Fried tofu, a delicious way of incorporating good-quality vegan protein into your diet. It requires only 6 ingredients and just 20 minutes!
Fried tofu is one of the easiest ways of eating tofu. It's a super simple and easy-to-make recipe made with inexpensive and common ingredients that you can find at any supermarket.
Tofu is one of the best sources of good-quality vegan protein and it's also very affordable. But some people don't like it because if it's not cooked or marinated it doesn't really taste like anything, so they just decide to give up on it.
However, I really think that if you prepare it the right way, tofu can taste amazing. That's why I made a delicious marinade with some ingredients I had on hand, and this recipe turned out SO well!
Fried tofu, a super flavorful, simple, and easy-to-prepare recipe. It's free from cholesterol, packed with lots of protein, and to make it you only need 6 ingredients and just 20 minutes!
How to make fried tofu - Step by step
- Add the tofu cubes, tamari or soy sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper to a large bowl (photo 1), mix until well combined (photo 2), and let it rest for at least 5 minutes.
- Drain the tofu and transfer â…“ of the tofu cubes into a freezer bag with 1 or 2 tablespoon of cornstarch and toss to coat (photo 3). Repeat this step with the remaining tofu and cornstarch.
- Once the tofu cubes are coated with the cornstarch, heat the oil in a skillet or a pan and add the tofu cubes (photo 4).
- Cook the tofu cubes over medium-high heat until all sides are golden brown. Remove the tofu from the skillet and place onto a plate or a wire rack.
- Serve your fried tofu immediately.
Pro tips
- To make this fried tofu recipe I usually add 6 tablespoon of cornstarch because I like my tofu cubes super crispy, but you can use only 3 tablespoon or even less of it. It would probably turn out well if you used a different type of flour, although I've never tried it myself.
- Feel free to add any herbs and spices you want.
- You can also replace the tamari or soy sauce with salt to taste.
- Firm or extra firm tofu are the best choices for this fried tofu recipe, as silken or other soft tofu types wouldn’t work as well.
- Onion powder and nutritional yeast are also good choices to make your tofu taste amazing.
- I never press my tofu because it saves some time and I don't think it makes a real difference. I just drain the tofu and discard the liquid. However, feel free to press it if you want to. To do it, just wrap it with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and apply some steady pressure until all the excess moisture is removed.
- For a gluten-free version of this recipe, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- You could also air fry it, check out this air fryer tofu recipe!
How long will fried tofu keep?
Although this recipe is so good you'll eat it all at once, if you have any leftovers you can keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Can I freeze fried tofu?
I wouldn't suggest you freeze it since the tofu would probably get a soft texture. And this recipe is amazing because of its flavor but also because of its wonderfully crispy texture!
How to serve fried tofu
Fried tofu works great with plenty of different recipes. You can serve it with dishes like vegetable tempura, sauteed kale, vegan stuffed peppers, or even roasted red peppers.
I also like to serve my crispy tofu over rice or with a salad.
Looking for more tofu recipes?
Did you make this fried tofu recipe?
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Fried Tofu
Ingredients
- 12 ounces firm tofu, cubed
- 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3-6 tablespoon cornstarch, see notes
- 1-2 tablespoon oil of your choice, I used extra virgin olive oil. Add more oil if needed
Instructions
- Add the tofu cubes, tamari or soy sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper to a large bowl, mix until well combined, and let it rest for at least 5 minutes.
- Drain the tofu and transfer â…“ of the tofu cubes into a freezer bag with 1 or 2 tablespoon of cornstarch and toss to coat. Repeat this step with the remaining tofu and cornstarch. Add more cornstarch if needed.
- If you don’t want to use a freezer or plastic bag, just add the cornstarch to a shallow dish, then the tofu cubes and toss to coat.
- Once the tofu cubes are coated with the cornstarch, heat the oil in a skillet or a pan and add the tofu cubes. I used extra virgin olive oil, but any oil will do.Â
- Cook the tofu cubes over medium-high heat until all sides are golden brown. Remove the tofu from the skillet and place it onto a plate or a wire rack.Â
- Serve immediately with dishes like vegetable tempura, sauteed kale, vegan stuffed peppers, or even roasted red peppers.
- Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
- To make this fried tofu recipe I usually add 6 tablespoon of cornstarch because I like my tofu cubes super crispy, but you can use only 3 tablespoon or even less of it. It would probably turn out well if you used a different type of flour, although I've never tried it myself.
- Feel free to add any herbs and spices you want.
- You can also replace the tamari or soy sauce with salt to taste.
- Firm or extra firm tofu are the best choices for this fried tofu recipe, as silken or other soft tofu types wouldn’t work as well.
- Onion powder and nutritional yeast are also good choices to make your tofu taste amazing.
- I never press my tofu because it saves some time and I don't think it makes a real difference. I just drain the tofu and discard the liquid. However, feel free to press it if you want to. To do it, just wrap it with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and apply some steady pressure until all the excess moisture is removed.
- For a gluten-free version of this recipe, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- You could also air fry it, check out this air fryer tofu recipe!
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in August of 2020, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions, and tips in January of 2022.
Danielle says
Thank you so much! This recipe is excellent! Even my husband who is not a super tofu fan loves it! 🥰
Iosune says
Hi Danielle! So glad you liked it 🙂
Marcy says
Amazing, sweet and crispy. Used in a Vietnamese summer rolls instead of fish.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Marcy! I'm so glad you liked it 🙂
Mike says
Hi, made this last night for the family, easy, really tasty and everyone liked it - excellent recipe
cheers
Iosune Robles says
Hi Mike!So glad you all liked it 🙂
Lori says
I just made these and they are delicious! I took your advice and added more corn starch. I also added a little sesame oil to the pan.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Lori! I'm so glad you liked it 🙂
Michelle says
This was so yummy! I wasn’t sure how the kids would like it but they both (1yo and 5yo) wolfed it down. My first time making tofu for the family and I’ll definitely make it regularly now
Iosune Robles says
Hi Michelle! So glad you all liked it 🙂
Valerie Palmquist says
Really good! And I am not vegan so it surprised me. Glad to have a meat free option that tastes so good!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Valerie! Thanks for your kind comment 🙂 I'm glad you liked it!
cafenitro says
If you want this to be like chicken nuggets, bake after frying for an hour and twenty minutes at 200 degrees (F). (Removes a lot more moisture and gives a meatier texture).
Khaliah Griffin says
My boyfriend and I have been vegetarian for awhile and this is my first time ever making tofu. Amazing!! I was nervous to how it would turn out, but omg it was better than I expected!! This recipe will be used often for sure. I used extra firm tofu, cut the tofu in larger square pieces and made a dipping sauce from Thai chili sauce, soy sauce & peanut butter. Yum!
Khaliah Griffin says
My boyfriend and I have been vegetarian for awhile and this is my first time ever making tofu. Amazing!! I was nervous to how it would turn out, but omg it was better than I expected!! This recipe will be used often for sure. I used extra firm tofu, cut the tofu in larger square pieces and made a dipping sauce from Thai chili sauce, soy sauce & peanut butter. Yum!
Iosune Robles says
Sounds so good! I'm glad you liked it 🙂
Will says
Hi! If i were you the only change id make is from corn starch to potato flower! Makes all the difference!
Iosune Robles says
Thanks for the tip 🙂
Danny says
So easy and delicious! I cut tofu into triangle shapes; they fried up nicely. I use a heavier oil (not as healthy), but oh they fry up crispy. We drizzled a curry aioli to serve. No leftovers!
Iosune Robles says
Sounds so good 🙂 Have a nice day!
Ashley H. says
Used this recipe for tacos but used different spices (obviously). It turned out great!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Ashley! So glad you liked it 🙂
Lori Johnson says
This recipe is amazing! My mind is going with all the possibilities! Fish sticks especially. Inside has same texture and juiciness as fish. All I need is straps and tartar sauce. I am thinking of using masala Indian seasoning too. So many options. I'm wondering how this would compare if made in an air fryer....I didn't have tamari so used soy sauce and bit of WorstShire. It's very flexible. Thank you so much.
Iosune Robles says
Hi! Thanks for your comment 🙂 Here you have our air fryer tofu recipe: https://simpleveganblog.com/air-fryer-tofu/
Demetrius Karos says
Simple but good and with options. I added the onion powder but did not freeze for the 5 minutes. I think that would have firmed things up better. Easy, cheap and came out good.
Iosune Robles says
That's what we always try to offer! Easy, inexpensive, and tasty recipes 🙂
Patti says
Love this recipe!
Its simple and very tasty.
I used regular soya sauce and onion pwdr and pepper plus 6 tablespoons of cornstarch.
Made it 3 times already.
Iosune Robles says
Sounds so good Patti! Have a nice day 🙂
DeAnne Norton says
Could this be done in an air fryer? I bought one just so I could do fried tofu but I can't figure out how to make it happen. Any idea how long I would cook it that way? Thanks 🙂
Iosune Robles says
Hi! I haven't tried to make fried tofu in an air fryer but I think it could work 🙂 I'm not sure about how long you have to cook it, sorry!
Kathryn Gannon says
Go to Okonomikitchen there is a recipe on there for air fried tofu.