Ever since my daughter became a vegetarian, I have been experimenting with different tofu recipes and I think we found a winner with this sesame baked tofu!
This is a protein-packed, vegetarian snack or side dish that you can prepare in under 45 minutes. These crispy bites are also gluten-free, low in fat, calories and carbohydrates. A simple dip of spicy mayo is just a perfect match!
There are so many possible tweaks to this recipe to change the flavor and texture of the baked tofu bites, so make sure to check out my ideas at the end of this post!
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Ingredients
- 12 oz extra-firm tofu
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 cup sesame seeds
- 3 tbsp rice flour
- 3 tbsp non-dairy milk
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Optional: paprika
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp sriracha sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Tips for Crispy Baked Tofu
We talked about how to make crispy tofu when we were stir-frying it, but this time we are baking it.
Make sure that you use only firm or extra-firm tofu. Any other kind will fall apart when you are trying to coat it
This can be done in a number of ways. You can wrap the tofu in paper towels (or a clean kitchen towel) or use a tofu press.
I prefer using a press because they do most of the work for you. We have tried a few tofu presses but I finally settled on this one by Tufuture!
Once you have cut it, you can also toss the tofu cubes in a little bit of arrowroot starch or cornstarch.
There is a reason that I devoted a whole post to why you should use parchment paper - because I absolutely love it.
In the case of baked tofu recipes, the parchment paper will be another way to draw moisture out of the tofu!
How to serve this baked tofu
I like eating this as a snack while I am watching television, but I will often make it as a side dish for dinner in place of rice (ok - I still make the rice for my boys when they are home from college).
I have added them to salads - they are just as satisfying as croutons!
Variations
Oh - the possibilities are endless!
Sesame Ginger Tofu Bites: add a teaspoon of ground ginger to the batter.
Everything Bagel Tofu Bites: add a tablespoon or two of Everything Bagel Seasoning to the sesame seeds. If you don't have EB Seasoning, you can add equal parts poppy seeds, garlic flakes and onion flakes to the sesame seeds.
Marinade the tofu first: experiment with your favorite marinades - or even just soy sauce (make sure to use low sodium soy sauce) or tamari.
How to store leftovers
You likely won't have many leftovers, but store what you do have in the fridge for up to two days. To reheat them, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350F for about 5 minutes or until they are heated through.
Do not microwave them....just trust me on this one!
Ingredients
For the Sesame Baked Tofu Bites
- 12 oz tofu extra firm
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast substitute parmesan cheese if you aren't vegan
- 1 cup sesame seeds
- 3 tbsp rice flour or almond or coconut flour
- 3 tbsp non-dairy milk
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- olive oil
For the Dipping Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise vegan or non-vegan
- 2 tbsp sriracha sauce more or less to taste
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drizzle a few teaspoons of olive oil on the paper
- In a small bowl, mix the nutritional yeast, flour, salt, pepper, paprika and non-dairy milk. Set aside.
- Cut the prepared tofu in to bite-sized pieces
- Dip each piece of tofu in to the prepared batter, then in to the sesame seeds
- Press the sesame seeds in to the tofu to ensure they are evenly coated,
- Place the sesame coated tofu pieces on the parchment paper
- Bake for 15 minutes or until sesame seeds are toasted, tuning the bites halfway through cooking
Make the Sriracha Dipping Sauce
- Combine the sriracha, mayo and garlic powder and mix until smooth