Crispy Black Pepper Tofu (Printable)

Golden tofu and crisp green beans in a peppery sauce—quick and vibrant.

# What You Need:

→ Protein & Vegetables

01 - 14 oz firm tofu, pressed and cubed
02 - 10 oz green beans, trimmed
03 - 2 tbsp cornstarch

→ Sauce

04 - 3 tbsp soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
05 - 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
06 - 1 tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar
07 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
08 - 1 tbsp sesame oil
09 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
10 - 1-inch piece ginger, grated

→ For Frying & Garnish

11 - 3 tbsp neutral oil (vegetable or canola)
12 - 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
13 - 2 scallions, sliced

# Steps:

01 - Press tofu for at least 10 minutes to remove excess moisture, then cut into bite-sized cubes.
02 - Toss tofu cubes with cornstarch until evenly coated on all sides.
03 - Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add tofu in a single layer and fry until golden and crispy on all sides, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove and set aside.
04 - Add remaining 1 tbsp oil to the pan. Sauté green beans for 3 to 5 minutes until bright green and slightly tender but still crisp.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, black pepper, maple syrup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger until combined.
06 - Return tofu to the pan with green beans. Pour in the sauce and toss to coat everything evenly. Stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes until heated through and sauce thickens slightly.
07 - Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced scallions if desired. Serve hot with rice or noodles.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cornstarch crust on the tofu gets impossibly crispy without any deep frying
  • The sauce hits that perfect sweet, sour, and peppery balance that makes you keep going back for another bite
02 -
  • Crowding the pan when frying tofu will steam it instead of crisp it, so work in batches if your skillet is not wide enough
  • The sauce thickens on contact with the residual cornstarch on the tofu, which means you do not need a separate slurry
03 -
  • Use a well-seasoned carbon steel wok if you have one because the heat distribution makes a noticeable difference in tofu texture
  • Add a pinch of red chili flakes to the sauce if you want to nudge the heat level up without changing the flavor profile

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