Sesame Tofu

5 from 1 vote

This Crispy Sesame Tofu is coated in a sweet and savory sesame garlic sauce and served with broccoli for an easy vegetarian dinner. Make it in the air fryer or pan fry it for a quick meal that tastes better than takeout.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: dinner

Cuisine: American, Asian

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: large servings

Author: Brita Britnell

Ingredients

For the sauce:

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
¼ cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger minced or grated
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water

For the Tofu

14-16 oz block extra-firm tofu pressed
1 tablespoon soy sauce
½ tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons cornstarch
¼ teaspoon Salt and black pepper to taste
3 cups broccoli florets optional

Instructions

Steam your broccoli by placing a steamer basket and 1 cup of water into a medium pan. Once the water is boiling, add in the broccoli and cover. Cook for 5-8 minutes or until the broccoli is fork tender. Set aside.
Prep the Tofu. Press the tofu to remove excess moisture. Cut or tear into bite-sized pieces. In a large bowl, toss the tofu with soy sauce and olive oil. Sprinkle in the cornstarch and salt and gently toss until evenly coated.
Cook Option 1: Air Fryer. Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Arrange tofu in a single layer in the basket (work in batches if needed). Air fry for 12–15 minutes, shaking halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
Cook Option 2: Pan Fry. Heat 1–2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add tofu in a single layer without overcrowding. Cook for 8–12 minutes, flipping every few minutes, until golden and crispy on most sides.
Make the sauce by whisking together the sesame oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, cornstarch, and water. Once tofu is done cooking, add the sauce to a large skillet over medium heat (use the same skillet you cooked the tofu in if you pan fried it). Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce is thickened. Toss in the tofu to coat and remove from the heat.
Serve the the tofu with the broccoli and a grain of choice! ENJOY!

Video

Notes

*see my full guide on pressing tofu HERE.

If using super firm tofu, no need to press it first.

Storage Instructions - Store leftover sesame tofu in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To reheat, warm it in a skillet over medium heat or in the air fryer for a few minutes until heated through. The tofu will soften slightly but will still taste delicious.

Nutrition