• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Simple Vegan Recipes
  • Recipes
  • Books
    • 40 Days of Green Smoothies
    • Bowls!
  • Recipe Videos
    • My YouTube Channel
    • Video Blogging FAQ
  • Simple Vegan Starter Guide
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Get the vegan starter guide!
  • Latest Recipes
  • Air fryer recipes
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • My YouTube channel
  • Podcast
  • Recipe video production
  • SHOP
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Sandwiches

    Fried tofu sandwich

    Feb 7, 2022 by Becky Striepe
    Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Recipe Video Print
    close-up of the fried tofu sandwich with veggies and curry mayo on it and a side of waffle fries, text overlay
    close-up of the fried tofu sandwich with veggies and curry mayo on it and a side of waffle fries

    A crispy, pan fried tofu sandwich with creamy curry mayo is an easy lunch that's flavorful and satisfying.

    close-up of the fried tofu sandwich with veggies and curry mayo on it and a side of waffle fries

    Y'all, this simple fried tofu sandwich is incredibly easy to make! Serve up these crispy slices of tofu in a bun with greens, pickles, onion, and sliced tomato.

    Jump to:
    • Making the pan fried tofu
    • Recipe notes
    • How to store and reheat
    • Fried tofu sandwich

    Making the pan fried tofu

    This crispy tofu is based on my salt and pepper tofu. The key to the toothsome, crispy tofu in this sandwich is pressing the tofu really well before you slice and fry it.

    I like to press my tofu with the EZ Tofu Press.

    pressing the tofu with the EZ Tofu Press

    Pressing gets the excess liquid out, so your tofu gets that super firm, restaurant-style texture. And the EZ Tofu Press makes it quick and easy while maintaining the shape of your tofu block.

    While the tofu presses, prep your curry mayo, the flour mixture for dredging, and the sandwich toppings, so everything will be ready to go when the tofu is done.

    tofu surrounded by bowls of flour, cornstarch, and spices along with fresh veggies

    For this recipe, we are slicing the tofu into eight rectangular cutlets. Perfect for layering into a bun!

    After pressing, dredge the tofu in cornstarch and then in a mix of flour and spices. Pat the flour mixture into the tofu, so you get plenty of that flavorful coating on there!

    Then fry it up until it's browned and crispy on both sides.

    image collage showing the cornstarch and flour mixture and the crispy fried tofu in the frying pan

    If you weren't able to finish the other prep during pressing, you have time while the tofu fries -- you do not need to disturb it until it's time to flip over.

    Recipe notes

    The sauce for this sandwich is a quick curry mayo. You will have time to whip this up while the tofu presses. You truly make it by whisking a handful of ingredients together in a bowl.

    After you fry your tofu, you assemble your sandwich with crunchy greens, tender tomato, zesty onion and pickle slices, and plenty of that flavorful curry mayo on a toasted bun.

    If you need to make this recipe gluten-free, just use a gluten-free flour mix in place of the all-purpose flour. Swap in a gluten-free bun, and you're good to go.

    How to store and reheat

    If you aren't making sandwiches for four, you can store the leftovers, separately, in airtight containers. They will keep in the fridge for three to four days.

    To reheat the tofu, either bake at 350° F for 10 minutes or air fry at 350° for five to seven minutes, just until it's warmed through and crispy. Do not reheat the tofu in the microwave, because it will be mushy, and this sandwich is all about that crispy texture!

    When the tofu is warmed up, assemble the sandwich, as instructed below.

    close-up of the fried tofu sandwich with veggies and curry mayo on it and a side of waffle fries

    Fried tofu sandwich

    A crispy, pan fried tofu sandwich with creamy curry mayo is an easy lunch that's flavorful and satisfying.
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: fried tofu sandwich, pan fried tofu sandwich
    Prep Time: 18 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 543kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    • 1 block extra firm tofu - pressed and cut into 8 rectangular cutlets
    • ¼ cup cornstarch
    • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
    • 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
    • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
    • 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¾ teaspoon black pepper
    • 3 tablespoons high heat oil - like peanut or sunflower

