Honey Garlic Tofu Recipe - Peas and Crayons (2024)

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Published: May 10, 2018Updated: October 3, 2019Author: Jenn Laughlin

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This Honey Garlic Tofu recipe is a great way to jazz up tofu! Pair it with crisp broccoli and fluffy brown rice for a tofu bowl that’s sure to have you skipping take-out for this tasty homemade recipe!

Honey Garlic Tofu Recipe - Peas and Crayons (1)

I’ve been on a serious tofu kick lately!

A fun twist on myhoney garlic shrimp recipe, this honey garlic tofu is smothered in a sweet and savory sauce and served with veggies and grains for a balanced meal that’s sure to curb your take-out cravings!

It’s pretty darn delicious if I do say so myself! Even my T-Rex husband devoured a bowl!

Not only is this dish cheaper than take-out restaurant fare, it’s also ready to eat right away, ensuring every bite is piping hot and fresh as can be.No more soggy delivery eats!

Honey Garlic Tofu Recipe - Peas and Crayons (2)

Honey Garlic Tofu

When it comes to this scrumptious honey garlic tofu, you have two tasty options for cooking your tofu.

pan-fried tofu

This is by far the fastest method. You’ll only need about 1-2 TBSP of oil (no deep-frying needed!) and a light dusting of either cornstarch or arrowroot powder will ensure your tofu doesn’t stick and that it gets a nice crispy sear on the edges.

crispy baked tofu

The next method requires you carve out 25-30 minutes bake time in your dinner prep schedule but it’s hands-off time you can use to make your veggies and rice so it’s no big deal at all.

You’ll bake the lightly coated tofu until crispy on a parchment paper lined pan at about 400 degrees F until the edges are crispy and the tofu is nice and hot.

side dishes for tofu

Serve this honey garlic tofu in a bowl piled high with your favorite side dishes. I like to add brown rice and something green. Broccoli, asparagus, edamame, bok choy anything goes! They can be steamed, roasted, or stir-fried. Choose your favorite grains and veggies and make it a meal!

Honey Garlic Tofu Recipe - Peas and Crayons (3)

Honey Garlic Tofu

This Honey Garlic Tofu recipe is a great way to jazz up tofu! Pair it with crisp broccoli and fluffy brown rice for a tofu bowl that's sure to have you skipping take-out for this tasty homemade recipe!

Recipe cook time will vary based on cooking method chosen as baking takes a bit longer than pan-frying.

4.80 from 20 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: Garlic Tofu

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Tofu Press Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Jenn Laughlin - Peas and Crayons

Ingredients

  • 14 oz package extra firm tofu
  • 1 TBSP cornstarch or arrowroot powder (plus extra as needed)
  • 2 TBSP frying oil
  • 1 TBSP sliced green onion
  • 1-2 tsp toasted sesame seeds

SOY MARINADE

  • ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce or gluten-free Tamari*
  • 1 TBSP sesame oil
  • 1 TBSP Sriracha chili sauce

HONEY GARLIC SAUCE

  • ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce or gluten-free tamari*
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 1 TBSP fresh lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ¼ tsp ginger paste or fresh minced ginger to taste
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

  • Advance prep: Drain and remove tofu from package. Slice the block of tofu into two 1/2 inch thin planks and place on a stack of 4-5 folded paper towels, placing an additional stack of paper towels on top. Set something heavyish on top (I use a cast iron skillet) to make a make-shift tofu press for water removal. Allow to sit. I usually start my tofu about 30 minutes before I want to start cooking.

  • Once your tofu is ready, whisk together marinade and pour over tofu in a small shallow baking dish or plastic bag. Allow to sit in the fridge for 15 minutes while you prep the rest of your ingredients. Alternatively you can marinate your tofu the night before to enjoy the following day.

  • Whisk together honey garlic sauce and add to a saucepan or small pot. Set aside.

  • Once your tofu has marinated a bit, cut each plank into 8 bite-sized cubes, for 16 pieces total.

