The BEST Crispy Tofu (Pan-Fried)

If you think tofu isn’t your cup of tea, you haven’t tried this crispy tofu yet! It’s covered in a deliciously sticky, sweet, umami sauce that pairs well with rice or noodles. Bonus – it’s ready in 15 minutes!

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Close up shot of a piece on crispy tofu on a fork with the pan full of the tofu faded in the background.

Why this recipe works

Did I mention this recipe is ready in only fifteen minutes?! It only takes about five minutes to prep the tofu and sauce ingredients. Plus, another ten to fry up the crispy tofu and have it ready to serve! It can last in the fridge for about five days, so it’s an excellent option for lunch or dinner meal prep during the week.

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Even though this pan-fried tofu recipe is fried and saucy, the crispy tofu is still relatively low in calories (about 200) per serving. It also has a good amount of protein in each serving, which will help keep you full and satisfied until your next meal.

If you have any leftover tofu from making this crispy tofu dish, you can use it up with these easy tofu dishes Crispy Soy Tofu, Aubergine & Rice, Sticky Tofu on Rice with Crispy Kale, or Vegan Egg Fried Rice.

What is the best way to get crispy tofu?

The key to crispy tofu is to heat the oil in your pan before adding tofu cubes. Coating the pan-fried tofu in corn flour helps create a crispy coating as the cubed tofu cooks in the oil.

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Another key to getting uber-crispy tofu is removing excess liquid/moisture from it before you cook tofu. As it cooks, the tofu naturally releases any moisture left inside, which can turn your crispy exterior into a soggy tofu bite. Many people use a tofu press or press tofu between heavy objects (like a cast iron skillet) to remove this extra liquid.

Ingredients

TofuThis recipe requires firm tofu, as options like soft and silken will fall apart in the pan while cooking. Extra firm tofu is also fantastic for creating this crispy tofu dish.

Soy SauceThis ingredient is necessary for adding a savoury, umami flavour. If you can’t consume gluten, you can use tamari or coconut aminos to provide a similar taste to this crispy sauteed tofu.

Corn FlourCorn flour is the secret behind this crispy tofu recipe. However, you can also use cornstarch to achieve a crunchy exterior. Mixing corn flour and cornstarch in a 1:1 ratio will produce the crispiest tofu.See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.

How to make crispy tofu in a pan

Start by removing the Tofu from it’s wrapping, drain and cut into cubes (Image 1).
Then using a kitchen towel squeeze and pat the tofu to remove any excess liquid (Image 2).

2 step by step photos, the first with tofu cut into cubes on a wooden board, the second with the tofu cubes on a tea towel on the board.

3. Add the tofu cubes to a large bowl with 1 tbsp of soy sauce and toss to combine. Then using a sieve, sprinkle the cornflour over the tofu (Image 3).

4. Mix with a spatula to ensure the flour evenly coats the tofu (Image 4).

2 step by step photos, the first with tofu squares in a glass bowl flour being sprinkled over a sieve onto tofu, the second with the flour covered tofu mixed with spatula

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5. Using a non-stick frying pan, add a tbsp of rapeseed oil. Wait until the oil is hot (start on high heat) and then add the tofu into the pan. Evenly distribute the pieces tofu across the pan so none of the pieces are touching, otherwise they’ll stick together (Image 5).

6. Leave to fry for around 3 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy on one side. Then keep turning to get that crispy brown coating (Image 6).

2 step by step photos, the first with pale tofu squares frying in a pan, the second with the tofu cubes browned in pan.

7. Then add the remaining soy sauce and honey into the pan and rotate the pieces of tofu, until the tofu starts to brown further (Image 7).

8. Once the honey and extra soy sauce is added continue to fry until super cripsy and golden browned.

Serving suggestions: Serve over rice, with noodles, in a salad or with roasted soy veggies (Image 8).

2 step by step photos, the first with honey being added to the tofu cubes, the second with the golden browned crispy tofu cubes in pan.

Variations

A few quick swaps will help you turn this crispy tofu dish into a gluten-free and vegan recipe. The only ingredient with gluten is the soy sauce. You can use coconut aminos or tamari as a gluten-free swap (as mentioned above). Use maple syrup or agave as a replacement for honey, and you’ll have vegan crispy tofu in one easy swap.