This crispy salt and pepper tofu is a very scrumptious easy recipe to make to your busy weeknights with easy pantry staple elements. Must you’re looking for easier weeknight inspiration, take a look at our silken tofu, scorching and bitter soup, and teriyaki tofu.
What’s Salt and Pepper Tofu?
Salt and pepper tofu usually typically often known as, jiāo yán dòu fù (椒盐豆腐), is a savory Chinese language language language dish made by coating cubes of firm tofu in seasoned cornstarch after which frying till crispy after which tossing them in a combination of salt, pepper, garlic powder, brown sugar and 5 spice. This Chinese language language language tofu dish is often present in Chinese language language language consuming areas. Salt pepper tofu is prone to be served as an appetizer, a snack, or a full meal if mixed with rice.
Elements
You may uncover all the elements for this salt pepper tofu recipe at your native grocery retailer. I’ve linked the entire thing that I used for you beneath.
Tofu
- Firm Tofu: firm tofu or additional firm tofu is sweet on account of it may truly preserve its sort when frying. Softer types of tofu might crumble and break aside.
- Egg: The egg binds the tofu to the cornstarch to create a a golden brown, crispy crust all through the tofu.
- Cornstarch: cornstarch is sweet for coating on account of it yields a crispy, skinny outer fried coating for the crispy salt and pepper tofu.
- Salt and White Pepper: salt and white pepper all through the marinade enforces the salt and pepper model all through the dish.
Stir Fry
- Inexperienced Onion: inexperienced onion gives a lightweight onion model with delicate garlic notes to the tofu.
- Candy Pepper: candy peppers add a mildly candy model to the stir fry. You in all probability can alternatively use widespread bell peppers as efficiently.
- Chili Pepper: should you’d like to include warmth into your dish, add newest chili peppers all through the stir fry.
- Garlic: garlic gives a wealthy garlicky fragrant model.
- Impartial Oil: impartial oil for frying the tofu. Remember to make the most of a impartial flavored oil with a excessive smoke diploma like vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil.
Seasoning
- Salt and White Pepper: salt and white pepper is a scrumptious mixture that yields a milder pepper model than customary black pepper.
- Garlic Powder: garlic powder gives extra garlic model to the salt and pepper seasoning.
- Brown Sugar: brown sugar gives a contact of sweetness for steadiness.
- Chinese language language language 5 Spice: Chinese language language language 5 spice gives a novel layer of flavors that’s candy, earthy, spicy, and fragrant.
Substitutions and Additions
You in all probability can customise your crispy salt and pepper tofu with the next ideas for substitutions and additions.
Substitutions
- Gluten-free cornstarch: for a gluten-free salt and pepper fried tofu, use gluten-free cornstarch.
- Spices: you in all probability can experiment with quite a lot of spices and seasonings paying homage to Sichuan peppercorns, black pepper, onion powder, garlic salt, and so forth.
Additions
- Greens: add extra greens paying homage to snap peas, broccoli, and mushrooms for added flavors in your salt and pepper fried tofu dish.
- Aromatics: onions, shallots, and/or ginger are good extra aromatics for added layers of favor.
- Herbs: for added freshness, garnish with cilantro or Thai basil.
How one can Make Salt and Pepper Tofu
Listed beneath are the recipe directions for the way one could make this salt and pepper tofu recipe.
- Put collectively the tofu and seasoning combination. Drain the tofu and reduce it into 1.5-inch cubes. In a small mixing bowl, combine the salt, white pepper, garlic powder, brown sugar, and five-spice powder. Put aside.
- Put together dinner dinner the tofu. In a medium pot, add fill midway with water, add 1 teaspoon of salt, and convey to a boil over excessive warmth. Then add the tofu, decrease the warmth to medium-low, and put collectively dinner for about 5 minutes. Then scoop the tofu out and place it on a wonderful layer on a baking sheet lined with a paper towel. Pat to dry.
- Warmth the oil. In a large pot or wok, warmth satisfactory oil to cowl about 1/2-1 inch of the pot till it reaches 375°F (190°C). Put collectively a wire rack with a baking sheet beneath.
- Put collectively the dredging bowls. In a mixing bowl, add the cornstarch, salt, and white pepper and blend. In a separate big bowl, beat the egg and put aside.
- Dredge the tofu. Change the tofu cubes to the egg bowl and blend to coat. Then working in batches, shake off any extra egg and place the tofu cubes all through the cornstarch combination till evenly coated.
- Fry the tofu. Working in batches to stop overcrowding, gently place the tofu into the model new oil. Keep away from transferring the tofu for a minimum of 30 seconds earlier than transferring them to stop them from sticking collectively. Fry for about 4-5 minutes flipping midway as wanted till all sides are flippantly golden brown, and take away the tofu with a spider strainer and drain on the wire rack.
- Stir fry. In a large wok, warmth 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high warmth. Add the minced garlic and put collectively dinner for about 30 seconds. Then add the bell peppers, chili pepper, and white a part of the inexperienced onions and put collectively dinner for 1 minute. Then add the tofu, sprinkle the seasoning combination, and toss till mixed.
Ideas for the Greatest Salt and Pepper Tofu
- Drain the tofu. Drain the tofu by inserting the tofu on a paper towel-lined plate and inserting one totally different paper towel-lined plate on extreme. Let the tofu sit for a minimum of 5-10 minutes. The extra drained the tofu the crispier the chunk.
- Scale back the tofu uniformly. To make sure even cooking and glued texture, lower the tofu uniformly.
- Fry the tofu at 375°F (190°C). Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the oil. This might guarantee a crispy, not oily texture.
- Fry in batches. To forestall overcrowding and lowering the oil temperature too drastically fry the tofu cubes in batches.