  • Sprinkle either cornstarch or arrowroot starch over the tofu and gently toss until evenly coated and no powdery spots remain.

  • FOR PAN-FRIED TOFU: Bring a pan or cast iron skillet to medium-high heat, then add 2 TBSP oil once hot. Tilt and swirl pan so oil is evenly distributed. Once the oil has evenly heated, add your tofu, spaced, so that no sides touch. Let the first side sear for about 6 minutes so a nice even crust forms. You can shake the pan occasionally so they don't stick but keep them on the first side. Once perfectly golden, flip each tofu nugget to the other side and sear for about 4-5 minutes. Remove from pan and allow to drain on a paper towel.

  • Add honey garlic sauce to the pan over medium heat and simmer the sauce until it starts to reduce, stirring as needed. Once it starts to thicken, remove from heat (it'll thicken a bit more as it cools) and pour over tofu before serving.

  • FOR BAKED TOFU:Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F and place a piece of parchment paper over a baking sheet. Arrange the coated tofu spaced on the parchment. Bake for 25-30 minutes, tossing or flipping at the 15-minute mark until nice and crispy.

  • Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onion. Serve with your choice of grains and veggies and dive in!

Notes

* I used Low-Sodium Gluten-Free Tamari Soy Sauce for this recipe. To ensure the type you're using is GF, simply double check the label and you're good to go!

If skipping the arrowroot or cornstarch and pan-frying your tofu, you'll want to use a non-stick skillet to prevent sticking.

While it's totally optional,I find that marinating the tofu adds so much extra flavor! The tofu ends up crispy on the outside, and creamy on the inside with lots of umami flavor from the soy sauce marinade.

Craving a spicy sauce? Add some Sriracha chili sauce or crushed red pepper flakes to the honey garlic sauce. Start with a little and add more to taste.

Serve with your favorite sides. I like to add rice (brown or white) and something green. Broccoli, asparagus, edamame, bok choy anything goes! Choose your favorite grains and veggies and make it a meal! For your grains you can use tofu, noodles, fried rice, regular rice, etc...

Nutrition

Calories: 236kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Sodium: 681mg, Potassium: 193mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 15IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 46mg, Iron: 2mg

Did you make this recipe?I want to see! Tag @peasandcrayons on Instagram and Facebook!

Honey Garlic Tofu Recipe - Peas and Crayons (4)

Honey Garlic Tofu Recipe - Peas and Crayons (5)

For a vegan swap, feel free to sweeten your sauce with 2-3 TBSP brown sugar in place of the honey. Adjust to taste.

Instant Pot Brown Rice

I made my rice in the Instant Pot to save on time and keep things hands-off! Add 1 cup of brown rice to your IP along with 1 and 1/4 cups water. Lock lid and set valve to sealed position. Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes, allowing a natural pressure release. One the valve drops, remove the lid and fluff with a fork/spoon. Dive in! If you’re making 2 cups of rice adjust water (or veggie broth) to 2 + 1/2 cups. Cook time will remain the same.

Serve with steamed, roasted, or stir-fried veggies and honey garlic tofu.

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  • currently listening to . . .Skyscrapers – OK GO
  • currently reading . . .Greg McKeown’s Essentialism
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About The Author:

Jenn Laughlin

Hi! I’m Jenn and I’m here to help you eat your veggies! It'll be fun, painless, and pretty darn delicious as I teach you to plan your meals around fresh, seasonal produce with a little help from healthy freezer and pantry staples.

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Honey Garlic Tofu Recipe - Peas and Crayons (2024)

FAQs

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

What is the secret to cooking tofu? ›

Press it. Tofu contains a lot of water, and you'll want to squeeze most of it out, especially if you're baking, grilling, or frying it. I recommend using a tofu press to do this, because it gives the tofu a delicious chewy texture and makes cleanup a breeze. But having one isn't necessary.

What is the healthiest way to eat tofu? ›

Healthier - For starters, broiling tofu is a healthier method of cooking than frying, and it requires less oil to create crispier cubes.

