Welcome to a different minimal effort, BIG taste dish! This quicker-than-takeout sesame tofu is baked to crispy perfection and coated in a drool-worthy, candy + spicy + garlicky sauce. It might need you questioning whether or not you’ll ever be ordering takeout once more!
Pair with rice and steamed veggies for a easy, 30-minute meal that’s vegan, gluten-free, and naturally sweetened. Let’s make it!
Recipe Inspiration
This recipe is impressed by Sesame Hen, which is often present in Chinese language eating places within the US and Canada (supply). Although seemingly initially impressed by a dish from China, its actual origin story is unclear. Some counsel it’s an adaptation of Normal Tso’s, whereas others say it’s impressed by Sichuan La Zi Ji.
Our impressed, plant-based model has a equally sticky, spicy, candy (however not too candy!) glaze and is made with tofu. Our model additionally doesn’t contain any battering or deep frying!
The way to Make Sesame Tofu
It begins with making the tofu crispy utilizing a distinct technique! As a substitute of deep frying, we break the tofu into bite-sized items and bake till somewhat agency and golden with crispy edges.
Then we make a easy, tremendous flavorful sauce on the stovetop with maple syrup, tamari, rice vinegar, sesame oil, purple pepper flakes, and garlic.
Subsequent, we prepare dinner it down with somewhat slurry of cornstarch + water till it’s thickened.
The ultimate steps are including sesame seeds to the sauce then stirring within the baked tofu till it’s well-coated and irresistible!
We will’t wait so that you can do this sesame tofu! It’s:
Spicy
Garlicky
Somewhat candy
Somewhat sticky
Crispy on the perimeters
& SO scrumptious!
It pairs fantastically with rice (brown, white, or cauliflower “rice”), and steamed broccoli for a easy, weeknight-friendly meal. Different scrumptious pairings embrace our Sesame Sautéed Swiss Chard, Gingery Smashed Cucumber Salad, and Spicy Garlicky Edamame.
Extra Flavorful Tofu Recipes
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Servings 4
Stop your display from going darkish
TOFU
- 1 (14-16 oz / 397-453 g) bundle tremendous agency high-protein tofu*
- 1 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
SAUCE
- 3 Tbsp maple syrup (or honey if not vegan)
- 2 ½ Tbsp tamari or soy sauce (gluten-free as wanted)
- 4 tsp rice vinegar
- 4 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp purple pepper flakes
- 2 massive cloves garlic, grated or pressed
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
TO THICKEN SAUCE
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch*
- 1 Tbsp water
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If serving with rice, cauliflower rice, or steamed broccoli, start making ready presently. Cook dinner the rice on the stovetop, within the Immediate Pot, or in a rice cooker. Steam the broccoli in a steamer basket set over boiling water for ~4-6 minutes, or till tender however nonetheless a vibrant inexperienced colour. In any other case, transfer on to the following step.
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TOFU: Preheat the oven to 425 levels F (218 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Crumble the tofu into items 1/2 to 1 inch in dimension and prepare them on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Add oil, sprinkle with salt, and toss to evenly coat the tofu. As soon as the oven is preheated, bake for 10 minutes, flip with a spatula, and bake for one more 10-Quarter-hour or till the tofu is somewhat agency and golden with crispy edges.
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SAUCE: To a medium saucepan, add the maple syrup, soy sauce or tamari, rice vinegar, sesame oil, purple pepper flakes, and garlic. Convey to a simmer over medium warmth.
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In the meantime, to a small bowl, add the cornstarch and water and stir to mix. As soon as the sauce is simmering, add the cornstarch combination, stir, and proceed simmering, stirring often till the sauce turns into thick like honey — about 3 minutes. Take away from warmth and stir within the sesame seeds. Style and modify as wanted, including extra maple syrup for sweetness, tamari for general taste, garlic for zing, or purple pepper flakes for warmth. Put aside.
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As soon as the tofu is golden brown, place it into the sauce and stir to totally coat. Serve heat with rice, steamed greens, or different sides for a tasty meal!
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You’ll be able to prep the sauce forward of time and retailer it within the fridge for as much as 1 week. If it turns into too thick, add a little bit of water while you reheat it in a saucepan. In any other case, the cooked dish is finest when recent.
*If you wish to exchange the cornstarch with arrowroot starch, use solely half the quantity. It would look somewhat goopy, which isn’t as appetizing, but it surely nonetheless tastes good!
*Diet info is a tough estimate calculated with out elective substances.
*Impressed by Allrecipes’ Sesame Hen.
Serving: 1 serving Energy: 345 Carbohydrates: 16.4 g Protein: 20.7 g Fats: 22.4 g Saturated Fats: 3.8 g Polyunsaturated Fats: 2.8 g Monounsaturated Fats: 4.7 g Trans Fats: 0 g Ldl cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 795 mg Potassium: 249 mg Fiber: 3.7 g Sugar: 9.3 g Vitamin A: 12 IU Vitamin C: 0.5 mg Calcium: 138 mg Iron: 4.6 mg
