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Ultra-crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside these Crispy Tofu Bites are glazed with a savory sweet sauce that's loaded with ginger, garlic and black pepper. The perfect plant-based appetier.
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Crispy Tofu Bites

With a crisp crust and juicy, flavorful interior, these plant-based crispy tofu bites are an easy delicious bar-snack that carnivores and vegans will enjoy alike.
Course Appetizer, Entree
Cuisine Japanese
Keyword canape, party food
Level Beginner
Main Ingredient Tofu
Diet Dairy-Free, Pescatarian, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Draining Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 22 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Calories 74kcal
Author Marc Matsumoto

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 453 grams medium-firm tofu
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 6 grams ginger
  • 6 grams garlic (grated)
  • ¼ cup mirin
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper (coarsely ground)
  • vegetable oil (for frying)
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
  • Scallion greens (chopped for garnish)
Grams + US Cups - US Standard

Instructions

  • Drain the 453 grams medium-firm tofu on a wire rack for at least one hour.
    453 grams medium-firm tofu
    Draining tofu on wire rack.
  • Set the tofu on a few layers of paper towels and cut it into 9 cubes. Sprinkle them evenly on all sides with the ⅛ teaspoon salt.
    ⅛ teaspoon salt
    Salting tofu to extract excess water.
  • Grate the 6 grams ginger into a pan and then gather up the pulp and squeeze out as much juice as you can into the pan. Discard the pulp.
    6 grams ginger
    Squeezing ginger juice from pulp into frying pan.
  • Add the grated 6 grams garlic, ¼ cup mirin, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, and ½ teaspoon black pepper to the pan. Bring the mixture to a boil and continue boiling until the sauce just starts to thicken and it no longer smells like alcohol (about a minute after it comes to a full boil). Transfer the sauce to a bowl and set aside.
    6 grams garlic, ¼ cup mirin, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, ½ teaspoon black pepper
    Ginger garlic glaze for crispy tofu.
  • To fry the tofu, heat 2-inches of vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot until it reaches 360 degrees F (180 C). Be sure to use a deep pot and don't fill it more than ½ way as the the moisture in the tofu will make the oil bubble a lot.
    vegetable oil
  • Pat the tofu dry on all sides with fresh paper towels and carefully lower the tofu into the hot oil using tongs.
    Drying cubes of tofu using paper towels.
  • Fry the tofu undisturbed for about 5-6 minutes, or until you're able to pull the tofu away from the bottom of the pot without breaking it. Flip the tofu over and let it continue frying for another 5-6 minutes, or until it's golden brown on all sides.
    Crispy tofu bites coming out of hot oil.
  • Transfer the hot tofu straight into the bowl with the sauce and sprinkle on the 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds. Toss to coat the tofu with glaze, and then transfer the tofu to a serving plate.
    2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
    Tossing crispy tofu with ginger garlic glaze.
  • Garnish with more sesame seeds, black pepper, and chopped Scallion greens.
    Scallion greens
    Garnishing crispy tofu bites with scallions.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1378mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg