Crispy Baked Tofu Peanut (Printable Version)

Golden baked tofu coated in a creamy peanut sauce for a hearty, flavor-packed dish.

# What You Need:

→ Tofu

01 - 14 oz extra-firm tofu
02 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
03 - 2 tbsp neutral oil (canola or vegetable)
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Peanut Sauce

06 - 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
07 - 2 tbsp soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
08 - 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
09 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar or lime juice
10 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
11 - 1 garlic clove, minced
12 - 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
13 - 2-4 tbsp warm water to thin

→ Garnish (optional)

14 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
15 - 2 spring onions, sliced
16 - Fresh cilantro leaves

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Drain and press tofu for at least 10 minutes to remove excess moisture. Cut into 1-inch cubes.
03 - Toss tofu cubes gently in a bowl with oil, cornstarch, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
04 - Arrange tofu in a single layer on the prepared sheet. Bake 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy.
05 - Whisk peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger in a bowl. Add warm water gradually until smooth and pourable.
06 - Transfer baked tofu to a large bowl. Pour peanut sauce over and toss gently to coat thoroughly.
07 - Serve immediately, garnished with sesame seeds, spring onions, and cilantro as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The tofu gets shatteringly crisp in the oven without any deep frying.
  • The peanut sauce is creamy, savory, and comes together in under five minutes.
  • It works just as well over rice as it does stuffed into lettuce wraps or tossed with noodles.
02 -
  • Pressing the tofu is not optional, wet tofu will steam instead of crisp.
  • Don't crowd the baking sheet or the pieces will stick together and turn soggy.
  • Add the warm water to the sauce slowly, too much and it becomes runny instead of creamy.
03 -
  • Use a tofu press if you have one, it saves time and gets better results than towels.
  • Taste the sauce before tossing, you might want more lime juice or a pinch of salt depending on your peanut butter.
  • If you're meal prepping, bake the tofu plain and toss with sauce only when you're ready to eat.

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