this flavorful tofu dish is garnished with green onions for an extra fresh touch.

Ingredients

Scale

Tofu

1 pound super firm tofu dried and cubed
3 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Peanut Sauce

3 tablespoons unsalted creamy or crunchy peanut butter
1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon lime juice
Hot water as needed for sauce consistency

Garnish

Green onion for garnish

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Instructions

Prepare tofu: In a medium bowl, toss the tofu cubes with oil. Add cornstarch and mix until evenly coated. Rinse and dry the bowl for later use.
Bake tofu: Arrange the tofu on a sheet pan and bake at 400 degrees F for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.
Make peanut sauce: While the tofu cooks, in the reserved bowl combine peanut butter, sesame oil (if using), soy sauce, brown sugar, and lime juice. Add a splash of hot water and stir until smooth. Add more hot water little by little to reach your desired creamy consistency.
Coat tofu: Once the tofu is crispy, transfer it back to the bowl with the peanut sauce and gently toss to coat evenly.
Serve: Garnish with chopped green onions and serve immediately for best texture.

Notes

For the crispiest tofu: Press extra-firm tofu or pat super-firm tofu dry, don’t skip the cornstarch coating, and avoid overcrowding the baking tray to ensure even crispiness.
To minimize clean-up: Re-use the same bowl for mixing the tofu and the peanut sauce, and line the baking tray with parchment paper or foil.
Adjust sauce consistency by adding hot water slowly, whisking well until you achieve your preferred creaminess.
For a drier peanut coating, toss baked tofu with half the peanut sauce, bake for an additional 4-6 minutes, then toss with remaining sauce to serve.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 320 kcal
Sugar: 5 g
Sodium: 400 mg
Fat: 22 g
Saturated Fat: 3 g
Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 16 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 15 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg