Crispy Tofu Teriyaki

This Vegan crispy tofu teriyaki is the most delicious way to eat tofu. Crispy tofu is the perfect vessel for the sweet teriyaki sauce. Each bite is packed with a sweet umami flavor followed by the crunch on the outside and soft texture in the center of the fried tofu. 

Vegan and tasty

Tofu can sometimes be equated to being boring and flavorless. This dish is anything but, we pan fry the tofu to give the exterior a crispy bite. The center stays pillowy soft. This dish requires a little bit of prep work. The end result is totally worth the effort.

tofu types

We are looking for a firm tofu for this dish. You will see lots of different varieties and brands. Choose your favorite and make sure it is firm. Tofu is typically packed in a small amount of liquid. We need to drain the liquid then fold paper towels or a clean dish towel around the block of tofu. Using a heavy pan, place the pan on top of the block of tofu and let it sit for about 15 minutes. This is a very important step to getting the tofu nice and crispy.

ingredients needed to make crispy tofu teriyaki

Crispy Tofu~

• Tofu 

• Corn Starch (Potato Starch works well too)

• Salt 

• Pepper

• Sesame Seeds (Optional Garnish)

• Scallions (Optional Garnish) 

Teriyaki Sauce~

• Soy Sauce 

• Sake (Sake Substitutes)

• Mirin (Mirin Substitutes) 

• Brown Sugar  

how to make crispy tofu teriyaki step by step

STEP 1: Press out the tofu block by wrapping the block in a few paper towels or a clean dish towel and leaving a heavy pot or pan on top for 15 minutes. 

STEP 2: Prepare the sauce by adding soy sauce, sake, mirin, and brown sugar into a saucepan and stir to combine. Cook the ingredients on medium high heat, until bubbles form. Then turn the heat down to medium-low and cook for 15 minutes stirring occasionally. The sauce will slowly thicken and begin to bubble. Once the sauce is at the desired consistency take it off the heat and set aside. 

STEP 3: Heat a Dutch oven or heavy bottom pan like a cast iron to medium heat and add the cooking Oil. Cut your tofu block into 1inch-by-1inch cubes. Prepare your corn starch in a shallow bowl or plate by mixing in the salt and pepper. 

STEP 4: Dip each cube of tofu into the corn starch, making sure each side is evenly coated. Working in batches carefully place the tofu into the hot oil. Cook each side for about 2 minutes allowing each side of the tofu block to get crispy.   

STEP 5: Let the tofu drain on a plate with paper towels. Once all the tofu is cooked, stack the cubes in a bowl top with the teriyaki sauce and garnish with scallions and sesame seeds. (The teriyaki sauce will thicken as it cools, heat the sauce back up if needed)

notes for success

Pressing the liquid out of the tofu block is a very important step to get a crispy exterior on your tofu cubes. You can use any type of starch you have on hand like potato or rice. Here are substitution ideas for mirin and sake. The teriyaki sauce will start out very thin and it will thicken the longer it cooks. Once your teriyaki sauce begins to bubble, that is when you know it is close to being ready.

storage

You can store your crispy tofu teriyaki in a seal airtight container for up to 3 days. Note to reheat you will need to air fry or oven bake to get a crispy texture. Microwaving will cause a chewy texture.

Here are some more tasty weeknight recipes~

• Vegetarian Pad Thai

• Miso Brown Butter Fried Rice

• Vegetarian Bulgogi

If you make this Crispy Tofu Teriyaki, be sure to leave a comment and rating. I appreciate your support and feedback and I try my best to respond to each and every comment! Thank you!