Crusted and Crispy Sesame Tofu is an easy-to-make and delicious recipe packed with flavor and perfect for any meal. The tofu is soaked in the flavorful marinade, then coated with sesame seeds and pan-roasted until crispy. This is an excellent addition to any meal and one of the best vegetarian and vegan, plant-based options for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Super Bowl parties.
Sesame garlic tofu
Sesame-crusted tofu is crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside. If you are looking for a plant-based protein to add to your diet, then this recipe is for you.
I have already shared a complete vegetarian meal for Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday dinner or for the weekends with whole tofu baked as the main dish. These tofu bites can be served as a side or an appetizer recipe.
Ingredients
For the tofu marinade, extra firm tofu, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic cloves, ginger, green onions, and green chilies are used.
For the crispy sesame crust: A combination of black and white sesame seeds, corn starch, and the marinade liquid.
Check out the recipe card for the full list of the ingredients.
Step-by-step instructions
Making of tofu marinade
- In a bowl, add soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic cloves, ginger, green onions, and green chilies and mix until sugar is dissolved.
- Add the tofu cubes and marinate it for 30 minutes to overnight. It helps tofu soak the best flavors.
Breading station
- Reserve half of the marinade to serve as dipping sauce. And use the rest.
- Add corn flour to one plate and sesame seeds to the other, and marinate liquid in a bowl.
- Coat each tofu cubes in corn flour, dip in marinade, and coat with sesame seeds.
- Keep this aside and repeat for the remaining marinated tofu.
Pan-fried crispy sesame tofu
- Heat oil in a pan on a medium flame for frying.
- Add the sesame-coated tofu and fry on one side for 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on the other side or until lightly golden on both sides.
- Serve with the dipping sauce, and enjoy.
Tips
- Extra firm tofu works the best. You can also try this with paneer (Indian cottage cheese).
- Don't overcrowd the pan. To get that crispy crust, always try to work in batches.
- I used marinade to dip the tofu while breading. You can use aquafaba instead.
- Instead of brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, or molasses can also be used.
Air fryer instructions
- Arrange the coated tofu in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd. Work in batches. Spray oil.
- Cook at 400 degrees F or 200 degrees C for 5 to 8 minutes, then flip and cook on the other side until crispy and golden.
Baked tofu bites
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the tofu on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Serving suggestions
This crispy-crusted tofu can be served as an appetizer for a dinner party or as a side with Thai meals like fried rice, noodles, rice bowls, etc.
Storage instructions
Leftovers can be stored in a refrigerator in an airtight conatiner for 3 to 4 days. Reheat them on a skillet with a drizzle of oil on medium flame until they are warmed up and become crispy again.
More tofu recipes
Recipe card
Crispy Sesame Tofu
Equipment
Ingredients
Tofu marinade
- ½ cup Light soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon Vinegar
- 2 tablespoon Brown sugar
- 4 to 5 Garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 inch Ginger finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon Green onions finely chopped
- 2 to 3 Green chilies finely chopped
- 200 g Extra firm Tofu cut into cubes (1 block)
For crispy sesame crust
- ½ cup Corn flour corn starch
- ½ cup Sesame seeds combined black and white
- ½ of the marinade
Other ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Oil
Instructions
Making of tofu marinade
- In a bowl, add soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic cloves, ginger, green onions, and green chilies and mix until sugar is dissolved.½ cup Light soy sauce, 2 tablespoon Vinegar, 2 tablespoon Brown sugar, 4 to 5 Garlic cloves, 1 inch Ginger, 2 tablespoon Green onions, 2 to 3 Green chilies
- Add the tofu cubes and marinate it for 30 minutes to overnight. It helps tofu soak the best flavors.200 g Extra firm Tofu
Breading station
- Reserve half of the marinade to serve as dipping sauce. And use the rest.
- Add corn flour to one plate and sesame seeds to the other, and marinate liquid in a bowl.
- Coat each tofu cubes in corn flour, dip in marinade, and coat with sesame seeds.½ cup Corn flour, ½ cup Sesame seeds, ½ of the marinade
- Keep this aside and repeat for the remaining marinated tofu.
Pan fried crispy sesame tofu
- Heat oil in a pan on a medium flame for frying.2 tablespoon Oil
- Add the sesame-coated tofu and fry on one side for 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on the other side or until lightly golden on both sides.
- Serve with the dipping sauce, and enjoy.
Air fryer instructions
- Arrange the coated tofu in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd. Work in batches. Spray oil.
- Cook at 400 degrees F or 200 degrees C for 5 to 8 minutes, then flip and cook on the other side until crispy and golden.
Baked tofu bites
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the tofu on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Video
Notes
- Extra firm tofu works the best. You can also try this with paneer (Indian cottage cheese).
- Don't overcrowd the pan. To get that crispy crust, always try to work in batches.
- I used marinade to dip the tofu while breading. You can use aquafaba instead.
- Instead of brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, or molasses can also be used.
Nutrition
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