Description

This Chili Crunch Tofu recipe offers a deliciously crispy and spicy plant-based dish that’s perfect for a quick, flavorful dinner. Tofu is pressed, coated with cornstarch, and pan-fried to golden perfection before being tossed in a sticky, savory sauce made with chili crisp, soy sauce, and aromatics. Garnished with fresh green onions, this vibrant and healthy recipe is excellent served over rice, noodles, or vegetables.

Ingredients

Scale

Tofu

14 oz extra-firm tofu
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon neutral oil (vegetable or avocado oil)

Sauce

1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons chili crisp or chili crunch oil
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

Garnish

2 green onions (sliced)

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Instructions

Press the tofu: Place the tofu between paper towels or a clean kitchen towel and press it with a heavy object for at least 15 minutes to remove excess moisture, which helps achieve a crispier texture.
Prepare the tofu: Cut the pressed tofu into bite-sized cubes. In a large bowl, toss the tofu cubes with cornstarch, salt, and pepper until evenly coated to ensure a crispy crust when cooked.
Cook the tofu: Heat the neutral oil in a large skillet or nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the tofu cubes and cook for 8–10 minutes, turning occasionally, until all sides are golden brown and crispy.
Make the sauce: While the tofu cooks, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, chili crunch, rice vinegar, maple syrup, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a small bowl to create the flavorful sauce.
Combine tofu and sauce: Once the tofu is crispy, reduce the heat to low and pour the prepared sauce over the tofu. Stir gently to coat all pieces evenly and cook for another 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and becomes sticky.
Garnish and serve: Remove the tofu from heat, garnish with sliced green onions, and serve hot over jasmine rice, noodles, or your preferred vegetables.

Notes

Adjust the amount of chili crunch according to your preferred spice level.
For an extra crunchy texture, try baking or air-frying the tofu instead of pan-frying.
This dish pairs wonderfully with jasmine rice, stir-fried vegetables, or wrapped in lettuce for a fresh bite.