Crispy Tofu Bowl
Lin Wei
@linweiwok
Prep
15 min
Cook
15 min
Total
30 min
Servings
4
Difficulty
Easy
Let's cook
Press the tofu hard
Wrap the block in a towel, put a heavy pan on top, and press for at least 20 minutes. Squeezing the water out is what allows it to crisp instead of steam.
💡Twenty minutes minimum. Unpressed tofu will never go crisp, whatever else you do.
Tear, do not cube
Tear the pressed tofu into rough chunks rather than cutting neat cubes. The irregular surfaces catch the coating and crisp much better.
Coat in cornstarch
Toss the pieces with the soy sauce first, then the cornstarch, until each piece is dusted evenly and looks dry.
Bake hot
Spread on an oiled tray with space between pieces and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 30 minutes, flipping once, until deep golden and firm.
Make the peanut sauce
Whisk the peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, maple syrup, and garlic. It will seize; add the warm water gradually until pourable.
Assemble
Build bowls with rice, broccoli, carrot, and tofu, then spoon the sauce over and top with scallions and sesame seeds.
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📝 Tips, swaps, and make-ahead notes
Sauce the tofu at the table rather than in the bowl if you want it to stay crisp. Baked tofu keeps 4 days and re-crisps in an air fryer for 4 minutes.
- •Air fryer: 400°F for 15 minutes, shaking twice.
- •Nut-free: Tahini or sunflower seed butter make the same sauce.
- •Gluten-free: Tamari in place of soy sauce.
Nutrition & Safety
Calories
548kcal
Protein
24g
Carbs
58g
Fat
26g
⚠️ Allergen & Safety Note
This recipe contains soy, peanut and sesame. Nutritional values are estimates per serving and may vary based on the specific ingredients you use. If you have food allergies, please verify all ingredients before cooking.
AI-assisted content. Always verify instructions with trusted culinary sources.
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