Vegan Teriyaki Pan-fried Tofu Recipe - My Eclectic Bites (2024)

October 30, 2019 by George 2 Comments

Vegan teriyaki pan-fried tofu recipe - With only 7 ingredients, you can now enjoy this deliciously sweet and saucy teriyaki tofu any time! It's a simple tofu recipe that's great for stir fry, bowl, and so much more!

I grew up eating tofu. Tofu is widely used in Korean cuisine. Korean enjoy tofu in soups, we braise them, fry them, and we even enjoy them raw (yes, you can eat tofu raw, straight out of a package). I never understood when people say tofu doesn't have a taste of its own. To me, tofu has a very mild nuttiness with a hint of sweetness.

Because of its delicate flavor and its ability to absorb other flavors well, people tend to like tofu with different sauces. Today, I'd like to share my vegan teriyaki pan-fried tofu recipe with you. But before we get to the recipe, let's talk about tofu.

Different types of tofu

Tofu is made from coagulating soy milk and presses the curds into blocks of different firmness. So when you are discussing different types of tofu, we are talking about a variety of firmness.

• Soft tofu/silken tofu- It has the highest water content. Korean like to use silken tofu in soups. But it is also used insmoothies, sauces, and baking.
• Firm tofu- This is the most widely used kind. It can bebraised, fried, and used in soups. I use firm tofu for most of my recipes including this one.
• Extra-firm tofu- It has the least water content. It can hold its shape well in cooking. It is great inbraising dishbut it will also work great in pan-frying.

Do you have to press the tofu for this recipe?

The short answer is NO. I personally don't press tofu. There are several reasons why people press tofu.

1. It helps tofu soak up any seasoning or sauce.
2. It is to achieve a crispy texture.
3. Pressed tofu retains its shape better while cooking.

But when you coat your tofu with starch and pan-fry them, it can develop a crispy texture and absorb whatever sauce you use in the dish.

What I do is blot the tofu with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel before cooking.

How to achieve an even coat of starch on tofu

Do you get annoyed with clumps of starch clinging to the tofu? It bothers me. So what I do is use a fine mesh duster (the one you use to dust powder sugar on baked goods) to coat the tofu.

1. Spread the tofu cubes on a cutting board
2. Place about one tablespoon of starch on a fine mesh duster and dust away
3. Flip the tofu and repeat

I don't bother coating all six sides of the cubes. I dust one side and roll them over/flip them over and dust the opposite side. That's it.

How to make teriyaki sauce at home (with 3 ingredients)

To make a simple and classic teriyaki sauce, you only need 3 ingredients.

• Soy sauce
• Maple syrup (or sugar)
• Mirin

All you have to do is mix all 3 ingredients with some water in the pan, reduce it down, and season with black pepper. And you have yourself a delicious teriyaki sauce.

What is mirin?

Mirin is a type of rice wine you can easily find at a grocery store these days. It has a higher sugar content and a lower alcohol content than sake. But if you don't have mirin or don't like to cook with alcohol, you can substitute it with either pineapple juice or apple juice. If you were to use these fruit juices, your teriyaki sauce will have a little tang.

Helpful tips for vegan teriyaki pan-fried tofu recipe

• Use firm tofu or extra-firm tofu. Silken tofu or soft tofu won't work in this recipe
• Cut the tofu into smaller cubes for crispy texture- The smaller the tofu, the more surfaces it will have with the oil and heat. Thus, it creates a crispier texture
• Don't over-crowd the pan- When you try to cook too many tofu cubes in the pan, tofu will stick together and steam together rather than searing up to create crispy edges.
• Take some time browning your tofu cubes- It's worth a while to take an extra minute or two for crispy tofu
• Use a non-stick pan- This will help you use less oil.

Looking for more delicious tofu recipes?

• Oven-baked hoisin tofu- You can use this tofu to make a delicious sushi bowl. Also, it's a great addition to summer rolls.
• Quick and easy scrambled tofu- An amazing alternative to your scrambled egg in the morning.

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