Pan-Fried Sesame Garlic Tofu

This sweet and sticky sesame garlic fried tofu recipe is a game-changer! Tender morsels of tofu are pan-fried in sesame oil until crispy and tossed in a spicy honey garlic sauce.

This easy sesame garlic fried tofu recipe is choc full of flavor. It’s made by pan-frying tender tofu pieces until they’re browned and crispy before tossing them in a mouthwatering, spicy honey garlic sauce. The touch of sweetness makes the tongue-tingling chilies sing in this recipe, and the texture of the tofu is perfect!

Tofu is a great source of plant protein and an easy addition to everything from curry to stir-fry. My tofu guide has lots of helpful pointers if you’re new to cooking with it. And if you’re looking for another easy tofu recipe once you’re hooked, try this delicious sweet and sour tofu, too!

Why You’ll Love This Fried Tofu Recipe

• Extra crispy tofu. I’m sharing all of my secrets to the crispiest fried tofu. It starts with coating the tofu pieces in cornstarch first so that it browns up perfectly when fried.
• Packed with flavor. Nutty sesame oil, savory garlic, and spicy Indonesian chili sauce come together with a touch of honey in a silky stir-fry sauce. The sauce ingredients are simple and pack a whole lot of sweet, spicy, garlicky punch.
• Versatile. Serve this fried tofu over rice or noodles, or add it to your favorite bowls and salads. The recipe is easy to adapt and it’s great for weekly meal prep.

What You’ll Need

Let’s have a look at the ingredients for this sesame tofu recipe. Remember to scroll to the recipe card below for the full measurements and recipe details.

For the Fried Tofu

• Tofu – Make sure to buy extra firm or firm tofu. Soft tofu falls apart in the skillet.
• Cornstarch – Alternatively, you can use arrowroot powder.
• Sesame oil and vegetable oil – Use a combination of both, or you can make this recipe with only sesame oil if you prefer.

For the Sauce

• Soy sauce – I like to use low-sodium soy sauce. You can also use regular soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos.
• Honey – Agave or regular sugar also works.
• Sambal oelek – A type of spicy Indonesian chili sauce. Or, use another chili sauce that you like.
• Garlic paste – You can use fresh garlic instead, though it may not have enough time to cook through completely. See the recipe card notes.
• Rice wine vinegar – Other good options are white or red wine vinegar and regular white vinegar.

What’s the Secret to Crispy Fried Tofu?

There are two important things that make all the difference in this crispy tofu recipe:

• Draining the tofu. Like my eggplant parmesan recipe where you pull the liquid out of the eggplant first, you need to press the liquid out of the tofu before you fry it. Removing the excess liquid ensures that the tofu cooks up crispy and not soggy.
• Cornstarch. Tossing the tofu pieces in a thin layer of cornstarch creates a coating that crisps up once it hits the hot oil. The effect is sort of like deep-frying.

How to Make Sesame Garlic Fried Tofu

You’ll come to find that the tastiest tofu wholly depends on how you prepare it! Follow these simple steps for perfect sesame fried tofu that’s ready in minutes:

• Prepare the tofu. Place two sheets of paper towels onto a small plate. Place the tofu on top, followed by two more sheets of paper towels. Find something heavy, like a cast iron skillet, and place it on top of the tofu. Let the tofu sit under the weight and drain for about 30 minutes. Come back to check on it halfway through and change out the paper towel.
• Toss in cornstarch. Once the tofu is drained, slice it into even-sized cubes. Add the cubes to a bowl with cornstarch and toss to coat.

• Brown the tofu. Next, heat up sesame oil and a bit of vegetable oil in a large skillet. The vegetable oil helps to increase the smoke point. Add your coated tofu to the pan and fry, letting it brown on all sides.
• Make the sauce. While your tofu sizzles, whisk together the sauce ingredients in a separate bowl.

• Combine. Pour the sauce over the tofu and stir everything together while the sauce thickens.
• Serve! Take the skillet off the heat, dish up your fried tofu, and enjoy. See below for some easy serving suggestions.

Tips for Success

With a few helpful tricks to getting the crispiness right, this fried tofu recipe comes together without a hitch. Here are some final tips:

• Prep the tofu well. Definitely don’t skip the steps for pressing the tofu and tossing it in cornstarch. It’s essential for getting pan-fried tofu browned and crispy.
• Vegetable oil vs. sesame oil. Sesame oil has a lower smoke point than vegetable oil. Using sesame oil on its own can occasionally lead to burning, which is why I’ve adapted this recipe to use a combination of the two when frying. Feel free to skip the vegetable oil and use only sesame oil depending on what you’re comfortable with.
• Don’t interfere with the browning process. Once your tofu is in the skillet, give it a good 3-4 minutes to brown on each side, and do not touch it until it’s time to flip. Just as with browning meats, crisping up the bottoms of potstickers, making fall-off-the-bone ribs, let the hot oil in the pan do its thing. If you move the tofu around constantly while it cooks, it won’t have time to sear and get crispy.
• Add an optional garnish. I love giving this tofu dish a sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped scallions as an easy garnish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Serving Suggestions

There are so many ways that you can enjoy this crispy fried tofu recipe. The possibilities for tasty dishes are endless! Here are some of my favorite serving ideas:

• Rice. I usually serve this sesame tofu over white rice, but brown rice is another good choice. You can also dish up over a plate of sticky rice or Thai basil fried rice.
• Noodles. Serve over rice noodles, egg noodles, udon noodles, or add tofu to chili garlic noodles.
• Veggies. Pair this sesame garlic fried tofu with an easy vegetable stir fry for a quick vegetarian meal.
• Salad. Serve tofu with a ramen salad or over a simple chopped salad for a boost of extra protein.
• Bowls. Turn any bowl recipe into an easy tofu bowl. Add this sesame fried tofu to a salmon and rice bowl or a rice noodle bowl for a hearty meal-in-one.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

• To store. Store the fried tofu airtight in the fridge for up to 4 days. Leftovers are great to serve cold over salads!
• To reheat. For best results, reheat this tofu in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat. You can reheat this tofu in the microwave, just note that it won’t be as crispy.

Can I Freeze This Fried Tofu Recipe?

Yes! You can store your cooked and cooled tofu in an airtight container and keep it frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost the tofu in the fridge before reheating.

More Easy Tofu Recipes

• Tofu Coconut Curry
• Drunken Noodles with Tofu
• Teriyaki Tofu and Broccoli Bowls
• Tofu and Shiitake Coconut Curry Bowls
• Black Pepper Tofu