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    Home » Appetizer

    Easy and Crispy Fried Tofu

    Oct 31, 2022 by Tania Sheff · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    This Fried Tofu recipe is super simple 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 veggies on the 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 on 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 Step-by-Step

    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 for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden and crispy.

    frying tofu in oil
    Fried Tofu on a tray and one piece is dipped in 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 Freeze Fried Tofu

    I wouldn't suggest freezing the fried tofu, because the beauty of this dish is the crispy outer layer, which will not be the same after freezing. However, if you do want to take this route, you can place these on a tray, freeze them, and then transfer them into a Ziploc bag and store for up to 3 months.

    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 served over zucchini noodles

    I bet you'll enjoy these recipes, too:

    • 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.
    4.64 from 11 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.
      slicing extra firm tofu into strips
    • Put the slices onto 2-3 paper towels and season them with Cajun seasoning and salt. Flip and season again.
      seasoning tofu slices
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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

    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!

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    6.8K shares
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    Filed Under: All Recipes, Appetizer, Comfort Food, Lunch, Quick Dinners, 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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