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Pan fried tofu is a fun homestyle dish that features meaty tofu bites with a crispy coating and a sweet and sour sauce. Topped on the rice, it is an easy and flavorful way to whip up a vegetarian one-bowl meal that everyone will love! {Vegetarian, Gluten-Free Adaptable}

Pan Fried Tofu (脆皮豆腐)

5 from 3 votes
Pan fried tofu is a fun homestyle dish that features meaty tofu bites with a crispy coating and a sweet and sour sauce. Topped on the rice, it is an easy and flavorful way to whip up a vegetarian one-bowl meal that everyone will love! {Vegetarian, Gluten-Free Adaptable}
To make the dish gluten free, use tamari to replace the soy sauce.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Course: main dish
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: homestyle
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Maggie Zhu

Ingredients

Tofu

  • 1 block (14 oz / 396 g) firm tofu (or medium firm), slice to 1/2” (1 cm) thick pieces (*Footnote 1)
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch
  • 1 egg , beaten

Sauce

  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon vegetarian oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Stir fry

  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
  • 1 green onion , sliced (for garnish)

Instructions

  • Gently pat tofu dry with paper towels and transfer onto a tray (or large plate). Add the cornstarch to a small bowl and the beaten egg to a separate bowl. Set on the side of the tofu.
  • Mix the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl.
  • Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. One piece at a time, dip the tofu into the cornstarch to coat both sides, then into the beaten egg. Immediately transfer to the skillet for pan frying. Cook until both sides turn golden brown. Transfer the cooked tofu pieces onto a big plate. Add more oil if needed until all the tofu pieces are cooked.
  • Add the sauce to the pan and cook until thickens. Add back the tofu. Stir very carefully to coat the tofu well. Add the green onion. Transfer everything to a plate and serve hot as a main dish.

Notes

  1. Firm or extra firm tofu is much easier to handle and creates a great result. Medium tofu is harder to handle without breaking it apart but it gives a better contrast. Try medium tofu if you’re more experienced with cooking with tofu.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 203kcal, Carbohydrates: 15.1g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 2.3g, Cholesterol: 41mg, Sodium: 365mg, Potassium: 210mg, Fiber: 1.1g, Sugar: 3.6g, Calcium: 211mg, Iron: 2mg