Ingredients
Scale
- ¼ cup less sodium soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 block (14 to 16 ounces) extra-firm tofu
- 1 tablespoon less sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- cooked rice, quinoa, or noodles
- steamed broccoli
- sesame seeds
- sliced green onions
Instructions
- Remove tofu from packaging and drain. Wrap the tofu in a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and place a heavy skillet or plate on top to press for 30 minutes, helping it become golden and crispy.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, water, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch until smooth. Set this sauce aside.
- Cut the pressed tofu into bite-sized cubes, about ¾ inch, and pat them dry again with paper towels.
- In a medium bowl, toss the tofu with 1 tablespoon of soy sauce to season it well.
- Mix cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle this mixture over the tofu cubes and toss to coat evenly.
- Heat olive oil in a large nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the tofu in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes until golden. Flip and cook the other sides until crispy, about 5 to 6 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir the sauce again to make sure the cornstarch is not settled, then pour it gently into the skillet with the tofu. Stir gently to coat the tofu with the sauce.
- Simmer the mixture for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Serve the dish hot, garnished with sliced green onions or sesame seeds, as desired.
Notes
Pressing the tofu is crucial for achieving a crispy texture; don’t skip this step!
Feel free to customize with your favorite vegetables or serve over different grains like quinoa or rice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.