Salt and Pepper Tofu (VIDEO)
Salt and Pepper Tofu is a super crispy and iconic Chinese restaurant dish! The tofu are seasoned and quickly fried until crispy and tossed with scallions, chilis, and garlic with a salt and pepper seasoning mix! This is a great recipe for those who are vegetarian or looking to incorporate more tofu at the dinner table - see below for the full detailed recipe!
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 lb firm or extra firm tofu drained and pat dry
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1 cup cornstarch plus 2 tbsp
- 1 egg
- 2 quarts neutral oil
- 1 red chili I used fresno, de-seeded, chopped
- 1 green chili I used jalapeno, de-seeded, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic chopped
- 3 scallions chopped, whites and greens separated
Seasoning Mixture
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp msg
Instructions
- Remove the block of firm tofu from the package, drain well, and pat dry. Cut lengthwise in half then in the opposite direction to form 2" cubes.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and season with a tablespoon of kosher salt. Add tofu cubes to the boiling water, cover and turn the heat to low. Blanch for 5 minutes then drain. Pat the tofu cubes completely dry with a kitchen or paper towel.
- In a bowl, add the tofu cubes and season with salt, pepper, and 2 tbsp of cornstarch.
- Add the cornstarch to a bowl. Mix in a beaten egg to cover the tofu and mix to form a wet batter around the tofu. Dust the tofu cubes in the cornstarch until fully coated.
- In a large dutch oven or wok, heat the oil to 375F and fry half of the tofu for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Drain the tofu from the oil and place on a paper towel lined plate. Fry the rest of the tofu in the same way. Remove and drain the tofu of any excess oil.
- In a separate large pan or wok, add 1 tbsp of neutral oil over medium high heat and add the garlic and scallion whites. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, then add the red and green chilis and saute for another minute. Add back the tofu and season with kosher salt, white pepper, sugar, and msg and toss until well coated throughout. Garnish with scallion greens and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Use the Right Tofu Type - Opt for extra-firm tofu for this dish. Extra-firm tofu has higher protein content and a firmer texture, which makes it ideal for frying. The firmness helps the tofu hold its shape and prevents it from becoming mushy.
Chili Peppers Tips - Make sure to wash your hands well after handling the jalapeno and serrano peppers - the Capsaicin inside the peppers can irritate your skin. Do NOT touch your eyes! Substitute with red or green bell peppers if you are sensitive to spice. If you want more spice, use diced Serrano or Thai chili peppers.
Pat Dry the Tofu - Pat dry the tofu twice when making Salt and Pepper Tofu - first as soon as it is out of the package, and again once the tofu is cut into 1 inch cubes. Patting dry the tofu twice will help remove as much moisture as possible, which will help the tofu stay crispy during the cooking process.
Cornstarch Coating - When coating the tofu cubes in cornstarch, make sure to thoroughly coat each piece so there are no bald spots - this will make all of your Salt and Pepper Tofu cubes crispy! However, shake off any excess cornstarch - excessive cornstarch will create a thick, pasty coating. More is not better in this case!
Storage and Reheating Tips - Store any leftover Salt and Pepper Tofu in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Refrigerating will change the crispy texture of the Salt and Pepper Tofu. I like to use the air fryer to reheat any leftovers and regain some of the crispiness. Reheat them at 375°F for 6-8 minutes until the tofu cubes are crispy and hot!
Air Fryer Instructions
Follow the recipe through steps 1 through 4. Lay the dredged pieces of tofu onto your air fryer basket, then spray generously with a neutral oil spray such as avocado oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil. Air fry the tofu pieces at 375F for 10-12 minutes. Give them a flip and air fry for another 5 minutes until they're super crispy. The time may need to be adjusted depending on the strength of your air fryer, so be sure to check the tofu throughout the air frying process to ensure they come out to a crisp golden brown! Finally, follow step 6 in the recipe and serve!Nutrition
Calories: 156kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 2384mg | Potassium: 90mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 257IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
