Crispy Baked Tofu
Crispy Baked Tofu
You can throw it in your salad! Add it to a Thai gravy and eat it by dipping it in soy sauce. Whatever you do, it is delicious, fulfilling, comforting, and heavenly. Check out Tofu Bacon, and Sesame Tofu.
Now, the thing with tofu is that most people complain that it is not as crispy as they like. Well, we have a perfect solution to this problem! Here is a simple recipe that will result in crispy and crunchy tofu!
What is tofu?
You might have noticed a white block similar to cheese lying around at a grocery store, especially in the vegan section. That’s tofu! Everyone knows what tofu is! It is not because of its versatility but also because of its many benefits. Often said as the meat of the vegans, tofu is also referred to as bean curd.
Did you know that tofu is made from soy milk? Yes, that’s right. It is obtained by curdling soy milk. The curd obtained is then is pressed into the shape of blocks and ready for use.
Now, tofu doesn’t really have a flavor of its own. It is pretty bland. But that’s actually a good thing. Because it doesn’t have a taste of its own, it soaks up the flavors of the marinade pretty well. As a result, it is delicious.
Tofu’s origins are closely linked to ancient china. Although there are several theories on how it came into being for the first time, all these theories point to ancient China. Ever since, the Chinese have been making it, consuming it, and teaching the rest of the world about its processing.
Benefits of tofu
Tofu has many benefits. Here are a few to name:
- It is high in protein. That why it is extremely popular among vegans. It fills ups their body requirement for protein.
- It is low in calories. Therefore, it is a perfect snack and keeps you feel fuller for longer.
- Tofu contains a compound called isoflavones. This compound is said to protect the body from several diseases. Isoflavones also help in reducing the inflammation of the blood vessel. Furthermore, it also improves the elasticity of these vessels. As a result, it reduces the risk of heart diseases by many folds.
- It also helps in regulating the sugar level in the blood. Thus, reducing the risk of diabetes.
- It helps in improving the functioning of the brain. Consuming tofu regularly is said to improve memory.
- Because it is low in calories, it also aids in weight loss.
What are the different types of tofu?
On the basis of its texture and level of water, tofu comes in four main types. These are:
- Silken: silken tofu, as the name indicates, is the smoothest and silkiest type of tofu. It almost resembles cream cheese and has the highest water content of all kinds. It is so soft and creamy that you can easily use it instead of cream cheese or thick cheese.
- Soft: Soft tofu, also known as regular tofu, is a level up from silken tofu. It is soft but still holds a shape and is not as crumbly as silken tofu, but it quite giggly.
- Firm: Now, the most common and widely used type of tofu is firm tofu. It has just the right amount of water and holds a shape as well. It is quite similar to feta cheese in texture and is widely used in salads, etc.
- Extra-firm: this type of tofu has the fairly low water content of all. It is pressed for quite a long time, and therefore, it holds a shape. It is quite tough as compared to other types as well.
- Super firm: it is the hardest and denser of all types. Super firm tofu is almost like meat. It has the lowest water content, and therefore you can dice it, slice it and use it instead of meat.
Can we make tofu at home?
Although you can find all types of tofu at any grocery store, you can make your own from scratch as well. in fact, for someone who likes to spend time in the kitchen making stuff, making your tofu can be an exciting thing.
Before we move forward, let me tell you it is not difficult at all. All you need is soy milk and lemon juice. Here is how you can make tofu at home:
- Firstly, pour soy milk into a saucepan and place it on medium heat.
- Just when the milk starts to get hot, add lemon juice.
- You will see the milk curdle up. Stir so that the juice works its magic.
- Once it is all done, strain the mixture using a cheesecloth. Discard the liquid, and you will get the bean curd in the cheesecloth.
- Place a weight over the cheesecloth to get rid of excess water.
- Tofu is ready.
How to make crispy baked tofu?
Making crispy baked tofu is super easy. All you have to do is cut tofu into small cubes.
Marinade with soy sauce, sesame oil, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and corn starch.
Let it sit for about 10 minutes.
Now place the tofu pieces on a greased baking tray and place in a preheated oven at 425-degree F for 40 minutes. Don’t forget to flip the pieces halfway into the cook. Crispy baked tofu is ready!
Other Tofu Recipes To Prepare
Tips for perfect crispy tofu
Most of us fail at making crispy tofu. However, it is not rocket science; you will need a few things to keep in mind.
- If you want crispy tofu, you have to choose the right type! Don’t imagine using silken or soft tofu and expecting it to be crispy. You will be disappointed. So, for crispy tofu, use extra firm tofu. Furthermore, you can also press regular tofu for about 20 minutes to get rid of excess water.
- Make sure you coat it evenly in cornstarch. It will result in a crispy outer layer. If you don’t have cornstarch, you can also use arrowroot powder.
- When placing them on a baking tray, make sure they are not touching each other. Keep them at some distance so that they get heat from every direction.
- Flip tofu several times into the cook. This way, it will get crispy from every side.
How to use crispy baked tofu?
Crispy tofu is not just delicious, fulfilling but is versatile as well. There are so many ways you can enjoy it! Here are a few ideas:
- Eat it with soy sauce or any dip.
- Add it to your garden salad and enjoy.
- Use it in a sweet and sour gravy and serve alongside rice.
- Since it is a perfect substitute for meat, it goes perfectly well in any Thai coconut curry, red or green curry.
- How about making a stir fry and enjoying tofu in it?
- Serve it on vegetable noodles and enjoy the crispy, pillowy texture.
How to store crispy baked tofu?
The good thing about tofu is that you can store it. If you have leftover, store it in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to seven days. However, make sure it is completely cool before you put it in the container. Otherwise, it will get soggy. And when you want to reuse it, simply bake for 5-7 minutes in a preheated oven at 425-degree F, and it will get perfectly crispy again. Furthermore, you can also place it in the microwave.
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Crispy Baked Tofu
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces extra-firm tofu
- 2 1/4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper or 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon arrowroot powder or cornstarch
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven 425 degrees F. Brush or spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Cut extra-firm tofu into small cubes and place it in a large bowl. If you are using regular tofu, make sure to press it underweight for about 20 minutes before using it so that you can get rid of excess water.
- In a bowl, add soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic powder, paprika, pepper powder, and corn starch. Mix well.
- Pour this mixture over cubed tofu and mix well so that the mixture coats the tofu evenly. Marinade for about 10 minutes so that tofu soaks up all the flavors.
- Grease the baking tray with cooking spray and place the marinated tofu on it. Make sure you keep them at least half an inch apart from each other.
- Place the baking tray in a preheated oven for 40 minutes. Flip them after 20 minutes so that the tofu gets crispy from the other sides as well.
- Once done, remove the tray from the oven and serve tofu
Thank you for this recipe, it was very delicious, I can’t stop eating!
Eva, I’m so happy you enjoy it.