Highly spiced Garlicky Sesame Tofu (30 Mins!)

Using chopsticks to pick up a bite of sesame tofu from a bowl of steamed rice and broccoli

Welcome to any other minimum effort, BIG taste dish! This quicker-than-takeout sesame tofu is baked to crispy perfection and covered in a drool-worthy, candy + highly spiced + garlicky sauce. It could have you ever wondering whether or not you’ll ever be ordering takeout once more!

Pair with rice and steamed veggies for a easy, 30-minute meal that’s vegan, gluten-free, and of course sweetened. Let’s make it!

Tofu, cornstarch, avocado oil, sesame oil, garlic, salt, water, rice vinegar, sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, tamari, and maple syrup

Recipe Inspiration

This recipe is encouraged via Sesame Rooster, which is recurrently present in Chinese language eating places in the United States and Canada (supply). Regardless that most probably at first impressed via a dish from China, its precise beginning tale is unclear. Some counsel it’s an adaptation of Common Tso’s, whilst others say it’s impressed via Sichuan Los angeles Zi Ji.

Our impressed, plant-based model has a in a similar fashion sticky, highly spiced, candy (however no longer too candy!) glaze and is made with tofu. Our model additionally doesn’t contain any battering or deep frying!

Learn how to Make Sesame Tofu

It begins with making the tofu crispy the use of a unique way! As an alternative of deep frying, we spoil the tofu into bite-sized items and bake till somewhat company and golden with crispy edges.

Drizzling oil over a baking sheet of tofu pieces

Then we make a easy, tremendous flavorful sauce at the stovetop with maple syrup, tamari, rice vinegar, sesame oil, pink pepper flakes, and garlic.

Subsequent, we cook dinner it down with somewhat slurry of cornstarch + water till it’s thickened.

Stirring a sticky, spicy, garlicky sesame sauce in a white ceramic saucepan

The general steps are including sesame seeds to the sauce then stirring within the baked tofu till it’s well-coated and impossible to resist!

Pieces of crispy baked tofu coated in a sticky sesame glaze

We will be able to’t watch for you to check out this sesame tofu! It’s:

Highly spiced
Garlicky
A bit candy
A bit sticky
Crispy at the edges
& SO scrumptious!

It pairs superbly with rice (brown, white, or cauliflower “rice”), and steamed broccoli for a easy, weeknight-friendly meal. Different scrumptious pairings come with our Sesame Sautéed Swiss Chard, Gingery Smashed Cucumber Salad, and Highly spiced Garlicky Edamame.

Extra Flavorful Tofu Recipes

In the event you do that recipe, tell us! Go away a remark, price it, and don’t overlook to tag a photograph @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, pals!

Close up shot of chopsticks holding a bite of vegan sesame tofu

Prep Time 10 mins

Prepare dinner Time 20 mins

General Time 30 mins

Servings 4

Direction Entrée

Delicacies Chinese language-Impressed, Gluten-Loose, Vegan

Freezer Pleasant No

Does it stay? Very best when recent

Prepare dinner ModeSave you your display from going darkish

TOFU

1 (14-16 oz. / 397-453 g) bundle tremendous company high-protein tofu*
1 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
1/4 tsp sea salt

SAUCE

3 Tbsp maple syrup (or honey if no longer vegan)
2 ½ Tbsp tamari or soy sauce (gluten-free as wanted)
4 tsp rice vinegar
4 tsp toasted sesame oil
1/2 tsp pink pepper flakes
2 huge cloves garlic, grated or pressed

1/4 cup sesame seeds

TO THICKEN SAUCE

1 Tbsp cornstarch*
1 Tbsp water

If serving with rice, cauliflower rice, or steamed broccoli, start getting ready right now. Prepare dinner the rice at the stovetop, within the Immediate Pot, or in a rice cooker. Steam the broccoli in a steamer basket set over boiling water for ~4-6 mins, or till smooth however nonetheless a colourful inexperienced colour. Differently, transfer directly to your next step.
TOFU: Preheat the oven to 425 levels F (218 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Collapse the tofu into items 1/2 to at least one inch in dimension and organize them at the parchment-lined baking sheet. Upload oil, sprinkle with salt, and toss to frivolously coat the tofu. As soon as the oven is preheated, bake for 10 mins, turn with a spatula, and bake for any other 10-Quarter-hour or till the tofu is somewhat company and golden with crispy edges.
SAUCE: To a medium saucepan, upload the maple syrup, soy sauce or tamari, rice vinegar, sesame oil, pink pepper flakes, and garlic. Deliver to a simmer over medium warmth.
In the meantime, to a small bowl, upload the cornstarch and water and stir to mix. As soon as the sauce is simmering, upload the cornstarch combination, stir, and proceed simmering, stirring every so often till the sauce turns into thick like honey — about 3 mins. Take away from warmth and stir within the sesame seeds. Style and regulate as wanted, including extra maple syrup for sweetness, tamari for total taste, garlic for zing, or pink pepper flakes for warmth. Put aside.
As soon as the tofu is golden brown, position it into the sauce and stir to totally coat. Serve heat with rice, steamed greens, or different facets for a delectable meal!
You’ll prep the sauce forward of time and retailer it within the refrigerator for as much as 1 week. If it turns into too thick, upload just a little of water while you reheat it in a saucepan. Differently, the cooked dish is highest when recent.

*If you’ll’t to find tremendous company tofu, additional company or company tofu will paintings on this recipe. If the use of additional company or company tofu, wrap it in an absorbent towel and set one thing heavy on most sensible — like a forged iron skillet — to press out additional moisture for 10-Quarter-hour. On the other hand, use a tofu press. Then continue with step 2.
*If you wish to substitute the cornstarch with arrowroot starch, use most effective part the volume. It is going to glance somewhat goopy, which isn’t as appetizing, but it surely nonetheless tastes just right!
*Diet knowledge is a coarse estimate calculated with out not obligatory substances.
*Impressed via Allrecipes’ Sesame Rooster.

Serving: 1 serving Energy: 345 Carbohydrates: 16.4 g Protein: 20.7 g Fats: 22.4 g Saturated Fats: 3.8 g Polyunsaturated Fats: 2.8 g Monounsaturated Fats: 4.7 g Trans Fats: 0 g Ldl cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 795 mg Potassium: 249 mg Fiber: 3.7 g Sugar: 9.3 g Diet A: 12 IU Diet C: 0.5 mg Calcium: 138 mg Iron: 4.6 mg