Why isn't my tofu crispy? ›

The key to crispy tofu is to heat the oil in your pan before adding tofu cubes. Coating the pan-fried tofu in corn flour helps create a crispy coating as the cubed tofu cooks in the oil. Another key to getting uber-crispy tofu is removing excess liquid/moisture from it before you cook tofu.

Why can't you eat tofu everyday? ›

Eating tofu and other soy foods every day is generally considered safe. That said, you may want to moderate your intake if you have: Breast tumors: Because of tofu's weak hormonal effects, some doctors suggest that people with estrogen-sensitive breast tumors limit their soy intake.

Is there a downside to eating tofu? ›

Incorporating tofu into your daily meals and snacks can bring several health benefits. Those benefits include brain health promotion, ease of menopause symptoms, and heart disease prevention. However, eating tofu has some risks, as it might lead to digestive issues or interact with certain medications like MAOIs.

What can I add to tofu to make it taste better? ›

Coat it in garlic, black pepper, salt (plus more of your favourite seasonings), liquid aminos and some olive oil. Then mix it into some cornstarch and toss it all together, then bake for about 20 minutes. Cornstarch also helps to draw out excess moisture so it really gets the tofu crispy.

Do I need to rinse tofu? ›

She encourages people to treat tofu in a similar manner to canned beans, which we are taught to drain and rinse before using. She finds that doing so can help eliminate any off-flavors from preservatives in the water for liquid-packed tofu.

Is tofu better for you than eggs? ›

In case you're wondering which is healthier, eggs or tofu, the match-up is surprisingly close. If you compare them per serving (1 egg to a 3.5-ounce serving of tofu), the tofu has a similar amount of calories and slightly more protein. Here's how they stack up: Calories: egg = 78 | tofu = 70.

Is tofu good for losing belly fat? ›

If you are eating tofu that is processed with sugar, salt, or preservatives, then it may not be healthy for you. But if you are eating it that has been processed in a way that preserves its nutritional value, then tofu can help you healthily lose belly fat.

Is it better to bake or pan fry tofu? ›

It sticks, and the crispy bits end up sticking to the pan, which is a tofu tragedy. Plus, it requires more oil, and you don't need to use a lot of oil to get crispy tofu. When you bake your tofu, you give it time to develop crispy edges and warm, pillowy insides. It's simply the best.

What is the best oil to fry tofu in? ›

Frying oil: Regular vegetable or canola oil, peanut, corn, safflower or sunflower oil are all good options for frying.

What to season tofu with? ›

Tofu seasoning rub: Rub the pressed tofu with lots of spices like garlic or onion powder, salt and pepper, nutritional yeast or a spicy taco seasoning, KFC seasoning, Buffalo spice, etc. Tofu marinade: Soak the tofu cubes in your favorite chicken/meat marinade to infuse extra flavor.

Can you coat tofu in flour instead of cornstarch? ›

Substitutions: If you prefer not to cook with cornstarch, you can substitute in an equal volume of all-purpose flour or potato starch. Tofu: This recipe can also be made with medium-firm tofu, but you'll need to be a bit more gentle while pressing and coating it.

Why can't you eat spinach with tofu? ›

- It is said that tofu cannot be eaten together with spinach at the same time. As tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively, the combination of the two will form kidney stones. But in fact, only prolonged and volumionous consumption of tofu and spinach at the same time will pose this risk.

What does tofu pair well with? ›

What to serve with tofu. These easy tofu meals go well with white rice, toasted bread, or noodles.

What makes tofu curdle? ›

It contains magnesium chloride, which reacts with the protein in the soy milk, causing the soy milk to curdle.

Is tofu a high inflammatory food? ›

Tofu and tempeh.

Studies suggest people who eat soy-based foods have lower odds of inflammation-related diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Nuts and legumes, Tree nuts like almonds and walnuts, along with peanuts, are rich in unsaturated fats, along with anti-inflammatory vitamins and minerals.

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