    For the curry mayo

    • ½ cup vegan mayo
    • 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
    • 1 ½ teaspoons curry powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder

    For the sandwich

    • 4 hamburger buns - toasted
    • sliced red onion
    • thinly-sliced tomato - see note
    • salad greens or sprouts
    • sliced dill pickles

    Instructions

    Make the tofu

    • Pour the cornstarch into a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, nutritional yeast, garlic and onion powders, salt, and pepper. Dredge the tofu pieces in the cornstarch and then the flour mixture, making sure to coat all sides. Pat the flour mixture into the tofu, so you get plenty of that flavorful coating on there!
    • Heat the oil on medium-high in a nonstick skillet. Cook the tofu until it's browned on both sides, around 6-7 minutes per side. Keep a close eye on it after flipping, to make sure it doesn't burn -- that second side can cook quickly! Transfer the cooked tofu to a plate lined with paper towel or a clean kitchen towel while you assemble the sandwiches.

    Make the curry mayo

    • In a small bowl , whisk together all of the mayo ingredients. Season to taste with salt and black pepper, and set aside.

    Assemble the sandwich

    • Spread the curry mayo onto the bottom half of each bun. Then add 2 slices of crispy tofu, the tomato, and some greens. Spread the mayo onto the top half of each bun, and add the onion and pickles. Close up that sandwich, and devour it!

    Equipment

    • EZ Tofu Press

    Video

    Notes

    You really do want thin slices of tomato for this sandwich. When I was first testing this recipe, I was using big, thick slabs of tomato. It was delicious, but the tomato was very hard to wrangle and the added moisture made the sandwich fall apart midway through eating. 
    If needed, you can store the leftovers, separately, in airtight containers. They will keep in the fridge for three to four days. To reheat the tofu, either bake at 350° F for 10 minutes or air fry at 350° for 5-7 minutes, just until it's warmed through and crispy. Do not reheat the tofu in the microwave, because it will be mushy, and this sandwich is all about that crispy texture!

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Fried tofu sandwich
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    543
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    33
    g
    51
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    15
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.04
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    5
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    7
    g
    Sodium
     
    1017
    mg
    42
    %
    Potassium
     
    362
    mg
    10
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    45
    g
    15
    %
    Fiber
     
    4
    g
    16
    %
    Sugar
     
    5
    g
    6
    %
    Protein
     
    16
    g
    32
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    10
    IU
    0
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    1
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    109
    mg
    11
    %
    Iron
     
    4
    mg
    22
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe? Share your photo!Mention @GlueAndGlitter on Instagram or Twitter!

    More Sandwiches

    • vegan chicken salad sandwich on a white plate
      Vegan Chicken Salad
    • tofu egg salad sandwich on a white plate
      Magical Tofu Egg Salad
    • vegan lobster rolls on a wooden tabletop sprinkled with green onion and parsley
      Vegan Lobster Rolls
    • BBQ soy curls in a bowl with green onions on top
      BBQ Soy Curls

    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

    Reader Interactions

    Tried this recipe? Have a question? Leave a reply! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    About Me

    photo of Becky Striepe
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    As Seen On: Buzzfeed, How Stuff Works, Parade Magazine, Follow Your Kind Podcast, Peta, Curiously Veg Radio, Shape Magazine

    About

    • About Becky Striepe
    • Privacy Policy
    • About the Ads
    • Video Blogging FAQ

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Trending now

    • glass jar of soy yogurt on a blue table with the Instant Pot in the background
    • photo of vegan spinach artichoke dip in the baking pan. A hand is dipping a cracker into the pan.
    • overhead photo of air fryer tofu in a blue bowl with green onions sprinkled on top

    Copyright Notice

    All content Copyright © Glue & Glitter/Cattington Inc. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. You may post a short excerpt and/or one photo, as long as you provide clear credit and a link back to the original recipe or tutorial post at glueandglitter.com. Please do not repost recipes in full without my express permission.

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Glue & Glitter