Crispy Tofu with Spicy Peanut Sauce

My crispy tofu with spicy peanut sauce is an absolutely mouthwatering meal, packed with Southeast Asian flavor. Prepared with extra firm tofu that's seasoned and lightly crisped in the pan, then tossed with garlic, ginger, and a spicy peanut sauce, this recipe is the perfect vegetarian option to cozy up with!

Tofu packed with lots of flavor

Tofu can sometimes get a bit of a bad rap as lacking in flavor.

While it's true that tofu is innately kind of plain, I actually like to think of it as more of a blank canvas. It can take on any number of culinary flavors and be prepared in myriad ways.

When I'm wanting to prep a "Meatless Monday" kind of meal, I love to make use of extra firm tofu. It has a terrific, almost meaty texture that easily replaces animal protein. And we never miss the meat when it's prepared in a really flavorful way, especially with some Southeast Asian inspiration.

This crispy tofu recipe is easy to whip up and enjoy as a truly comfy-cozy and mouthwatering dinner. It's just the kind of meal we get excited to dig into when craving a dish with loads of flavor.

My recipe for crispy tofu with spicy peanut sauce

I would say that extra firm tofu is my favorite kind of tofu to cook with. It adds an abundance of texture and heartiness to a dish, and a good amount of protein. You can even typically find "high protein" tofu these days in the market and opt for that.

For my seasoning, I use a simple combo of salt and pepper. Tofu can benefit from a generous amount of salt), as well as some granulated onion and garlic.

But to really create some intensely delicious and kicked-up flavor, I whip up a mildly spicy peanut sauce. Kissed with soy sauce, red curry paste, rice vinegar, fish sauce, and honey, it's a mouthwatering finishing sauce.

This crispy tofu in spicy peanut sauce is scrumptious just as it is. But I love to make a full meal out of it! Try serving it over noodles or rice with extra peanuts. Add in some sliced red chilis, cilantro, green onion, and a squeeze of lime to make it colorful, flavorful and nutritious!

Here's a glance at my crispy tofu in spicy peanut sauce recipe: (or just jump to the full recipe...)

1. To get started, I drain my extra firm tofu blocks of excess liquid by wrapping them in clean kitchen towels. I then press them with a cast iron skillet (or other heavy object) for about 20 minutes.
2. While the tofu drains, I prep my spicy peanut sauce by adding all of the ingredients to my food processor. I process everything until completely smooth and creamy.
3. Once the tofu has drained, I cut it into cubes, season it, and toss the cubes in flour or cornstarch. I then sear the tofu in a hot skillet for about 8 to 10 minutes, until golden-brown.
4. Next, I add a couple aromatic ingredients to the pan and toss the crispy tofu with those for added flavor.
5. With the heat off, I add in the spicy peanut sauce and toss to coat the crispy tofu in it.
6. I serve immediately, typically over rice, with extra peanuts sprinkled over top. Cilantro, green onion, sliced red chilis, and lime are favorite add-ins as well.

Recipe

Crispy Tofu with Spicy Peanut Sauce

by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

This crispy tofu is tossed with garlic and ginger in a spicy peanut sauce, making for a scrumptious, protein-packed vegetarian option!

Category: Entree
Cuisine: Southeast Asian

Yield: Serves 6

Nutrition Info: 419 calories per serving (without rice or noodles)

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 22 minutes
Total time: 52 minutes

Crispy Tofu Ingredients:

• 2 (14 ounce) packages extra firm tofu
• Salt
• Black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon granulated onion
• ¼ teaspoon granulate garlic
• ¼ cup (heaping) flour or corn starch
• Avocado oil or peanut oil
• 6 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
• ½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger
• Roasted peanuts, whole or chopped, for garnish
• Sliced green onion and/or chopped cilantro, optional garnish
• Sliced red chilis, optional garnish
• Lime wedges, optional garnish

Spicy Peanut Sauce Ingredients:

• ¾ cup natural peanut butter
• ¾ cup water
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 to 3 teaspoons red curry paste, depending on desired spice level

Preparation:

1. Begin by gathering and prepping all of your crispy tofu ingredients according to the ingredient list above to have ready and organized for use.
2. Remove the extra firm tofu blocks from the brine in the their packages, and blot with a paper towel. Wrap the tofu blocks in a clean kitchen towel, and place a heavy item such as a cast iron skillet or brick over top, to help press out any liquid within, for about 20 minutes.
3. While the tofu is draining, gather and prep all of your spicy peanut sauce ingredients according to the ingredient list above to have ready and organized for use.
4. To prepare your sauce, add all ingredients to the bowl of a food processor, and process for a couple of moments until completely smooth, creamy and emulsified. Pour the spicy peanut sauce into a bowl to hold.
5. Once the tofu has drained, cut each block into cubes, about ¾ inch in size. Place the tofu cubes into a bowl, and sprinkle liberally with salt (tofu can take quite a bit), black pepper, and the granulated onion and garlic. Gently toss to season.
6. Next, sprinkle over the flour or cornstarch, and again, gently toss the tofu cubes to coat them well.
7. Place a large skillet (non-stick if you have it) over medium-high heat, and drizzle in about ¼ cup of oil, to coat the bottom of the skillet. Once the oil is hot, add about half of the tofu cubes in a single layer, and allow them to crisp in the hot oil, turning every now and again, for about 8 to 10 minute, or until the tofu is golden-brown. Remove from the skillet into a bowl to hold, and repeat with remaining tofu.
8. Once the tofu is golden and crispy, wipe out the skillet. Add about 1 tablespoon of oil in, and then add in the garlic and grated ginger, and saute those just until aromatic, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
9. Turn off the heat, and add back into the skillet the crispy tofu, tossing it in the aromatic garlic and ginger for just a moment or two, to coat. Next, pour in the spicy peanut sauce, and gently toss the tofu in it to coat, allowing the sauce to gently warm through.
10. Serve the crispy tofu with spicy peanut sauce immediately just as it is, or over rice or noodles, garnished with the peanuts, some of the green onion/cilantro, red chili slices, if desired, and lime wedges.

Tips & Tidbits for my crispy tofu with spicy peanut sauce recipe:

• Opt for extra firm tofu for best texture: Extra firm tofu is the best type to use for a recipe such as this. It keeps its shape really well and provides good texture. It's also best for gently frying to give it a crispy outer texture. Softer tofu, on the other hand, may crumble too much. Choose organic if possible, and even a "high protein" version if you'd like some added protein.
• Spicy peanut sauce from scratch: Whipping up this slightly spicy and savory peanut sauce from scratch is very quick and easy. It requires only a food processor to make the sauce very smooth and creamy. No food processor? You could use a bowl and whisk instead. Just be prepared to use a tad more effort to get everything well emulsified and combined. And if you like your sauce spicier, add a bit more red curry paste. If you like it milder, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of the red curry paste to start with.
• What to serve this crispy tofu with spicy peanut sauce with: This crispy tofu recipe is terrific just as is with the garnishes over top. But if you'd like to make it a more substantial meal, spoon it over rice (jasmine is great for this recipe), or even noodles.

Craving more flavorful recipes like this one? Check out my recipe for Peanut Sauce Chicken, my Peanut Chicken Spring Roll Wrap recipe, my Asian Noodle Salad with Peanut Dressing recipe, my recipe for Thai Chicken Satay Salad, Mongolian Beef, or even my Coconut Curry Shrimp recipe!