Crispy Fried Tofu with Thai Peanut Sauce

Crispy fried tofu with sweet and spicy Thai peanut sauce on a white plate.

5 from 15 votes

Crispy Fried Tofu with Thai Peanut Sauce

Fried tofu is a popular, quick, and easy recipe from Thai cuisine that you must try. The fried tofu bites are crispy on the outside, with a soft and melt-in-mouth texture on the inside. Sweet and spicy peanut sauce is the best accompaniment to these tofu slices and is highly addictive for its flavor!

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: Chinese, Indonesia, Japanese, Thai

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 194kcal

Author: Kushi

Equipment

Ingredients

Crispy Fried Tofu

14 oz Extra firm tofu
Oil for frying
Salt, to taste

Thai Peanut Dipping Sauce

⅓ cup Roasted peanuts
2 teaspoon Red pepper flakes
3 Thai bird chilies (use milder version if you can't tolerate the heat)
2 Garlic cloves
¼ inch Tamarind ball (or 3 tablespoon Tamarind juice)
¼ cup White vinegar
¼ cup Water
¼ teaspoon Salt
¼ cup Brown sugar (plus 1 or 2 tablespoon extra if you like it very sweet)
1 tablespoon Cilantro or Basil, finely chopped (optional)

Instructions

Making of easy peanut dipping sauce

In a blender, add chilies, garlic cloves, tamarind, vinegar, water, and salt and blend it to a smooth paste.
3 Thai bird chilies, 2 Garlic cloves, ¼ inch Tamarind ball (or 3 tablespoon Tamarind juice), ¼ cup White vinegar, ¼ cup Water, ¼ teaspoon Salt
Transfer this to a small pan, add sugar and pepper flakes, water if needed and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes or until the dip turns slightly thick. Taste and adjust any flavor accordingly. (Note: Dip thickens as this cools, but if you like a very thick dip, then simmer it for some more time.)
¼ cup Brown sugar (plus 1 or 2 tablespoon extra if you like it very sweet), 2 teaspoon Red pepper flakes
Meanwhile, in a chopper or using a sharp knife, crush the peanuts and keep this aside.
⅓ cup Roasted peanuts
When ready to serve, add peanuts and cilantro.
1 tablespoon Cilantro or Basil, finely chopped (optional)

Deep fried tofu

Drain the tofu so that it's reasonably dry. I gently press them between the kitchen towel. (Note: If the kitchen towel becomes too wet after absorbing the initial moisture, take the fresh second layer of kitchen towels. This is mainly done to prevent the tofu from turning soggy)
14 oz Extra firm tofu
Cut them into desired shapes (triangle, rectangle, cube) and sprinkle salt on them.
Salt, to taste
Heat oil for frying. See that atleast 40 % of the pan is covered with oil.
Oil for frying
Once the oil is hot, fry the tofu in medium to medium-high flame till it's golden brown on both sides. (Note: If the tofu sticks to each other when you drop them in oil, wait until they become firm and light golden in color before separating them, else they will tear apart and become a mess. )
Transfer this to a paper towel to absorb excess oil. Repeat the process for the remaining tofu slices.
Serve hot with peanut sauce, and enjoy.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan. Depending on the size of the pan, add the tofu slices.
If the oil is cold, then tofu will absorb excess oil while frying. If it's very hot, then the tofu will turn brown soon. It's best practice to fry, switching the flame between medium and medium-high.
To check if the oil is hot, take a small piece of tofu and put it in the oil. If it sizzles, it means the oil is ready for frying. (the approx temp is 375 degrees for frying)
This crispy fried tofu is prepared without any cornstarch.
Adjust the sweetness and spiciness of the sauce as per your taste.
We love deep-fried tofu. It's ready in a few minutes, and the texture is exactly like what you are served at any Thai restaurant in the United States. If you want a healthier option, you can pan-fry or air-fry or oven bake tofu. Read the post above for instructions.
Tofu bites taste the best when served immediately. It will lose its crispiness in 30 minutes.

Nutrition