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Easy Peanut Tofu is a high-protein vegan dinner you can make in less than an hour. Crispy tofu is pan-fried and covered in a salty-sweet peanut glaze. Each bite has crisp edges, rich flavor, and a sauce that sticks. This dish cooks quickly, uses pantry staples, and is full of flavor.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Creamy Peanut Sauce: You can use your favorite peanut sauce in this recipe, homemade or store-bought. If you’re looking for a recipe to try, give our Perfect Peanut Sauce a go.
- Extra firm tofu: We like using it because it keeps its shape, has plenty of protein, and stays soft inside. Remember to press it before you cook this recipe!
- Neutral cooking oil: For a crispy exterior, choose a neutral oil with a high smoke point. Avocado oil works well, but vegetable or canola oil is also a good choice.
- Soy sauce or tamari: Add saltiness and a rich, savory flavor.
- Cornstarch: This is key for making the tofu crispy and helps the sauce stick later.
- Spices: Garlic and onion powder, along with salt and pepper, are added to the cornstarch mixture to enhance the tofu’s savory flavor before cooking.
- Garnishes: You can top the dish with roasted peanuts, cilantro, and green onions for more texture and a fresh taste, though this is optional.
How To Make Peanut Tofu
and add the peanut sauce
Equipment You’ll Need
Tips for the Best Peanut Tofu
- Don’t skip pressing. Moisture prevents crisping.
- Cook in a single layer. Overcrowding my lead to soggy tofu.
More Tofu Recipes to Try:
Easy Peanut Tofu
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 2–4 Servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Easy Peanut Tofu is a high-protein vegan dinner you can make in less than an hour. Crispy tofu is pan-fried and covered in a salty-sweet peanut glaze. Each bite has crisp edges, rich flavor, and a sauce that sticks. This dish cooks quickly, uses pantry staples, and is full of flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Perfect Peanut Sauce or 1/3 cup peanut sauce of choice
- 14 oz extra firm tofu
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Pinch of black pepper
Garnishes
- Roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
- Green onions, sliced
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the peanut sauce if needed and set it aside.
- Prep the tofu. Press the tofu using a tofu press (or learn how to press tofu without a tofu press!) for at least 30 minutes to remove excess moisture. Pat dry, then cut or rip into 1″ cubes.
- Toss in seasoning. In a large bowl, mix the oil and soy sauce. Add in the tofu and mix until uniform. Add in the cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper, then toss in the tofu once more until evenly coated.
- Pan fry until golden. Heat neutral oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until warm. Add the tofu in a single layer and cook for about 10-15 minutes, until golden and crispy on all sides.
- Glaze it up. Once the tofu is golden, remove it from the heat and pour in about 1/3 cup of peanut sauce, or as desired, and mix.
- Enjoy! Serve immediately while warm and crispy with an additional drizzle of peanut sauce, roasted peanuts, chopped cilantro, and green onions, as desired.
Notes
- Storage: As with all of our crispy tofu recipes, this is best enjoyed while fresh. Over time, it will lose its crispiness, but leftovers will keep for up to 2 days.
- Reheating: We like to reheat either in a skillet or a microwave. For best results, we suggest adding a bit more sauce when warming.
- Prep Time: 30 Minutes
- Cook Time: 15 Minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove Top
