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Crispy Chilli Tofu

The best ever Chinese Crispy Chilli Tofu.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: budget recipes, Fakeaway, family friendly dinners, midweek meals, plant based recipes, tofu recipes, Vegan Recipes
Servings: 2
Calories: 220kcal
Cost: from £0.92

Ingredients

  • 280 g Firm Tofu ready pressed
  • 150 g Cornflour
  • Vegetable Oil for frying
  • 2 Lemons juiced
  • 250 ml Orange Juice
  • 1 tbsp Sweet Chilli Sauce
  • 3 tbsp Soy Sauce
  • 1 thinly sliced Spring Onion to serve
  • 1 tsp Sesame Seeds to serve

Instructions

  • Slice the tofu into roughly 1cm-wide sticks and lay them evenly on a board.
  • Sift the cornflour generously over the tofu, turning to coat all sides well. This is what gives the tofu its crispy coating, so don’t be shy.
  • Heat enough vegetable oil to coat the base of a medium frying pan over a medium-high heat. Once hot, add the tofu and fry for around 5 minutes, turning regularly until golden and crisp on all sides. Remove and place on kitchen paper to drain.
  • Carefully discard the excess oil from the pan and return it to the heat. Add the lemon juice, orange juice, sweet chilli sauce and soy sauce. Bring to the boil, then simmer for about 5 minutes until reduced and slightly syrupy.
  • Add the crispy tofu back to the pan and cook for a further 5 minutes, turning occasionally so each piece is fully coated in the sauce.
  • Serve immediately, sprinkled with spring onion and sesame seeds. Delicious on its own or served with rice.

Notes

From the cookbook BOSH! by Henry Firth & Ian Theasby.
  • Extra crispy: Make sure your tofu is well-pressed before coating. The drier it is, the crispier it gets.
  • Make it spicier: Add a pinch of chilli flakes or a splash of sriracha to the sauce.
  • Serving idea: This works brilliantly as a budget fakeaway with egg-fried rice or stir-fried veg.
  • Leftovers: Best eaten fresh, but leftovers can be reheated in a hot pan to bring back some crispiness.