Crispy Baked Tofu
This crispy baked tofu is one of our staple easy tofu recipes! Pair it with any of your favorite sauces and veggies to make a delicious crispy tofu stir fry. Try it with my sweet and spicy Gochujang Sauce!
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Servings: 5 servings
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- baking tray
- parchment or silicone baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 (14-16 oz) block firm or extra-firm tofu
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or neutral vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch or potato starch
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
Freeze and Defrost the Tofu (optional but recommended)
- A day or two ahead of time, place the tofu in the freezer. (It can be frozen directly in the package.) Once frozen, let it defrost fully (either on the counter or overnight in the fridge.) This step is optional, but will give it a slightly firmer and chewier texture that works well in this recipe.
Press the Tofu
- Drain tofu and cut into roughly 1" cubes. Lay down a clean kitchen towel and arrange tofu cubes on one half of the towel. Fold the other half of the towel over the tofu and place a cutting board on top to help press out the excess water. Let it drain for 15-20 minutes.
Season the Tofu
- Preheat your oven to 425°F and line a baking tray with parchment or a silicone baking mat.
- Transfer the pressed tofu to a large bowl. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle on the onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Toss until evenly coated. Try to be gentle with the tofu so that the cubes stay intact. I find using a big rubber spatula helps.
- Sprinkle the cornstarch over the seasoned tofu and once again toss until tofu is evenly coated and there's no dry cornstarch left at the bottom of the bowl.
Bake the Tofu
- Arrange the tofu on your prepared baking sheet so that the pieces aren't touching.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then give the pieces a flip. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the tofu is golden brown and crispy. The time will vary a little depending on how thoroughly you pressed your tofu.
- Remove from the oven and serve with your favorite sauce.
Video
Notes
Substitutions: If you prefer not to cook with cornstarch, you can substitute in an equal volume of all-purpose flour or potato starch.
Tofu: This recipe can also be made with medium-firm tofu, but you'll need to be a bit more gentle while pressing and coating it. You may also need to add a few extra minutes to the cook time.
Other seasonings: Feel free to get creative and add your favorite spices. Some ideas are: curry powder, taco seasoning, Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, or nutritional yeast. You can also drizzle in a tablespoon of soy sauce (in step 3) for extra umami. Reduce the salt by half if you do.
Air Fryer: This recipe is easiest to prepare in the oven, so you can arrange the tofu in one even layer on a baking tray. However, in a pinch you can also prepare it in your air fryer. You'll want to give the air fryer basket a vigorous shake every 3-5 minutes or so, to ensure that the tofu pieces crisp evenly and don't stick together.
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