Seriously crispy and packed with flavor, this teriyaki tofu recipe is bound to convert ever tofu hater into a tofu lover. It’s easy to make, perfect for buddha bowls, noodle bowls, stir fries or a quick and simple vegan dinner!
I have a love hate relationship with tofu. Anyone else? I’ve had my fair share at failed tofu attempts. I’ve tried seasoning it with all sorts of things, only to end up with a mushy blob that tasted like virtually nothing.
Thankfully, I’ve come a long way since then and I’m here to share all of my tips with you!
This teriyaki tofu recipe is everything you think tofu shouldn’t be. Crispy, flavorful, easy to make and bound to please any type of eater. Plus, this teriyaki sauce can be used on all sorts of other recipes like my poke bowl.
This baked teriyaki tofu is vegan, gluten free, so crispy, easy to make and perfect served over fresh jasmine rice!
Instructions
I wanted a method of tofu making that would yield incredibly crispy tofu, without the need for deep frying. This teriykai tofu recipe is baked so it doesn’t require copious amounts of oil, and it’s more or less hands off!
First things first, remove the tofu from the package and drain out any excess liquid. Place the block in between two kitchen towels or a few paper towels.
Add a heavy object on top. I like to use a few books or a tea pot filled with water. If you have a tofu press, perfect! But I find any heavy object works just as well.
Let the tofu press for about 30 minutes to remove extra liquid and to make sure it is as firm as can be!
This is going to help it crisp up and ensure the inside of the tofu isn’t mushy. Once pressed, cut the tofu into small cubes, about 1 inch.
Add the chopped tofu into a large bowl and toss with the soy sauce or tamari, cornstarch and breadcrumbs. Make sure every piece is well coated.
Next, add the tofu to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Bake at 425 for 25-30 minutes or until nice and golden brown on the outside.
While the tofu is baking (or during the last 20 or so minutes) prepare the sauce. Let it come to room temperature before adding it to the tofu. If you add it right away, the tofu tends to get a bit soggy which we don’t want!
Once the tofu is done, transfer to a bowl and toss with the teriyaki sauce until well coated.
Flavor tips
Sauce is the key to flavorful tofu! And lots of it! I’m a big sauce gal. Or “saucey stuff” as I called it when I was younger. This teriyaki sauce is the best way to add flavor to, well, anything. I love it with buddha bowls, salmon, and of course, this tofu.
It’s salty, sweet, savory and has a sticky consistency which makes it perfect for tofu since it clings to the surface really well.
Serving suggestions
I love to serve this tofu buddha bowl style with some jasmine rice, steamed broccoli, avocado and lots of extra sauce drizzled on top.
A sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds and red pepper flakes on top adds some nice flavor, but is totally optional.
I often double the teriyaki sauce recipe to have enough to drizzle over the veggies & rice, but you do you! The sauce keeps well in the fridge for a week on its own.
Can I air fry it?
Yes! To make this teriyaki tofu in an air fryer, follow all steps through step 6, but then air fry in your air fryer at 375 for 15-20 minutes.
Shake the basket every 5 minutes and try to keep each piece of tofu away from each other so they don’t stick. Once done, transfer to a bowl and coat with the sauce! Or, just make my air fried tofu instead!
Do I need to marinate tofu?
It depends! This tofu does not need to be marinated, and in fact, not marinating it is exactly what makes it crispy.
The sauce/flavor is all added after it is baked so it will be loaded with flavor without any marination involved!
How to store
Once prepared, the tofu will last in the fridge for about 2-3 days, but I highly recommend eating it right after preparing for best results. However, it won’t be quite as crispy once it’s refrigerated.
To reheat and get some crisp back, pop the tofu on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and stick it in the oven at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes.
Then drizzle with some extra sauce if you have it!
Try these next!
- Vegetarian Sushi Bowl
- Orange Chickpeas
- Orange Tofu
- Peanut Buuter Noodles
- Sticky Sesame Chickpeas
- Spicy Korean Tofu
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Crispy Baked Teriyaki Tofu
by: claire cary
Ingredients
- 1 block extra firm tofu 16 ounces
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce/tamari
- 3 tbsp plain breadcrumbs I used gluten free
- 1 batch teriyaki sauce click for recipe
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove the tofu from the package.
- Place it between two towels or a few paper towels and put a heavy object on top. (See notes for suggestions)
- Let the extra liquid press out of the tofu for ideally 30 minutes. If you're in a hurry you can safely skip this step, but even just a few minutes will really help the tofu crisp up well!
- Once pressed, cut the tofu into cubes and add to a bowl.
- Toss with the soy sauce, breadcrumbs and corn starch and make sure every piece is well coated.
- Add to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Try to make sure none of the tofu cubes are touching. This ensures they get nice and crispy and don't stick together.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
- During the final 15-20 minutes of baking, prepare the sauce. When the tofu is done, let it cool for about 5 minutes.
- When the tofu is done, transfer to a bowl and toss with about 2/3 of the sauce, saving a bit to add to rice and veggies if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Diane S. says
The picture got me interested in it, and it is really good! I used extra ginger & next time will add the red pepper flakes.
Pahulpreet says
Hey you haven’t mentioned the time for preheating the oven .
Claire Cary says
The preheating is included in the prep time!
Bridgette says
This is delicious! Exactly as described! I’ve followed the instructions for the air fryer and it was perfection!
Erika says
Can I make this on the stove? Like grill the tofu instead of baking? It looks so good! I’m very excited to make it 😆
Claire Cary says
I don’t recommend that! it wouldn’t get as crispy and the coating would probably fall off. I suggest baking or even air frying!
Lindsay says
I was a little skeptical when I saw the breadcrumbs but oh wow! This recipe was so simple, straightforward, and absolutely delicious! I used a store-bought teriyaki sauce with it, but I’d definitely love to try to linked sauce next time. The texture of the tofu was so yummy that my husband almost opted to eat it over the teriyaki chicken that I made for him! This recipe is definitely a must try and I’ll definitely make it again with different sauces and cuisines.
Claire Cary says
Perfect! Yes it’s such a great base recipe and works well with so many types of sauces.
Simplejoys_72 says
I’ve made tofu before – baked, fried, in soups, etc, but this was the first time my family gave it an enthusiastic “Wow! This is really good!” I will definitely making this again. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Claire Cary says
Wow, love hearing that!! So happy you all enjoyed it!