Crispy Baked Tofu Recipe
This Crispy Baked Tofu is perfect on top of salads, rice, or plated next to a side of veggies. With this unique method of preparing it, the tofu is always amazingly crispy and crunchy on the outside, while soft and tender on the inside. Vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters alike will all agree that this crispy tofu is a real treat!
Crispy Baked Tofu
Picture it – it’s meatless Monday, and you’ve eaten nothing but lackluster salads and veggie wraps all day. How do you deliciously end the day with a dinner that’s truly satisfying? Crispy baked tofu, of course! It’s not only cooked to crispy perfection, but it’s also seasoned in a way that’s guaranteed to make you hungry for more.
Too often, tofu gets a bad rep for being slimy, bland, unappetizing, etc. If you’re one of those people that’s a die hard tofu hater, chances are you’ve never had it prepared correctly! As versatile as tofu truly is, it’s also pretty easy to mess up. Believe me when I say this, though – this easy recipe is bound to make anyone a tofu lover! (Yes, even your dad who only likes ribs and burgers)!
No one in my house is a vegetarian, but that doesn’t stop us from loving crispy baked tofu. I started making this dish as a meatless Monday dinner, but it soon became a go-to weeknight dinner on other nights of the week, too! I don’t know if it’s the crispy, yet tender texture or the savory seasonings, but something about these little pieces of tofu is seriously addictive.
How to Make It
This is such an easy weeknight dinner recipe! While the steps may seem a bit odd for first time tofu makers, I promise it’ll all work out in the end when you have delicious, crispy, flavorful tofu.
Prepare. Preheat the oven to 400˚F and place a large cast iron skillet in the oven.
Drain and press. Drain the tofu and place it on a paper towel lined plate. Place another paper towel on top and then cover with a cutting board. Top with a heavy can or canister and press the tofu to extract some of the moisture. Press for 15-20 minutes.
Cut and toss. Cut the tofu in half lengthwise and then cut into bite sized pieces. Transfer the tofu to a bowl and toss with the olive oil.
Coat. Whisk together the salt, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne and cornstarch. Sprinkle the seasoning over the tofu stirring to coat.
Bake. Carefully remove the skillet from the oven and add the tofu to the pan. Return the skillet to the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
Flip. Flip the tofu pieces over and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the tofu is golden and crispy.
Variations to Try
When you use the four simple seasonings I use for this tofu recipe, it can pair well with pretty much any dipping sauce! I love that the way I season my tofu makes it a blank slate for other sauces without robbing it of flavor. However, tofu is known for its versatility. If you want to shake things up, here are some delicious seasoning alternatives to try!
- To make this tofu pair well with lo mein and other Chinese cuisine, consider seasoning it with Chinese five spice powder and toasted sesame oil instead of olive oil.
- If Indian cuisine if what you’re craving, season the tofu with yellow curry powder and serve it on a salad with Thai Peanut Dressing.
- Just because you’re not cooking crawfish doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Cajun food! Sprinkle this tofu with Cajun seasoning and serve it with some homemade Cajun Corn Maque Choux. You’ll have all of the NOLA flavors you love with none of the shellfish!
- Want spicy crispy tofu? Cayenne pepper’s already suggested in my recipe, but feel free to double it! Of course, chili powder and crushed red peppers are always a good idea when adding spice.
Treat yourself to some more satisfying vegetarian dishes that actually hit the spot!
- Asian Style Zucchini Noodle Salad with Baked Tofu
- Vegetarian Black Bean Chili
- Pasta e Ceci
- Easy Pan Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
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Get the Recipe: Crispy Baked Tofu
Ingredients
- 1 14 ounce block extra firm tofu
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Equipment
- skillet
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400˚F and place a large cast iron skillet in the oven.
- Drain the tofu and place it on a paper towel lined plate. Place another paper towel on top and then cover with a cutting board. Top with a heavy can or canister and press the tofu to extract some of the moisture. Press for 15-20 minutes.
- Cut the tofu in half lengthwise and then cut into bite sized pieces.
- Transfer the tofu to a bowl and toss with the olive oil.
- Whisk together the salt, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne and cornstarch.
- Sprinkle the seasoning over the tofu stirring to coat.
- Carefully remove the skillet from the oven and add the tofu to the pan.
- Return the skillet to the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
- Flip the tofu pieces over and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the tofu is golden and crispy.
- Serve the tofu immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
- Leftover tofu can be store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.