You don't have to go out to get delicious, restaurant-style, Crispy Salt and Pepper Tofu. Make it at home in less than half an hour.
Crispy Salt and Pepper Tofu is another recipe for my sponsors at EZ Tofu Press.
I definitely recommend pressing your tofu for this recipe. Salt & Pepper Tofu is so much better when the tofu is toothsome and chewy. With a lot of recipes, you're getting the water out to get the marinade in, but with this recipe it's 100% about texture.
Check out the video demo showing how much water this sucker presses out of a typical block of tofu.
But let's talk about the EZ Tofu Press more in a minute. First, let's talk about how to serve your Crispy Salt and Pepper Tofu. You have soooo many options!
- Over rice with a green veg of your choice. I kept it simple with steamed broccoli and a sprinkle of sesame seeds and green onion, but it's also really good with my Ginger Sesame Kale.
- Add it to your next Sushi Bowl.
- Instead of rice, serve with quinoa, millet, amaranth, kamut, or any other grain you choose. It's even lovely alongside mashed potatoes.
And now...let's cook some tofu!
📖 Recipe
Crispy Salt and Pepper Tofu
Ingredients
- 1 block extra firm tofu - pressed and cut into 8 cutlets
- ¼ cup cornstarch - or potato starch
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 ¼ teaspoons black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons high heat oil - like peanut or sunflower
- soy sauce - to taste
Instructions
- Pour the cornstarch into a shallow bowl. In a separate shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Dredge each piece of tofu in the corn starch and then into the flour mixture.
- Heat the sesame and olive oils in a large skillet on medium high heat, making sure that the pan is hot before adding the tofu. To check, wet your fingers under the tap, and flick a few drops of water into the oil. If it sizzles off immediately, the pan is ready. Add the tofu to the pan, making sure that the pieces don’t overlap.
- Cook the tofu for 6-7 minutes, until you can see that the bottoms have turned golden brown. Use a spatula to flip them, and cook for another 6-7 minutes, so they’re browned on the other side. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels or a clean cloth napkin to drain for a few minutes, then serve immediately.
- Serve topped with a little bit of soy sauce.
Lisa
This was so yummy! I've never quite been able to get a nice crisp like this on tofu, but this recipe is so easy and gives a perfect light crunch!
Becky Striepe
I love hearing that, Lisa! So glad you enjoyed it.
The vegan 8
Love how simple and flavorful this is! I love recipes with a good dose of pepper, too!
Becky Striepe
I feel like salt and pepper deserve more love! Haha
Jenny
Hmm I think my favourite tofu recipe is thinly sliced and lightly fried with salt, pepper and black salt for a sort-of eggy sandwich. Salt & pepper tofu comes a very close second, though!
Becky Striepe
Ooh yum! Eggy tofu is so good!
Sarah
Our current fave is your BBQ Tofu! Seriously—we've made it twice in the last 2 weeks. SO good!
Becky Striepe
Yum!
Eve B.
I enjoy tofu almost everyday for dinner with garlic, powdered ginger, paprika, cayenne, tamari and sesame oil. I have yet to use a tofu press, and look forward to the possibilities....thanks!
Becky Striepe
Oh you'll love it, especially with all of those good spices to soak in!
Ginny McMeans
How exciting! A new cool tool and it presses tofu. Thanks and your recipe sounds so good!
Becky Striepe
Thank you, Ginny!
Vegan Heaven
I think I really need a tofu press! This looks so delicious, Becky. :-)
Heather
I need a tofu press!! spicy almond butter tofu with eggplant is a favorite. This salt and pepper tofu sounds good too!
Linda @ Veganosity
I need that press! What a great kitchen tool. And that crispy tofu looks AMAZING!
Vanessa @ VeganFamilyRecipes
Tofu presses are such a great thing to have in the house! Looks awesome! Definitely a recipe I need to try ;)
Becky Striepe
Seriously. I'm using mine to prep some tofu for lunch as I type this!
Patty T
I love to marinate tofu and then bake it. It can be used in stir fries, salads, or just over rice.
Becky Striepe
Yum!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
I love your air fryer tofu recipe. I'm excited to try this salt & pepper tofu!
Becky Striepe
Thank you, Amy. Enjoy it!
Tyme
Another great recipe from Glue & Glitter! Can't wait to try this. Surprisingly, I have these ingredients on hand.
Becky Striepe
Oh yay! Enjoy it!
Sue
Recipe says to stir in ginger. How much?
Becky Striepe
Whoops! That should say black pepper. A holdover from an earlier experiment with the batter. Thank you for pointing that out - I updated the instructions!
Janet Colonna
My favorite tofu recipe is a fried tofu with an orange ginger sauce. It's what's for lunch today. I think I'll try your recipe next. Thanks!
Becky Striepe
Oh yum. Orange ginger sauce sounds like a delight!
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free
Ooh, I really need a tofu press! I'm traditional, my favorite tofu recipe is stir fry! Oh, I do love homemade dairy-free feta, too!
Becky Striepe
Mmm tofu feta is so good!
Hannah Teson
Simple crispy tofu is my favorite! This looks like the perfect meal :)
Becky Striepe
Thank you, Hannah! <3
Dianne
Oh my goodness! This looks like my kinda tofu. I love all of the tofu recipes you create!
Becky Striepe
Thank you, Dianne!
Terri Cole
Barbecue tofu is my favorite. My current tofu press is "Passionate Vegetarian" by Crescent Dragonwagon. (The heaviest book on my shelf!)
Becky Striepe
Haha yes! That book is gigantic!
Jenn
I have thought about getting a press many times. I use a plate weighted down with bags of dried beans. Not exactly the most stable thing, but it works. LOL! I am in love with tofu...I will never understand the tofu haters...they just don't know how to cook it (which isn't hard!). Love this simple version...it would go with everything!
Becky Striepe
I agree, Jenn. Tofu is the best! My 3yo loves it, even uncooked with a little soy sauce on top.
Mel | avirtualvegan.com
That tofu press looks amazing! I currently use a pile of cook books but have many dangerous toppling incidents so perhaps I should invest in a press! My favourite tofu recipe is my Sticky Chili Ginger Tofu. I could eat it everyday!
Your salt and pepper tofu looks pretty darn delicious too though!
Becky Striepe
Oh yeah- I've definitely had some near disasters with homemade pressing solutions. That chili ginger tofu sounds ah-mazing!
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite
I don't have a press but I bet it works fab!! Love the simple yet yumminess of this.
Becky Striepe
Thank you, Sophia!
Cadry
This sounds like a perfect weeknight meal - especially with some steamed broccoli on the side. It just goes to show you can get a lot of flavor without too much fuss!
Becky Striepe
I agree! Sometimes simple is the best.
Linda Weinberger
I definitely have to get this easy tofu press
Pressing between 2 plates was my method but usually my tofu crumbled into pieces.
Becky Striepe
Yes! That happens to me with the plate method sometimes, too.
Aimee
Looks delicious, Becky!
Becky Striepe
Thank you, Aimee!
M.C.
Chewy tofu is my favorite! I love chopping it up over a salad or slicing lengthwise for a taco or wrap with my favorite sauce (buffalo!).
I second the need to press the tofu for texture - this is the key to cooking tofu that many people I know skip. I'm going to have to check out one of these EZ Tofu Presses. Much better than the leaning tower of cookbooks method I usually use.
Thanks for the recipe!
Becky Striepe
Enjoy it! Yeah, I love my press. It really makes a world of difference.