Sticky Tofu (20-minute Easy Recipe)

This better than takeout sticky tofu recipe will make you love tofu, I promise! The tofu is lightly breaded, then pan roasted and covered in a super easy sweet & savory sticky sauce. It makes for a very tasty plant-based protein to use over noodles, in buddha bowls or even in sandwiches. Plus, it will be done within 20 minutes!

Next time you are craving take out food, then you have to make this super simple 20-minute sticky tofu. The meaty tofu is nicely breaded, roasted to crispy, then smothered in a sweet and savory sticky sauce that coats the tofu so perfectly. I love it over noodles or turmeric fried rice, but it is also amazing to use in sandwiches or to make tofu buddha bowls.

Similarly to my sticky tempeh recipe or this super easy sesame ginger tofu, the sauce only requires 6 simple ingredients - soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, tomato paste, garlic, ginger - and can be whipped up while the tofu is roasting in the pan. Super simple. Makes for an amazing quick weeknight dinner. And kids love it too!

The flavor is bold and the tofu slightly crispy, everyone loves it. It is a perfect recipe to make if you are just starting out cooking with tofu as it is so flavorful and quite easy too. It might even remind you of a General Tso's Chicken, only it is made fully vegan and using tofu instead.

Why you will love this recipe

• Extra quick and easy steps. This recipe only requires to pat dry the tofu: no tofu press and no tofu marination implicated. This makes it a great last minute meal for busy days.
• Versatile. This recipe gives you a healthy protein that you can use in so many ways (bowls, sandwiches, in noodles or as a satisfying main protein to eat straight from the pan!).
• Very flavorful. The sauce is very bold in flavor, which helps appreciate tofu if you are usually not a huge fan of it.
• Simple ingredients only. No unusual ingredients needed and you probably already have everything to make it, so you can prepare this tofu anytime you crave takeout!

Ingredients you'll need

• Extra firm tofu
• Soy sauce
• Maple syrup
• Rice vinegar
• Tomato paste
• Fresh ginger
• Fresh garlic

I also used sesame oil to roast the tofu. It is totally optional, but it helps the tofu roast and brown nicely, plus it adds a nice flavor too.

What kind of tofu should I use

I use our local Maine extra firm tofu (tofu Heiwa), which is simply the best I can find around here! The texture of their tofu is so great: it never falls apart and has a meaty satisfying bite.

If you don't have this kind, then simply use an extra firm block of tofu. You want a kind of tofu that holds well while roasting in a pan.

More tofu recipes you might like

• Tofu bolognese
• Carrot-tofu spread
• Silken tofu scramble
• Smoky tofu
• Tofu egg rolls
• Gochujang tofu

How to make it

Step 1- Prepare the tofu

• Simply pat dry the tofu using a hand towel or paper towels, just so it is not soaking wet, but still moist (this will help the breading stick to its surface).
• Slice the tofu to your desired shape. For this recipe, I love to first slice the block of tofu into 4 equal large square/rectangular shapes. Then, slice diagonally each of these squares to create triangles. You can also cut the tofu in cubes!
• Then, combine the flour and corn starch in a shallow large bowl.
• Using one piece of tofu at the time, gently cover with the flour mixture on each sides. Use your finger to press on it and make sure it is completely covered. Transfer to a plate and keep going with all the tofu pieces.

Step 2 - Whisk the sauce

In a small bowl, whisk to combine the soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, tomato paste, ginger and garlic. Set aside.

Step 3 - Pan-fried the breaded tofu

• Warm a non-stick large pan on medium-high heat and add a small amount of sesame oil.
• When warmed up, add the tofu and roast on each side until browned, making sure to flip once or twice. This should take about 10-15 minutes.

Step 4 - Add the savory sauce

Once the tofu is roasted, then pour the sauce over. Use a fork or thongs to flip the tofu and ensure that all sides are soaking in some of the sauce. The sauce will thicken super quickly and become sticky and thick within a few minutes, so stay around and remove the pan whenever it looks the way you want it.

Watch how to make it

Tips when making this sticky tofu

• I prefer to dip the triangles of tofu one at the time in the flour to prevent them from breaking. If you cut your tofu in cubes, then you can speed up the process and throw all the cubes in the flour all at once and stir with a spoon. Then, transfer the cubes using a spoon without pouring the extra flour in the pan (it will burn).
• Make sure to roast your tofu very well before adding the sauce. The tofu won't be cooking much longer after that and you want all the flour-cornstarch to be roasted before adding anything moist. If you choose to cut the tofu in cubes, then be sure to roast each of the sides too (important for best texture).
• Also, add the sauce to the roasted tofu in the pan only when everything else is ready (noodles, veggies, etc). The sauce will thicken super quickly!
• Keep a tube of tomato paste in the fridge for whenever you need smaller amount instead of opening can. I always have this tomato paste from Amore ready-to-go.
• Feel free to double the batch of the sauce for an extra saucy recipe.
• To make sure this recipe is done 20 minutes, then whisk the sauce ingredients while the tofu is roasting, so you avoid any down time.

Serving suggestions

This recipe can be served in so many ways, but my favorite is to serve over noodles. I'm so in love with any Asian noodles from the brand Lotus Food! As seen in the pictures, I chose these millet and brown rice noodles to pair with this tofu. I drizzled my sesame soy dressing over the noodles first (or use a little soy sauce), then topped with the tofu.

You can also pair with these super fast garlic udon noodles for a perfect takeout-style meal.

It would also be delicious over rice, quinoa and in sandwiches.

Pair this tofu with a side of veggies, like bok choy, broccoli, crispy Thai Brussels sprouts, or roasted peppers. In this case, I simply used a bag or pre-cut carrots that I simply covered with water in a bowl, then steamed using my microwave for a few minutes. This helped keep my meal-prep super quick and simple. Frozen veggies (also thawed in the microwave!) work well for a last minute meal.

Feel free to sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onion when serving and drizzle sriracha over if you want to add a nice spicy kick!

Storage

Keep any leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The texture will change after storage, which makes the tofu less crispy, but will remain extra flavorful. You might want to consider doubling the sauce if you expect leftovers as it can also dry out in the fridge.

How to make it ahead

If you love to meal prep during the weekend, then you can whisk the sauce together and store in the fridge. Also, bread and roast the tofu in the pan, but do not add the sauce to it. Simply store the roasted naked tofu in the fridge as well.

When ready to eat, add the tofu back to the pan, warm up for a few minutes and then add the sauce. Cook for a few minutes until thickened. It will be done super quickly!

More Asian style recipes to try

• Easy veggie stir-fry
• Sweet potato sushi
• Sweet and sour tofu
• Miso ramen soup
• Teriyaki cauliflower
• Spicy garlic noodles
• Thai peanut sauce
• Vegan chow mein
• Hoisin tofu
• Orange cauliflower
• Bok choy tofu stir fry

I hope you enjoy this sticky tofu as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

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