Crispy Pan-Fried Soft Tofu + 3 Variations

Deep-fried tofu (炸豆腐, not be confused with 渣豆腐) is a popular ingredient in Chinese cooking. Pan-fried soft tofu is a healthier version that uses less oil; this results in a light, crunchy battered shell paired with a silky smooth interior. Pan-fried tofu makes a delicious, high-protein accompaniment to any Asian-inspired meal.

Pan-Fried Tofu 3 Ways

As someone who has been a devoted fan of soy in all forms from age 3 to present, I like to think I’m something of a connoisseur. And this way of preparing tofu is one of my faves. It’s easy to make and requires only the most basic of ingredients. Unlike most recipes for fried food, the batter is very simple. It consists of just one ingredient: cornstarch (with discretionary salt and seasoning). That means less mess, no need for multiple bowls, and a fast cleanup.

Another great thing about a basic recipe like this is that it works as a topping over just about any bowl. The three suggestions below are a good starting point. As you learn about which veggie combinations you prefer, you can start developing your own flavour combos. For example, this recipe works beautifully as a substitute for the vegan fried “egg” in this bok choy bowl.

The quantity of portions for the recipe above depends on how you are serving this. It serves 1 if planning to eat as the main attraction with some side veggies, and up to 4 if you are planning to serve the tofu as just one of many toppings on a meal. But, as I said, I love tofu, so I usually choose the first option myself. 😊

Spicy Crunchy Soft Tofu over Rice

This one is the simplest variation. I got the recipe from a Facebook group. It adds a bit of extra spice and flavour to the basic version. Follow the instructions above as written. While tofu is cooking, use the bowl you just used to coat the tofu and mix the remaining cornstarch together with 1/2 tsp white pepper, 2 thai chili peppers, 2 cloves minced garlic, and the chopped white portion from a scallion stalk. (The leftover cornstarch, once fried, adds additional crönch to the meal.)

When tofu is browned on both sides, move the tofu to the edges of the wok and add this spice mixture to the centre. Saute quickly for about a minute or until it starting to brown and smell fragrant. Transfer tofu to plate and top with the spice mixture. Add a splash of dark soy sauce and top with chopped scallion, if desired.

You can also serve this over rice.

Tofu with Bok Choy over Spicy Noodles

Note: I used Lotus Foods brown rice noodles from Costco, you can use any kind of Asian-style wheat noodles or even angel hair pasta.

Use 3 to 4 heads of baby bok choy per person. As the tofu cooks, you can weigh out your noodles (50–75 g per person) and wash your bok choy, separating each leaf. Optional: you can also add a handful of oyster mushrooms to each serving (50 g).

When both sides of the tofu are brown, transfer them to a plate and add noodles to the now-empty wok. Pour in enough water to cover the noodles and boil until they are almost done. Add the bok choy and mushrooms, then turn down the heat and simmer for a few minutes. You can tell the veggies are cooked when the bok choy leaves turn a vibrant green. Drain and transfer to bowls. Top with pan-fried tofu and a handful of scallions + sesame seeds.

Crunchy Tofu with Pepper and Snap Peas

When tofu is done frying, add one small sliced bell pepper and a handful of snap peas (or snow peas), along with any remaining cornstarch in the bowl you used to coat the tofu. Toss (gently! to avoid breaking up the tofu) with a spatula to cook the veggies.

Sprinkle with some salt & pepper or drizzle with soy sauce.

Recipe Card

Recipe Notes

1. I love using the variety of silken or soft tofu that comes in a tube. The round shape of the slices is really cute. But you have to pay attention to the label because many of these tofu tubes contain egg tofu, which is not vegan.
   • But if you can’t find the tofu that comes in tubes, no worries. You can use any type of plain tofu. I prefer a medium tofu or softer because I love biting into a crunchy tofu with crispy breading on the outside and juicy softness on the inside. While tubed tofu is my favourite, medium-firm is also great because the pieces are still juicy but aren’t as fragile as soft or silken.)
   • As for extra-firm and super-firm tofu… while you can use them for this recipe, why not save them for something like a curry or a scrambled “egg” dish where they really excel?

Nutrition, Cost, and Emissions Information

Each bowl of pan-fried soft tofu (without rice) is 383 cal, costs $2.05, and releases 552 gCO2e of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

Calculation for full recipe as written (1 serving):

Feel free to contact me for sources on the nutritional and carbon emissions information presented here. Note that I am not a nutritionist and guidelines on this page are provided for informational purposes only.