Crispy Baked Tofu

By using cornstarch and baking for 30-40 minutes, this crispy baked tofu is actually crispy and is a great option to add to any vegetarian/vegan meal. There are plenty of baked tofu recipes out there but only so many lead to crispy tofu and this is one of them.

The month of eating healthy during January continues! I know I know, crispy and tofu don't really go together but you've just got to trust me on this one. By adding the cornstarch and baking for quite some time, this baked tofu is in fact - crispy!

I always have to laugh at myself when I make something with tofu. I actually don't think I had ever even had tofu until I met Lauren. My father-in-law is vegetarian so when I was cooking I needed to make alternatives for him, so tofu was the natural choice.

I'm someone who likes to eat things with texture so the first couple of times I had tofu I wasn't the biggest fan. But then one day I was looking for a healthy taco recipe and came across these crispy tofu tacos, which I've made numerous times since! Oh and in case you were wondering, there are a ton of healthy benefits of tofu!

Now what can you use this tofu for? Well almost anything that would have had chicken or meat. And no you don't need to be vegetarian/vegan to enjoy tofu. Lauren and I aren't and we still have tofu every couple of months for something different. But no matter what, I make sure I get it crispy and this crispy baked tofu is the easiest way to do it.

Jump to:

• Recipe Ingredients
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• What is Tofu?
• Why Do I Need to Use Cornstarch?
• Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
• Recipes to Use Tofu With
• Crispy Baked Tofu

Recipe Ingredients

• Tofu - extra firm is best.
• Olive oil - helps cook the tofu.
• Soy sauce - adds some saltiness.
• Cornstarch - makes the tofu crispy.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Drain the water from the tofu and place on a paper-towel lined plate. Press down for 15-30 minutes with something heavy. I have a panini press that I use but also have heard tofu presses are great as well. Slice the tofu so you get ½" cubes. 
2. In a medium bowl, toss the tofu with olive oil, soy sauce and cornstarch. Toss until everything is evenly coated, being careful to not break the tofu.
3. Place evenly in a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 35-40 minutes, tossing halfway through.
4. The tofu is ready when it is golden brown.

What is Tofu?

Tofu is made of soybeans that are curdled and made into blocks. It is pretty much like making cheese. Tofu also contains nigari, which is the liquid that is left after extracting the salt from the water.

With that in mind, tofu is very healthy for you as it is packed with protein, calcium, selenium, manganese, iron, and magnesium, while being low in saturated fat.

Why Do I Need to Use Cornstarch?

Fun fact. Most fried chicken recipes that are secret include a combination of flour and cornstarch. And most Asian dishes use just cornstarch. They make the tofu crispy, but not like you're dipping in a large amount of flour. Trust me it works. You just have to be patient when baking the tofu.

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

• Extra-firm tofu is the only way to go to actually get crispy.
• Do not skip placing something heavy over the tofu for at least 30 minutes to release the excess water.
• Be consistent with the size you slice the tofu so it cooks evenly.

Recipes to Use Tofu With

• Vegetable Pad Thai
• Thai Butternut Squash Curry
• Thai Veggie Curry

If you’ve tried this crispy baked tofu or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.