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Home » Appetizer » Easy and Crispy Fried Tofu

Easy and Crispy Fried Tofu

Last updated on October 12, 2021. Originally posted on November 18, 2020 By Tania Sheff

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This Fried Tofu recipe is super simple, versatile, and it tastes fantastic! Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, it makes a perfect addition to any meal.

Fried Tofu on a plate with Tomatoes on background

If you consider yourself not to be a tofu fan, you probably just haven’t had tofu the right way. I bet that if you had this Easy Fried Tofu, you would change your tune on tofu! Serve it as a snack, or as a side to pretty much any meal.

Watch How to Make Fried Tofu

To get started, let's learn a bit about tofu.

What is Tofu

People often wonder what tofu is made of. Tofu is a food made of condensed soy milk that is pressed into solid, white blocks. The process of making tofu is relatively similar to the way that cheese is made from milk. So, think of it as cheese made from soy milk. There are many different varieties of tofu, such as soft/silken tofu, firm tofu, extra firm tofu, and fermented tofu.

Learn more about tofu from Wikipedia.

What Kind of Tofu to Buy

If you are going to fry tofu, you definitely want to buy extra firm tofu. I also suggest you opt for organic, non-gmo tofu, especially since it’s very affordable.

Fried Tofu in a skillet

Fried Tofu Ingredients

  • Extra Firm Tofu. You cannot use soft/silken or medium tofu in this recipe, or it will fall apart in the skillet.
  • Cornstarch. It helps the tofu to get crispy. You can use arrowroot powder instead if you are sensitive to corn products.
  • Seasonings. Cajun seasoning and salt bring a lot of flavor and a bit of heat. I absolutely love this combination!
  • Oil. You can use olive, avocado, sunflower, grapeseed, coconut, or peanut oil. Choose your oil based on personal preference and availability.
organic super firm tofu in a package

How to Make Fried Tofu

1. Drain the liquid from the tofu package and dry the tofu with paper towels. Cut into about 1-inch slices.

slicing extra firm tofu into strips

2. Put the slices onto 2-3 paper towels and season them with Cajun seasoning and salt. Flip and season again.

seasoning tofu slices

3. Place 2 more paper towels on top of the tofu slices and press gently with your hands. This way, you’ll remove any excess moisture and press the seasonings into the tofu.

pressing paper towels over tofu slices

4. Cut the tofu into cubes and place on a large plate. Add the cornstarch and gently stir to coat (I like using my hands to do this).

coating tofu with cornstarch

5. Heat the oil in a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the tofu and cook 2-3 minutes per side, until golden and crispy.

frying tofu in oil
Fried Tofu piece dipped in a ketchup

Tips & Tricks

  • Squeeze the liquid from the tofu. Wrap the tofu block with paper towels and press gently until the excess liquid gets absorbed by the towels.
  • Use a non-stick pan. A cast iron pan can also be used, but make sure it is thoroughly heated before adding the tofu. Non-stick skillets work best because they never fail.
  • Don’t fiddle. Let the tofu get golden and crispy before flipping it over. Be patient.
  • Adjust seasonings. You can also use other seasonings instead of Cajun. Old Bay, Fajita, and Chicken seasonings would work as well.
  • Work in batches, if needed. If your skillet is not large enough to fit all of the tofu, just fry it in two batches. Don’t overcrowd the skillet because the tofu pieces can get stuck together and not cook properly. My skillet is 13 inches in diameter and I am able to fry in one batch.

How to Store and Reheat Fried Tofu

Keep your leftovers in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 3 days. The Fried Tofu won’t be crispy when reheated, but it will still have a nice texture and taste. The best method for reheating is to do it over the stove since the microwave can give it an odd texture and make it rubbery. Just add the tofu to the pan, along with whatever else you may be cooking with it. Add one tablespoon of olive or coconut oil to the pan and warm everything over medium heat until warmed through.

How to Serve Fried Tofu

Serve this Fried Tofu as a snack, along with a dipping sauce. Ketchup, Sweet Chili Sauce, and Ginger Sesame Sauce are among my favorites.

Or serve it on top (or on the side) of your favorite meals. Here is my Fried Tofu on top of Zucchini Noodles. YUMMY!