- Drain over a wire rack. Place the fried tofu over a baking sheet topped with a wire rack to empty any extra oil and to barely cool for an additional crispy texture.
- For added crispy tofu, double fry. If the feel of your tofu shouldn’t be crisp satisfactory after 4-5 minutes. Take away the tofu and convey the oil as soon as extra as loads as a minimum of 375°F after which double fry the tofu for an additional minute for additional crispy tofu.
Storage Directions
This Chinese language language language salt and pepper tofu recipe is greatest consumed instantly. Nonetheless, you in all probability can retailer any leftovers in an hermetic container all through the fridge for as loads as 4 days.
Reheat: You in all probability can reheat the crispy salt pepper tofu all through the oven, air fryer, or on a skillet till heat. For the crispiest various, use the air fryer.
Repeatedly Requested Q’s and A’s
What kind of tofu ought to I exploit?
Firm or additional firm tofu will work greatest for this salt pepper tofu recipe because it may truly preserve its sort efficiently when fried.
How do I serve salt and pepper tofu?
You in all probability can serve this salt and pepper tofu recipe as an appetizer or as a serious dish. Serve it with a facet of steamed rice or soy sauce noodles or lo mein.
In case your tofu shouldn’t be crispy satisfactory, your oil will not be scorching satisfactory in any other case you are overcrowding your pan. For added crispy tofu, double-fry the tofu. Fry the tofu for 4-5 minutes then take away the tofu and convey the oil as soon as extra as loads as a minimum of 375°F after which double fry the tofu for an additional minute for additional crispy tofu.
How do I reheat leftovers?
You in all probability can reheat the crispy salt pepper tofu all through the oven, air fryer, or skillet till heat. For the crispiest various, use the air fryer.
Extra Tofu Recipes to Strive
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Recipe
Salt and Pepper Tofu
Salt and pepper tofu is a savory stir-fried Chinese language language language dish made with firm tofu fried to golden perfection after which tossed with a salt and pepper seasoning mix that comes collectively in beneath half-hour.
Servings: 4 servings
Elements
Salt and Pepper Seasoning
Put collectively the tofu and seasoning combination. Drain the tofu and reduce into 1.5-inch cubes. In a small mixing bowl, combine the salt, white pepper, garlic powder, brown sugar, and five-spice powder. Put aside.
Put together dinner dinner the tofu. In a medium pot, add fill midway with water, add 1 teaspoon of salt, and convey to a boil over excessive warmth. Then add the tofu, decrease the warmth to medium-low, and put collectively dinner for about 5 minutes. Then fastidiously scoop the tofu out and place in a wonderful layer on a baking sheet lined with paper towel. Gently pat to dry utterly.
Warmth the oil. In a large heavy-bottomed pot or wok, warmth satisfactory oil to cowl about 1/2-1 inch of the pot till it reaches 375°F (190°C). Put collectively a wire rack with a paper towel-lined baking sheet beneath.
Put collectively the dredging bowls. In a mixing bowl, add the cornstarch, salt, and white pepper and blend till mixed. In a separate mixing bowl, beat the egg and put aside.
Dredge the tofu. Change the tofu cubes to the egg bowl and gently combine to coat. Then working in batches, shake off any extra egg and place the tofu cubes all through the cornstarch combination till evenly coated. Place on the wire rack to mud off any extra.
Fry the tofu. Working in batches to stop overcrowding, gently place the tofu into the model new oil. Keep away from transferring the tofu for a minimum of 30 seconds earlier than transferring them to stop them from sticking collectively. Fry for about 4-5 minutes flipping midway till all sides are golden brown and punctiliously take away the tofu with a spider strainer and drain on the wire rack. Remember to preserve up the oil temperature at 350-375 ranges F.
Stir fry. In a large wok, warmth 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high warmth. Add the minced garlic and put collectively dinner for 30 seconds. Then add the candy peppers, chili pepper, and white a part of the inexperienced onions and put collectively dinner for 1 minute whereas stirring. Then add the tofu, sprinkle the seasoning combination, and toss till mixed.
Serve. Garnish with inexperienced onions, and serve with a bowl of steamed rice and luxuriate in!
- Drain the tofu. Drain the tofu by inserting the tofu on a paper towel-lined plate and inserting one totally different paper towel-lined plate on extreme. Let the tofu sit for a minimum of 5-10 minutes. The extra drained the tofu the crispier the chunk.
- Scale back the tofu uniformly. To make sure even cooking and glued texture, lower the tofu uniformly.
- Fry the tofu at 375°F (190°C). Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the oil. This might guarantee a crispy, not oily texture.
- Fry in batches. To forestall overcrowding and lowering the oil temperature too drastically, fry the tofu cubes in batches.
- Drain over a wire rack. Place the fried tofu over a wire rack to empty any extra oil and to barely cool for an additional crispy texture.
- For added crispy tofu, double fry. If the feel of your tofu shouldn’t be crisp satisfactory after 4-5 minutes. Take away the tofu and convey the oil as soon as extra as loads as a minimum of 375°F after which double fry the tofu for an additional minute for additional crispy tofu.
- Storage Directions: This Chinese language language language salt and pepper tofu recipe is greatest consumed instantly. Nonetheless, you in all probability can retailer any leftovers in an hermetic container all through the fridge for as loads as 4 days.
Vitality: 2310kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 13g | Fats: 237g | Saturated Fats: 36g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 135g | Monounsaturated Fats: 54g | Trans Fats: 2g | Ldl ldl ldl cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 619mg | Potassium: 227mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2120IU | Vitamin C: 95mg | Calcium: 172mg | Iron: 3mg