This Easy Fried Tofu Recipe is a staple in our house and I make it a few times a week! It’s a great vegan main dish to accompany veggies, pasta, salads and more! My kids love it too!
I make this Easy Fried Tofu recipe all the time and finally decided that I should share it with you all! It’s really such a simple recipe and only has 4 ingredients so it’s easy to throw together for a last minute lunch or dinner!
I used to make this same recipe but I would cut the tofu into smaller cubes. I sliced it into these big chunks once and now my kids always request “big tofu” and I actually prefer it this way to the chunks now 🙂
Easy Fried Tofu Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions
- Tofu – You will want to use extra firm or super firm tofu for this recipe. I really like the super firm, pre-pressed, high protein tofu that I get at Trader Joe’s or Sprouts. Regular extra firm tofu will also work. If you’re not using pre-pressed tofu, make sure to press as much water out of it as you can before cooking.
- Olive Oil – Olive oil is what I regularly cook with so that is what I used, but you could also use avocado oil, coconut oil, etc… I have not made this recipe oil free, but it would probably work well if you used a non-stick skillet and cooked it in the tamari liquid.
- Garlic – Garlic is totally optional here. I like to crush a few cloves of garlic and cook them in the oil before I put the tofu in. This gives the tofu a slight garlic flavor that I enjoy.
- Tamari – You can use tamari or soy sauce, the low sodium versions are great if you have them. It may seem like the tofu would be too salty with the amount of tamari I put on, but the tamari nicely coats the outside of the tofu without getting too much into the inside so I don’t find it too salty at all!
How To Make Fried Tofu
As this recipe states, it is really easy to make!
- Start by draining the liquid out of the tofu package, patting it dry and pressing it, if needed. Then, lay the tofu cube on its side and cut it into slices. I like my slices about 1/2 in thick but you can make then as thin or as thick as you like. I usually get about 6 slices out of my block.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and coat the bottom with some olive oil. You don’t need a ton of olive oil because we’re not deep frying the tofu, but just enough to lightly coat the bottom. Use a large knife to crush a few cloves of garlic (3-5) and add them to the oil. Let the garlic cook in the oil for a few minutes, stirring regularly, before putting the tofu in.
- Once the garlic is fragrant, lay the tofu slices into the pan. Cook the tofu until lightly browned on each side, about 3 minutes. Remove the garlic from the pan and pour over the tamari. I don’t really measure the tamari, but I want to make sure that each slice is covered and there’s some in the bottom of the pan, probably a few tablespoons.
- Let the tofu cook for about 3 minutes and then flip again and cook for 3-4 minutes on the other side. You want to cook the tofu until each side is nice and browned from the tamari. Once finished cooking, serve immediately or refrigerate for 4-5 days.
Tofu Frequently Asked Questions
- What kind of tofu should I use? Extra firm or super firm works best.
- Can I make this recipe oil free? If you have a good non-stick pan you could just cook the tofu in the tamari instead of oil.
- Is this recipe gluten free? Yes, as long as you use a gluten free tamari or soy sauce.
- How should I use this fried tofu? I use it in everything! I love to make rice bowls with veggies and fried tofu or I eat it with pasta. You could also eat it with some BBQ sauce and mashed potatoes. I like to think of it as a protein like chicken that goes with pretty much everything!
- Can I freeze the tofu after cooking it? I haven’t frozen it myself but I think it would work. Just make sure to freeze in an airtight container.
- How long will the cooked tofu keep in the refrigerator? It should keep for about 4-5 days in an airtight container.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below and I will get back to you ASAP!
Looking For More Easy Tofu Recipes?
Print
Easy Fried Tofu
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 3 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Easy Fried Tofu is so versatile and goes great with any meal! It only takes a few ingredients and is ready in about 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 block extra or super firm tofu
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, or enough to lightly coat the bottom of the pan
- 3–5 cloves garlic (optional)
- 2–3 tablespoons tamari, or soy sauce (I like to use low sodium)
Instructions
- Start by draining the liquid out of the tofu package, patting it dry and pressing it, if needed. Then, lay the tofu cube on its side and cut it into slices. I like my slices about 1/2 in thick but you can make then as thin or as thick as you like. I usually get about 6 slices out of my block.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and coat the bottom with some olive oil. You don’t need a ton of olive oil because we’re not deep frying the tofu, but just enough to lightly coat the bottom. Use a large knife to crush a few cloves of garlic (3-5) and add them to the oil. Let the garlic cook in the oil for a few minutes, stirring regularly, before putting the tofu in.
- Once the garlic is fragrant, lay the tofu slices into the pan. Cook the tofu until lightly browned on each side, about 3 minutes. Remove the garlic from the pan and pour over the tamari. I don’t really measure the tamari, but I want to make sure that each slice is covered and there’s some in the bottom of the pan, probably a few tablespoons.
- Let the tofu cook for about 3 minutes and then flip again and cook for 3-4 minutes on the other side. You want to cook the tofu until each side is nice and browned from the tamari. Once finished cooking, serve immediately or refrigerate for 4-5 days.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Category: Vegan, Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Leave a Reply