How To Make Flavorful Baked Crispy Tofu (Perfect for Any Dish)

posted by Britt Berlin on Mar 28, 2023 2 comments »

This quick and simple baked crispy tofu recipe is easy to make and deliciously flavorful (so that anyone will love tofu, vegan or not!). Perfect for salads, pastas or any dish that needs more plant-based protein!

THE Tofu Recipe to Make Anyone Love Tofu- vegan or not!

For some reason, tofu has gotten a really bad reputation as being hard to prepare and bland. But to be honest, tofu on its own is really no different than any other source of protein, plant-based or not.

It just won’t taste good as it is. So I get it, it honestly took a really long time for even me, someone who’s always gravitated more towards the plant life (before becoming fully vegan!), to like it.

But once you get past this mental block and realize that dang, tofu can be really delicious, let me tell you. The world is your vegan oyster.

This crispy tofu recipe is going to do just that. And knowing how to prepare tofu simply, easily, and quickly with the tools you already have (an oven- no air fryer needed!), you’re going to become a tofu pro.

This crispy tofu is deliciously tender and flavorful (actually PACKED with flavor) with not a lot of oil needed to get those crisp edges. And you’ll love how versatile this recipe can be (so many dinner recipes you can add it to- more on that below!- or just serve it up simply with some roasted broccoli or Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes!).

Plus tofu is one of those great plant-based proteins (along with bean recipes, like these delicious vegan meatballs and vegan lentil loaf!).

Let’s get started!

Key Ingredients:

Extra firm tofu: This is super important. We need a firm tofu to be able to slice the tofu into cubes. Another note about tofu, you’ll need to press the tofu for just 30 minutes before prepping this recipe to ensure that the tofu absorbs the flavorings and marinade. This is so easy- you can just use a paper towel and wrap it tightly, placing a book on top!
Cornstarch: You can also use arrowroot starch here. This is what’s going to help your tofu get super crispy without frying it (or using an air fryer!).
Vegan butter: I like to use vegan butter, specifically Miyoko’s, because it has a high cooking heat, but you can use a neutral oil, like sunflower seed oil or avocado oil, or even a triple refined coconut oil.
Soy sauce: If you’re gluten-free, you can use Tamari soy sauce, or swap in coconut aminos.
Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves will taste best, but you can also use garlic powder!
Mustard: This is to be mixed for our marinade after the tofu bakes!
Spices: I like to use a blend of cumin and ginger. You can also grate in fresh ginger if you’d like, and mix in onion powder as well for extra flavor!
Rice Vinegar: A little vinegar provides the acid that complements the fat in this recipe, creating a super satisfying flavor. You’re going to love it!

Pro vegan cooking tip: Remembering this key cooking skill will make any dish, vegan or not, taste delicious. Pairing a fat with salt and an acid is SO important to creating an irresistible flavor. So adding the rice vinegar to the tofu, along with the soy sauce and the oil is going to create that DELICIOUS and satisfying flavor. It holds true for any dish!

Overview: How to make crispy tofu in the oven:

pressing tofu with paper towel — First, start by pressing the tofu. You can simply wrap the drained tofu in a paper towel, and allow it to sit weighted for 30 minutes. This will help the tofu to absorb the sauces and marinades!

cubed tofu on a wooden board — First, start by pressing the tofu. You can simply wrap the drained tofu in a paper towel, and allow it to sit weighted for 30 minutes. This will help the tofu to absorb the sauces and marinades!

tofu tossed in marinade — Toss the tofu in the quick marinade, and bake for 20-25 minutes in the oven.

baked tofu on a baking sheet — Toss the tofu in the quick marinade, and bake for 20-25 minutes in the oven.

tofu in marinade sauce — Whisk together the remaining sauce ingredients, and add in the tofu.

coated tofu in a bowl — Whisk together the remaining sauce ingredients, and add in the tofu.

Can I pan-fry this crispy tofu?

Absolutely! If you’d prefer to pan-fry this crispy tofu recipe, you absolutely can, and it will still get super crispy. To do so, simply the oil to the pan instead of tossing the tofu in it. Saute the garlic first, then add in your cornstarch and soy sauce coated tofu to the pan.

Cook on medium-high heat for a few minutes, then reduce to medium-low to prevent any burning.

What to serve with this tofu recipe:

You might laugh at this, but I could literally eat this crispy tofu on its own, it’s so good. But here are a few other ideas for you to try:

In a buddha bowl with an extra drizzle of this tahini garlic dressing. It’s absolutely delicious!
Paired with these roasted red cabbage steaks and a side of this dill yogurt dipping sauce.
In a vegan stir-fry with carrots, snap peas, bell peppers, and the like. You can also sprinkle on some sesame seeds too!
In a curry, like this delicious vegan green curry or vegan Thai red curry!
Keeping it simple with just pairing with some greens, like these roasted Brussels sprouts, and a heartier starch, like these roasted sweet potatoes or some rice.
Coated in this vegan 5 minute BBQ sauce alongside a side of herbed potato salad. Yum!
As added protein in this vegan pasta salad which is great at any summer party!

Want to save this recipe for later? Add it to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest!

How To Make Flavorful Baked Crispy Tofu (Perfect for Any Dish) pinterest pin

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. This helps others to find the recipes! As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there as well!