Sesame Tofu is the easiest Asian-inspired vegetarian dish ever! Crispy pan-fried tofu is covered in a soy, honey, and sweet Thai chili sauce and garnished with sesame seeds.
SESAME TOFU RECIPE
This post is sponsored by The Ez Tofu Press.
Tofu is the most versatile protein! You can add this flavor-absorbing protein to any cuisine.
This Sesame Tofu is my favorite Asian-inspired tofu recipe with the super crispy tofu covered in a sweet and savory sauce with honey, gluten-free soy sauce, and sweet Thai chili sauce.
Serve this simple main dish over fluffy white rice to take advantage of all the delicious sauce. You'll want to smother your veggies in it, too!
Add this yummy vegan recipe to your monthly meal planning to skip the takeout. Your family won't believe you made this at home!
INGREDIENTS IN SESAME TOFU
Tofu: I use extra firm tofu for the crispiest pan-fried tofu! Make sure you press it well before dicing and frying it.
Sesame oil: I love this nutty oil! It makes a super crispy tofu with a light flavor, too.
Gluten-free soy sauce: You can use regular soy sauce, too, but I like to keep my dishes gluten free when I can.
Honey: Swap for maple syrup if you're looking for a vegan sesame tofu recipe. You need a little sugar for the sticky sauce.
Sweet Thai chili sauce: Bring a little heat to the yummy honey soy sauce with a little chili sauce. You won't regret it!
Rice wine vinegar: For the most balanced sauce, you need a touch of acid, too. Rice wine vinegar brings a delicate flavor with that tang, too.
Cornstarch: To get your sauce perfectly thickened, you'll need just a touch of cornstarch. It helps the sauce cling to the fried tofu bites.
Green onions: There's no better garnish than green onions! They're colorful, crunchy, and add a great light oniony flavor to the mix.
Sesame seeds: I love the little pop of sesame seeds as I eat them. They also pair well with the sesame oil, obviously, since they're related!
Rice: I like to serve this over fluffy white rice, but you could use brown rice, black rice, or even quinoa if you'd rather! Just cook as you normally would.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you ASAP!
HOW TO MAKE SESAME TOFU
- After pressing the tofu with your EZ Tofu Press, dice the extra firm tofu, and sauté the cubes in sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- While the tofu is frying, whisk together the gluten-free soy sauce, honey, sweet Thai chili sauce, rice wine vinegar, and cornstarch.
- Once the tofu is golden brown on all sides, add the honey soy sauce and increase the heat. Keep stirring!
- When it starts to boil, remove it from the heat and stir some more until the bubbling stops. Serve the tofu and yummy, sticky sauce over white rice with a green onion and sesame seed garnish.
These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH SESAME TOFU
If you don't want to make white rice, spice it up with this simple air fryer fried rice! There's no better Asian-inspired side dish packed with veggies and flavor.
You don't need hibachi dinners to have edamame! Enjoy this classic appetizer before or during dinner. You'll love it and the nutritional value, too!
If you're not a broccoli fan, try some crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts or air fryer green beans on the side. They go great with this sweet and savory sauce and add some green to the mix.
Throw your favorite frozen eggrolls in the air fryer while you're cooking the tofu.
HOW TO PRESS TOFU
I love tofu. It's such a versatile protein and so easy to make!
I've been obsessed with the EZ Tofu Press for years. It gives me perfectly pressed tofu every time while I finish prepping other ingredients.
The press recently UPDATED it's look! It has a new sleeker, stronger design that uses LESS plastic!
To press extra firm tofu, place the tofu block between the press plates and tighten the knob. Every 3 to 4 minutes, tighten the knob again. I usually do 3 to 4 rounds of tightening before it's done.
As you tighten, the excess moisture will vanish, leaving you with perfectly firm and dice-able tofu every time. Forget the soggy squares!
CAN I BAKE THE TOFU INSTEAD?
I love the crispy texture of pan-fried tofu in just a little oil. But you can totally opt for a hands-off option and bake it!
For a baked tofu version, toss the pressed tofu in sesame oil and spread it out on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet.
Bake it for about 30 minutes, flipping halfway, at 400 degrees F.
Make the sauce as directed and simmer it in a sauce pan. You can add the tofu to the sauce pan, or pour the sauce over the tofu to cover it, too!
You can also serve the sauce on the side this way for the best Asian-inspired dipping sauce for tofu, veggies, and anything on your plate.
MORE YUMMY ASIAN RECIPES
If you love this Sesame Tofu recipe, you'll love the side dish companion — air fryer honey sriracha cauliflower! This saucy cauliflower is crisped in the air fryer and perfectly spicy and sweet.
It's just as yummy as this simple honey sriracha tofu with a little broccoli and white rice.
Warm up with a big bowl of Instant Pot ramen. Add all your favorite veggies and garnishes so everyone's happy.
Skip the delivery tonight and make this General Tso tofu takeout fakeout in less than half an hour! You'll be done before you can say Uber Eats.
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Yay! You have made it this far, and I am so glad! Hey - If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and Facebook, too!
Don't forget to subscribe to our EMAIL newsletter.
Sesame Tofu
Equipment
- EZ Tofu Press
- Medium skillet
Ingredients
- 1 block extra firm tofu
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
For the sauce
- ½ cup gluten-free soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup for vegan diet
- 2 tablespoons sweet Thai chili sauce
- ½ teaspoon rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- Green onions for garnish
- Sesame seeds for garnish
- Cooked white rice for serving, optional
Instructions
- Press the extra firm tofu with the EZ Tofu Press. Turn the knobs every 3 to 4 minutes for 10 to 12 minutes total.
- Cut the tofu into bite-sized pieces. Sauté it in a skillet with sesame oil over medium heat for about 10 minutes, flipping occasionally.
- While the tofu is frying, whisk together the sauce ingredients and set aside.
- When the tofu is golden brown, add the sauce to the skillet and increase the heat until it boils. Keep stirring the entire time. When it begins to boil, remove from heat and continue stirring.
- Serve over cooked white rice. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Made this for dinner last night and it was delish! My husband loved it too. I like the look of the new tofu press! Heading over to Amazon to check it out.
So glad you loved it!