Crispy Baked Tofu with Ginger Soy Sauce
by Jodi Danen, RD
This crispy baked tofu paired with a homemade ginger soy sauce is a better-than-takeout dish you can make at home. As an easy plant-based dish, it’s perfect to serve on a salad, over rice or with your favorite combination of vegetables.
If you’re looking to eat less meat and more plant-based protein sources, tofu is a great option. While tofu may seem intimidating to prepare, it’s actually pretty easy when you follow these steps.
How to Prepare Tofu:
- Lie a cutting board or baking sheet with paper towels.
- Cut tofu in half and place on top of paper towels. Add additional paper towels on top of tofu.
- Place a semi-heavy item, like a cast iron skillet or baking sheet topped with a few canned goods, on top and leave for 15-30 minutes to press out excess moisture. The longer you press tofu, the firmer the texture.
Once you press out your tofu, cut into bite-sized pieces and bake until golden brown and slightly crispy around the edges. Then toss in the homemade ginger soy sauce for a delicious dish!
Nutrition Tip: Like meat, soy is a high-quality protein. That means it has all of the essential amino acids (protein building blocks) that the body needs to get from food. Research suggests that eating soy during childhood might help protect against breast cancer in adulthood
Looking for more plant-based recipes? Here are some of our favorites.
FAQs About Our Crispy Baked Tofu with Ginger Soy Sauce
Q: How do you prepare tofu before baking?
A: Press the tofu for 15-30 minutes to remove excess moisture, then cut into cubes and toss with oil and salt before baking.
Q: What ingredients are in ginger soy sauce?
A: Our homemade ginger soy sauce includes garlic, rice vinegar, low-sodium soy sauce, water, brown sugar, dried ginger, and cornstarch for thickening.
Q: How long does it take to bake tofu?
A: Bake the tofu for 30-40 minutes at 400°F, flipping halfway through, until crispy and golden brown.
Q: What can I serve with this Crispy Baked Tofu?
A: Serve the tofu over white or brown rice, quinoa, or your favorite grain, along with stir-fried or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
Crispy Tofu with Ginger Soy Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 14 oz extra firm tofu, drained
- 2 tsp. sesame oil
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup plus 3 Tbsp. water, divided
- 2 tsp. brown sugar
- ½ tsp. dried ginger
- 1 tsp. cornstarch
- Sliced green onions and sesame seeds for garnish optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Cut tofu in half. Place paper towels on cutting board and place tofu on top. Cover with more paper towels and place something semi-heavy like a cast iron skillet on top. Press 15 minutes to drain excess moisture.
- Cut tofu into cubes and toss with oil and salt. Place tofu on baking sheet so they’re not touching.
- Bake 30-40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crispy.
- Meanwhile in small skillet over medium heat, heat garlic, rice vinegar, soy sauce, water, brown sugar and ginger. Bring to a boil.
- In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and 3 tsp. cold water. Mix well.
- Whisk cornstarch slurry into garlic soy sauce until thickened. Reduce heat to low until ready to use.
- Serve tofu with ginger soy sauce topped with green onions and sesame seeds.
