This Sweet and Sour Tofu recipe is a favorite in my house. The flavors are so good together. The roasted sesame seeds enhance that flavor and best of all it is baked. The recipe itself is very simple. The sauce adds all the flavor and is made with ingredients you should have around the house. Baking simplifies the cooking process even further.
I rarely prepare tofu at home. I usually never get around to buying it. But when I do this is one of the recipes I make. Here in the US, Tofu is often used in restaurants as a vegetarian/vegan substitute for animal based add-ins, fondly called 'protein'. I have always found that weird. Protein is not a food group, it is a macro. And we know there is protein in all plant based foods, even potato. But I digress. I like tofu and so does my family. We prefer the extra firm kind that holds its shape.
You can eat this Sweet and Sour Tofu as a snack, a side to a stir fry or you can eat it as the main dish to a side of fried rice.
You will need
1 packet extra firm tofu
Marinade
2 tbsp. soy sauce
3 tbsp. thick maple syrup
2 tbsp. rice vinegar
1 tsp. sesame oil
salt and pepper to taste
Topping
1 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. thick maple syrup
1 tsp. corn starch
1 tsp. sesame seeds
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Drain the block of tofu under some heavy weight being careful not to crush it. Discard the water and chop the tofu in bite size chunks. Combine all the ingredients for the marinade in a bowl. Add the tofu cubes to it. Let is rest for 30 minutes.
Evenly place the tofu chunks on a baking sheet. Save the marinade. I do not line the sheet nor do I use oil to prep it. Bake for about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, flip the cubes over and bake another 10 minutes.
During the last few minutes of baking Add all the topping ingredients except the sesame seeds to the saved marinade. Transfer to a pan and cook on low heat to thicken. Take it off the heat and keep aside. Add the sesame seeds to a small dry pan and roast on low heat until they till color slightly and are fragrant. Take it off the heat.
Take the baked tofu out of the oven and transfer it to a serving dish. Pour the thickened sauce over the top. Sprinkle the sesame seeds.
Enjoy!
I rarely prepare tofu at home. I usually never get around to buying it. But when I do this is one of the recipes I make. Here in the US, Tofu is often used in restaurants as a vegetarian/vegan substitute for animal based add-ins, fondly called 'protein'. I have always found that weird. Protein is not a food group, it is a macro. And we know there is protein in all plant based foods, even potato. But I digress. I like tofu and so does my family. We prefer the extra firm kind that holds its shape.
You can eat this Sweet and Sour Tofu as a snack, a side to a stir fry or you can eat it as the main dish to a side of fried rice.
You will need
1 packet extra firm tofu
Marinade
2 tbsp. soy sauce
3 tbsp. thick maple syrup
2 tbsp. rice vinegar
1 tsp. sesame oil
salt and pepper to taste
Topping
1 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. thick maple syrup
1 tsp. corn starch
1 tsp. sesame seeds
Preheat oven to 375 F.
Drain the block of tofu under some heavy weight being careful not to crush it. Discard the water and chop the tofu in bite size chunks. Combine all the ingredients for the marinade in a bowl. Add the tofu cubes to it. Let is rest for 30 minutes.
Evenly place the tofu chunks on a baking sheet. Save the marinade. I do not line the sheet nor do I use oil to prep it. Bake for about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, flip the cubes over and bake another 10 minutes.
During the last few minutes of baking Add all the topping ingredients except the sesame seeds to the saved marinade. Transfer to a pan and cook on low heat to thicken. Take it off the heat and keep aside. Add the sesame seeds to a small dry pan and roast on low heat until they till color slightly and are fragrant. Take it off the heat.
Take the baked tofu out of the oven and transfer it to a serving dish. Pour the thickened sauce over the top. Sprinkle the sesame seeds.
Enjoy!
I have seen a lot of recipes for baked tofu, but haven’t tried it yet. It looks great with an even coloring all around.
ReplyDeleteNever thought of tofu as a snack. As you say I always regard it as a meat substitute. This looks like a simple and tasty dish!
ReplyDeleteNot a big fan of tofu but when I buy it, I too prefer extra firm. Never baked tofu. Looks good.
ReplyDeleteI bake and grill tofu all the time but I am eyeing the marinade you used. I shall try this next time around. Adding the sesame seeds is a great idea as well.
ReplyDeleteNice dish to make and enjoy if you love tofu. Somehow I always thought its not as easy as making paneer at home.
ReplyDeleteWow! This looks fantastic Varada. The sweet and sour sauce would add so much flavour to the tofu. I am not very find of tofu but I am thinking of paneer instead.
ReplyDeleteWe LOVE tofu in our home and your sweet & sour tofu recipe sounds perfect for my family. Will try this for them for sure.
ReplyDeleteThe tofu pieces look evenly baked and must be a treat for tofu/ asian flavor lovers.
ReplyDeleteLove the flavors with tofu and they look so inviting. I have not tried tofu and should try soon.
ReplyDelete