Restaurant Style Salt & Pepper Tofu
Servings 2 people
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- frying pan
Ingredients
- 1 block (14oz) extra firm tofu diced into cubes
- ¼ cup (40g) corn starch
- 5 cloves garlic crushed & minced
- ½ large yellow onion thinly sliced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger crushed & minced
- oil for frying
- green onions (for garnish) thinly sliced
FOR THE SPICE MIX
- 1 tsp kosher salt or sea salt
- 1 tsp fresh ground black peppercorn
- 1½ tsp red chili flakes or less
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
Instructions
- In a small sauce dish, combine all spices together and mix.
- Place corn starch in a small mixing bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of the spice mix into the cornstarch and whisk.
- Preheat frying pan or skillet in medium high heat and coat into about 4-5 tablespoons of cooking oil.
- Pat tofu dry and dice into cubes. Coat each piece into the corn starch and toss into the hot pan immediately. Repeat the process until all tofu pieces are coated in corn starch and ready to fry. Flip the tofu in oil on each side for 2-3 minutes (or until it forms a golden brown crust). Be sure to monitor the tofu on each side, as they can easily burn from the starch. Do not over crowd the pan, depending on the size of your pan, you may have to do in batches. Allow it to cool on a cooling or wire rack. You will know you have cooked the tofu properly if it has created a crispy exterior from the corn starch.
- Once the tofu is all cooked and out of the pan, stir fry the onions and ginger until fragrant. Add the garlic into the mix and season with the spice mixture. Toss the aromatic ingredients until all are well combined.
- Toss the tofu back into the mix and sprinkle more of the spice seasoning to taste - you may or may not use all of it depending on your preference. Thoroughly mix. Turn off heat and throw in sliced green onions for garnish.
- Best served fresh with a bed of rice.Reheating instruction: if you wish to meal prep or store during left overs, reheat in a toaster oven or air fryer at 375°F for 5-10 minutes (or until it is fully heated).