Tofu is hit or miss, generally. I think most people don’t care for it because they have had it one way: soft, maybe bordering on mushy? I happen to love it all ways. But there is one surefire way to make a crispy, sweet and spicy tofu: fry it! For this recipe, pick your favorite barbecue sauce to make it your own.
Ingredients
- 1 package extra firm tofu, water drained
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 egg
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 Tbsp scallions, chopped
- canola oil for pan frying
An hour or two in advance, open tofu, drain water, and place a plate on top of tofu to drain excess water (it also helps to place something heavy on top of the plate to compress the tofu further- draining the water will help the tofu become a firmer texture when baking). After an hour, pour off the excess water and slice tofu into 1/4-inch slices, then into fourths. Place on a greased baking sheet and spread some of the barbecue sauce on top of the tofu. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes while you heat up canola oil in a skillet. Mix together flour and salt in a shallow bowl. In a separate bowl, mix 1/4 cup barbecue sauce with one egg, whisking with a fork until combined.
When oil is hot, dip tofu pieces first in wet mixture, then dry, before dropping carefully into oil. Continue until pan is full, being careful not to overcrowd skillet. Cook for 3-5 minutes until golden brown, then turn and cook the other side for 1 or 2 minutes. Remove first batch and place on paper towel to absorb extra oil. Repeat with the remaining tofu until it is all fried.
Spread the remaining barbecue sauce onto a platter and place fried tofu on the sauce, turning to combine. Sprinkle with chopped scallions, and serve warm with brown rice and kale sautéed in garlic, olive oil, and lemon!
It had been a while since I made this dish, so I wasn’t sure if the boys would eat it. They loved it, and Oliver asked for seconds, then thirds! I think it had something to do with the crispy texture and sweet barbecue sauce… who can resist? And though I’m not too sure how healthy it is after frying it up, it is certainly healthier than fried chicken, right?
yum. WANT. Perfect timing, too, because I’m making a grocery list today! Can’t wait to try it.
This looks amazing! I am going to try it tomorrow. Thanks for the recipe!
Ooh yum. I love tofu but I’ve actually never fried it so I’ll have to try this. I know James will love it- BBQ sauce and fried anything are a sure thing 🙂
Oh Lauren, I’ll be there for dinner in 6 hours!
Ooooooh! I forgot about this! I’ll have to make it soon…Thanks!
This looks crazy good and has renewed my interest in tofu. Not an easy task, but you have achieved it.
That looks delicious! I’m always looking for new ways to cook tofu. Thanks for sharing!
Why is there not an oven temperature on this recipe? “Place on a greased baking sheet and spread some of the barbecue sauce on top of the tofu. Bake in oven for 20 minutes.”
That’s great, but what temperature?
Thank you for catching that, Lauren. I just updated it.