Sticky Pan-Fried Sesame Garlic Tofu
This tofu recipe is one of my favorites of all time. It’s sticky, sweet, garlicky, and tastes just like take-out. But better. It’s vegetarian, but guaranteed to satisfy even the meat-lovers in your house! That sticky sauce is so irresistible, I’d eat it by itself.
Playing around in the kitchen is one of my favorite hobbies. This Sticky Sesame Garlic Tofu was a result of one of those times! And it came out even better than I expected. The sesame garlic sauce is sticky, sweet, and tangy. It coats the crispy tofu perfectly and is delightful in every bite! Getting the tofu nice and crispy is key in this recipe. See my helpful tips below for achieving that!
My Helpful Tips:
- After you cut the tofu into cubes, coat each piece evenly in cornstarch. The cornstarch adds a crunchy coating!
- Once you add the tofu to the hot pan, don’t touch it! Let it sit for 2 minutes or so on each side before flipping. If you let it sit, it will crisp up much better.
Then, there’s the peanut dipping sauce on the side. It adds an extra kick of flavor and texture. All together, this tofu dish is packed with protein, low carb, and just plain delicious! I love pairing it with some sautéed green beans or steamed white rice. I hope you enjoy!
Sticky Pan-Fried Sesame Garlic Tofu
Ingredients
Tofu Sauce
- ¼ cup coconut aminos, or low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tsp honey
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp. water
- ¼ tsp white wine vinegar
- ½ tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp hot sauce, I like Frank's RedHot
Peanut Dipping Sauce
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tbsp creamy peanut butter, I like Smucker's Natural Creamy PB
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp hot sauce, I like Frank's RedHot
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos, or low sodium soy sauce
Instructions
- Line a plate with a few paper towels. Remove tofu block from package and drain the liquid. Plate tofu on top of paper towels, then put a few more paper towels on top of the tofu. Set a heavy item on top (I used a Dutch oven pan. Be careful not to CRUSH the tofu, you're just squeezing out the liquid). Let sit for 20 minutes, replacing the paper towels if needed.
- While tofu is pressing, make tofu sauce (above). Simply whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Once tofu has been pressed, cut it into 1" cubes and place in a large bowl. Using your hands, gently toss tofu with some cornstarch until all pieces are evenly coated on all sides.
- In a large skillet on medium-high heat, heat a little toasted sesame oil. Then, add tofu and let it cook for 2 mins on each side. Do not touch tofu until you flip it. This lets each side get nice and crispy!
- Once tofu has browned on all sides, turn heat to low. Add the tofu sauce to the skillet. It should thicken up immediately! Stir tofu around to coat it in the sauce.
- Serve with peanut dipping sauce (above). Delicious served with steamed white rice and steamed broccoli or carrots.