Crispy Sesame Tofu With Vegetables Recipe

By
Kathy Kingsley
Kathy Kingsley
Kathy Kingsley
A former bakery owner, Kathy Kingsley is a food writer, recipe developer, editor, and author of seven cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/4/22
Crispy Sesame Tofu With Vegetables

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
309 Calories
25g Fat
11g Carbs
16g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 309
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g 31%
Saturated Fat 3g 14%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 252mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Protein 16g
Calcium 458mg 35%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This recipe produces tofu with a crisp, flavorful coating. For the best texture, be sure to drain the tofu well.

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup sesame seeds
  • 1 pound extra-firm tofu (cut lengthwise into 8 slices, well-drained and patted dry)
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 small onion (thinly sliced)
  • 1 medium red bell pepper (cored, seeded, and thinly sliced)
  • 1 medium yellow bell pepper (cored, seeded, and thinly sliced)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh ginger (peeled and minced)
  • 1 teaspoon dark (Asian) sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Crispy Sesame Tofu With Vegetables ingredients

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. Place the sesame seeds on a small plate. Dredge the tofu slices in the sesame seeds to coat them on all sides.

    Dredge the tofu slices in the sesame seeds to coat them on all sides

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat. Add the tofu and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. Transfer the tofu to a serving platter.

    cook the tofu in a skillet

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  4. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add the onion, bell peppers, and ginger and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are softened, about 8 minutes.

    Add the onion, bell peppers, and ginger to the skillet

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  5. Stir in the sesame oil and tamari.

    Stir the sesame oil and tamari into the pepper mixture

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  6. Remove from the heat and serve the vegetables with the tofu.

    Crispy Sesame Tofu With Vegetables

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Tips

  • Draining tofu simply means pouring off the water that the tofu is packed in. Pressing means to wrap it in cloth or paper towels to let it sit on toweling, weighted down, to force out the excess water within. There are several reasons for pressing the water out of tofu, including to make it firmer and chewier, to make room for it to absorb other liquids and seasonings, such as marinades and spice rubs, and to avoid diluting sauces and dressings.

What is Tofu?

Tofu is made by separating soymilk into curds and whey (a thin, light-amber-colored liquid), pressing the curds together, cutting the resulting soy cheese into blocks, and packing them into the whey or water. The amount of whey pressed out of the soymilk curds during the tofu-making process is what ultimately determines its texture.

Types of Tofu

  • Soft tofu (sometimes called Japanese-style tofu) has a soft consistency, which is great for making dips, dressings, and desserts.
  • Firm tofu has a medium density and is the best type to use when making tofu salads and scrambled tofu.
  • Extra-firm tofu is dense, holds sliced or cubes shapes well, and is ideal for cutlets and stir-fried dishes.
  • Silken tofu has a soft, custard-like texture and is packaged aseptically in 10-ounce containers that do not require refrigeration. Although the silken variety comes in soft, firm, and extra-firm textures, they all are fairly soft and tender.