This fried breaded tofu is easy to make, high in protein, and great for meal prep. The breading gives this tofu a nice crunch and packs a lot of flavor. You’ll want to make this all the time because it’s quick, delicious, and nutritious.
If you’re sick of the same old tofu you make all the time, then you need to try this breaded tofu! Adding a breading before frying gives the tofu way more flavor and has a deliciously crispy texture. You can switch up the seasonings in the breading for different flavors and add versatility, or use the spices you already have on hand.
Enjoy this for lunch or dinner, in a sandwich or a rice bowl. It can also be a high-protein snack as well.
If you meet anyone that says they dislike tofu, then make them this recipe. Everyone non-vegan I’ve made this for loved it and was surprised that tofu can taste this good.
Ingredients for Breaded Tofu
- 1 block of Extra Firm Tofu: I recommend the extra firm because of the texture. Firm tofu works as well, but I suggest squeezing some of the excess liquid out. You can do this with a tofu press or place it on a towel and lightly press it between two plates. Squeezing most of the liquid out will help it fry up better and give it a nicer texture. Do not use softer kinds like medium and silken tofu.
- 3 tablespoons Sesame Seed Oil: Plus a little more if your pan isn’t a non-stick. Coconut oil or whatever neutral cooking oil you have would work as well.
Tofu Breading
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch: This is the key to crispy tofu. Coating the nuggets with cornstarch makes the frying process easier and more effective.
- 1/4 cup Panko Bread Crumbs: Here is how you get the crunchy crust. You can also use vegan crackers, corn flakes, cornmeal, tortilla chips, Spicy Sweet Chili or Blaze flavored Doritos.
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Salt: A mix of 1 tsp garlic powder and 1/4 tsp of salt.
- 1 tablespoon Nutritional Yeast: Every vegan’s favorite seasoning, also known as nooch, gives dishes a great “cheesy” flavor. I put this on everything savory I make.
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika: This gives the breading a nice color and a delicious smoky flavor. Smoked paprika is essential in your spice drawer.
- 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper: This is for my spicy lovers, but it’s optional if you don’t like spice. Red chili flakes work well in the recipe too.
How to Fry Tofu
To a medium bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, 1/4 cup of Panko bread crumbs, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, and 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper (if you like spice).
Next, chop up the extra firm tofu into small 1 inch cubes. Then bring a large non-stick pan to medium-high heat, and add 3-4 tablespoons of oil. I always add enough oil to cover the entire bottom of the pan.
One by one, dip the cubed tofu in the breading bowl, evenly coating all its sides. Place the breaded tofu nugget carefully into the heated pan, and repeat for all the tofu pieces. You may need to add additional oil while cooking to make sure all the nuggets fry evenly.
Cook tofu for about 5 to 10 minutes and flip to the other side, cooking until golden on both sides.
Once the tofu is done, serve it immediately. My favorite ways to eat this is with a bowl of rice, roasted vegetables, and topping it with sriracha mayo and green onion. It would be delicious in a sandwich too!
More simple tofu recipes:
- Bang Bang Tofu: This Bang Bang Tofu is a delicious recipe that is sure to please any crowd! It’s crispy, saucy, spicy, and vegan of course. With only 7 ingredients, this is a super easy recipe!
- Tofu Tikka Masala: Cold weather calls for warm spices and recipes that leave us feeling cozy. This tikka masala is the exact dinner recipe you need because it’s easy to make, high in protein, and even better as leftovers.
- Tofu Scramble: If you miss scrambled eggs, this is best Tofu Scramble to try. Very easy to make, full of flavor, and high in protein for a filling breakfast. You’ll love this recipe if you’re a savory breakfast fan.
If you give this Crispy Breaded Tofu a try, I’d love to see your recreations. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @Marias.Munchies + #MariasMunchies!
This crispy breaded tofu is my favorite easy dinner that’s also kid-friendly. It’s high in protein, delicious, and simple to make — a staple tofu recipe for something quick, flavorful, and nutritious.
⭐️ RATE THE RECIPE ⭐️ and share any suggestions or feedback in the comments below. Have questions? I will post your question and respond quickly. Your feedback is valuable because it helps me fine-tune the recipe and help others!
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Crispy Breaded Tofu
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This crispy breaded tofu is the best way to cook tofu. It’s a simple recipe that’s delicious and high in protein. Perfect for meal prepping as well for an easy dinner or lunch. The breaded coating gives this tofu a nice crunch and packs a lot of flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 block extra firm tofu, cubed
- 3 tablespoons sesame seed oil
Breading Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- To a medium bowl, mix together 1 tbsp of cornstarch, 1/4 cup of Panko bread crumbs, 1 tsp of onion powder, 1 tsp of garlic powder, 1 tbsp of nutritional yeast, 1 tsp of smoked paprika, and 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper (if you like spice).
- Chop up the extra firm tofu into bite-sized cubes. Bring a large non-stick pan to medium-high heat and add 3-4 tbsps of sesame oil (enough to cover the bottom of the pan).
- One by one, dip the cubed tofu in the breading bowl and evenly coat all the sides. Then carefully transfer the breaded tofu nuggets into the pan.
- Cook tofu for about 5 to 10 minutes, then flip them onto the other side. Cook until they’re golden on both sides.
- Serve immediately.
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Tofu
- Method: Frying
This tofu recipe absolutely blew me away! It was easy to follow, and the result was absolutely delicious. Five stars all around!
Brandi, it’s wonderful to get five stars all around from you! Glad to hear the instructions were easy to follow and that it turned out delicious. Thanks for your review, it really helps my blog out.😊