We love tofu. And we have found the secret to making it just the way we like it – crispy! The secret to crispy tofu is to first purchase the right kind of tofu. Organic extra-firm is the way to go. You want to choose organic to avoid pesticides that are commonly used on soybean crops.
The second secret is to squeeze out as much moisture as possible. Drain the tofu and wrap it in a dish cloth. Gently press. Slice the tofu lengthwise and wrap a clean dish cloth around it for 30 minutes minimum. (Or overnight in the fridge!)
The third secret is to toss your tofu in a drizzle of oil, soy sauce, and a couple tablespoons of cornstarch or arrowroot, with your favorite seasonings. The starch makes the edges extra crispy and delicious!
What you need:
- 1 block organic extra-firm tofu
- 1 – 3 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 – 4 tbsp soy sauce, tamari or Braggs Aminos
- 2 -4 tbsp corn starch or arrowroot
- 1/4 to ½ tsp each of ginger, garlic powder, Adobo, chili powder, Hungarian paprika (whatever you like)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar or honey (or more)
- Veggies (peapods, onions, garlic, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms – choose your favorites)
- 2 cups organic vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 tbsp peanut butter (or another nut butter)
- Fresh ginger and turmeric (about 1 inch), chopped (or substitute ½ tsp dried)
- Rice or quinoa, made with coconut milk and/or vegetable broth
- Garnish, fresh lime, chopped cilantro, hot sauce
What to do:
Cook rice or quinoa with coconut milk and/or vegetable broth as the liquid. Season as desired. Prepare the tofu as above with seasonings, spread on a greased baking sheet, and bake for 25-30 minutes at 400 degrees. Sauce: In a saucepan combine broth, peanut butter, seasonings, soy sauce, and 2 tbsp cornstarch. Whisk together. If you like a sweeter sauce, add another 1 tbsp brown sugar. Stir in fresh ginger and turmeric root, heat until thickened, continually whisking, and set aside. Sautee the veggies in a wok with a little oil. Toss with about half of the sauce and set aside. Serve cooked rice in a large shallow bowl, top with cooked veggies, placing crispy tofu on top. Add remaining sauce. Garnish with fresh lime, cilantro, or hot sauce or whatever you like!
Other options are shredded coconut, pineapple, chopped cashews, red pepper flakes – sky’s the limit! Cheers!