Fried Tofu on top of zucchini noodles

I bet you'll enjoy these recipes, too:

  • Vegan Crêpes
  • Chipotle Sofritas
  • Rice and Beans
  • Potato Curry
  • Potato Tacos
  • Tofu in Indian Sauce

Crispy Fried Tofu

Tania Sheff
This Fried Tofu recipe is super simple, versatile, and it tastes fantastic! Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, it makes a perfect addition to any meal.
4.60 from 10 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 9 mins
Cook Time 6 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 194 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb. extra firm tofu (preferably organic)
  • 1 tsp. Cajun seasoning or to taste
  • 1 tsp. salt or to taste
  • 4 tbsp. cornstarch
  • 4 tbsp. olive oil or other kind

Instructions
 

  • Drain the liquid from the tofu package and dry the tofu with paper towels. Cut into about 1-inch slices.
  • Put the slices onto 2-3 paper towels and season them with Cajun seasoning and salt. Flip and season again.
  • Place 2 more paper towels on top of the tofu slices and press gently with your hands. This way, you’ll remove any excess moisture and press the seasonings into the tofu.
  • Cut the tofu into cubes and place on a large plate. Add the cornstarch and gently stir to coat (I like using my hands to do this).
  • Heat the oil in a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the tofu and cook 2-3 minutes per side, until golden and crispy.

Notes

TIPS & TRICKS

  • Squeeze the liquid from the tofu. Wrap the tofu block with paper towels and press gently until the excess liquid gets absorbed by the towels.
  • Use a non-stick pan. A cast iron pan can also be used, but make sure it is thoroughly heated before adding the tofu. Non-stick skillets work best because they never fail.
  • Don’t fiddle. Let the tofu get golden and crispy before flipping it over. Be patient.
  • Adjust seasonings. You can also use other seasonings instead of Cajun. Old Bay, Fajita, and Chicken seasonings would work as well.
  • Work in batches, if needed. If your skillet is not large enough to fit all of the tofu, just fry it in two batches. Don’t overcrowd the skillet because the tofu pieces can get stuck together and not cook properly. My skillet is 13 inches in diameter and I am able to fry in one batch.

Nutrition

Calories: 194kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 10gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 483mgPotassium: 28mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 605IUCalcium: 145mgIron: 1.7mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below, I can't wait to hear from you!
« Pan-Fried Parmesan Potatoes
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Filed Under: All Recipes, Appetizer, Side dish, Vegan, Vegetarian

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cecily says

    June 20, 2022 at 11:27 am

    Can these also be made in an air fryer, if so, how? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Tania Sheff says

      June 22, 2022 at 3:44 pm

      Hi Cecily! I am sorry, but I can't advise on that. Let me know if you try it!

      Reply
  2. Florene says

    November 18, 2020 at 7:57 pm

    5 stars
    These were great! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Tania Sheff says

      November 19, 2020 at 12:52 pm

      Thanks, Florene!

      Reply
  3. Lisa Manzer says

    September 14, 2020 at 1:43 pm

    4 stars
    First time cooking with tofu. I tried 3 different seasonings and I am sitting her munching on them now. I mixed a little ketchup with some garlic chili sauce. Soooo good. Will be making these again. Thank you.
    The zucchini noodles you show is that just marinara sauce or is there a recipe for that too? thanks so much..

    Reply
    • Tania Sheff says

      September 15, 2020 at 12:46 pm

      Thank you so much for the feedback, Lisa. You can find the zucchini recipe here: https://cooktoria.com/easy-zucchini-noodles/

      Reply
  4. Rezeda says

    July 15, 2019 at 11:12 pm

    5 stars
    This looks really good!! I was looking for a great recipe for tofu and it found me! Thank you Tanush.

    Reply
    • Tania Sheff says

      July 16, 2019 at 6:25 pm

      Thank you, Rezedushka! Let me know when you try it! Happy cooking, my dear!

      Reply
  5. Trish says

    July 09, 2019 at 12:14 pm

    5 stars
    Just perfect! I will be making these again and again!

    Reply
    • Tania Sheff says

      July 09, 2019 at 12:15 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply

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