Sesame Tofu
So I am so excited to share this recipe on my blog! I recently decided to experiment with cooking tofu and this being my first recipe it is AWESOME! This is a crispy tofu tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce then garnished with sesame seeds. It is also easy to make and will be ready in 15 minutes.That being said, be on the lookout for more tofu recipes to come.
What Is Tofu?
Tofu or bean curd is made by coagulating soy milk and pressing curds into white blocks. This is a similar process of making cheese. Tofu has a mild flavor and if eaten as is it can be very bland. However, it is extremely versatile and can take on any flavor. Tofu is also a good source of protein and is a meatless product which makes it popular for vegetarians. You can pretty much replace it for the meat in some of your favorite dishes and it is still just as enjoyable.
Ingredients for Crispy Sesame Tofu
- Tofu – Tofu comes in different grades of firmness from silken to extra firm. For a dish like this, I would use firm to extra firm as it has the least amount of water.
- Cornstarch – For dusting tofu before frying and also some for the sesame sauce.
- Oil – for frying
- White Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- White Vinegar
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Minced Garlic
- Dark Soy Sauce
- Water
- Sesame Oil
- Sesame Seeds
How To Cook Crispy Sesame Tofu
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- First remove tofu block from the package and discard the excess water. Place on a plate for 15-20 minutes for any extra water to drain off. The second option would be to press with a few sheets of paper towel to remove the water.
- Then you will slice the tofu into bite size square pieces on a cutting board and dust all around in cornstarch.
- Heat a non-stick skillet on medium-high heat, add the oil, wait a few minutes until very hot.
- Place a few cubes to fry at a time spacing at least 1″ apart, fry about 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- Remove cooked pieces to a paper towel lined plate. Continue until all are cooked.
- Make sesame sauce in a small pot and set aside.
- Brown some sesame seeds in a small skillet to toast.
- Combine tofu and sesame sauce in skillet simmering and stirring 2-3 minutes when ready to serve.
- Garnish with toasted sesame seeds.
My favorite way to serve this is with white rice and stir fry vegetables. The tofu will be nice and crispy on the outside and moist and fluffy on the inside and this sauce just takes it to another level. Very Yummy! However if you have leftovers, it may not taste as crispy after as most of the sauce will be absorbed but I still think the taste is great.
Crispy Sesame Tofu
Ingredients
Tofu
- 1 lb. Firm Tofu
- 1/4 cup cornstarch for dusting
- 1/2 cup Oil for frying
Sesame Sauce
- 1/4 cup White Sugar
- 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 Tbsp. White Distilled Vinegar
- 1-1/2 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. Dark or Mushroom Soy Sauce
- 1-1/2 Tbsp. Sesame Oil
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. Water
- 1 Tbsp. Cornstarch diluted in 1-1/2 Tbsp. Water
- 1 Tbsp. Sesame Seeds toasted
Instructions
Tofu
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Take tofu out of package and discard excess water. Place on a plate for 15-20 minutes for excess water to drain off.
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Slice tofu into bite size squares and dust all sides in cornstarch.
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Heat a large non-stick skillet on medium-high heat, add oil and wait a few minutes until hot. Place tofu at least 1" apart in pan to fry around 2-3 minutes on each side or golden brown. When cooked, place on paper towel lined plate.
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Continue above until all tofu cooked.
Sesame Sauce
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Combine all sesame sauce ingredients in a small pot except the diluted cornstarch and sesame seeds.
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Start heating on medium heat.
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Dilute cornstarch mixture, when sauce starts to boil, add cornstarch mixture, stir continuously for about 1 minute until slightly thicker. Set Aside.
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In a small skillet, heat on medium heat, add sesame seeds and stir a few minutes until brown and toasty.