Recently found myself in need of fried tofu, also called fried yellow tofu or fried tofu. While it is easy to find in Asian countries, it is not found in Europe or the United States, so it must be made yourself.
After frying, the tofu has a thin yellow skin on the outside, which is not only easy to cut, but also prevents it from breaking, which is perfect for some types of recipes. It also makes tofu more golden brown. I've also found that fried tofu absorbs more flavor, especially in soups like noodle soup or lemongrass soup.
Calorie-wise, fried tofu isn't as rich as you might think. For every 100 grams, it contains 190 calories, 12 grams of protein and 11 grams of fat. In contrast, white tofu contains about 140 calories, 14 grams of protein and 8 grams of fat. These numbers are estimates only and will depend on the brand of tofu used.
When frying tofu, there is actually almost no oil inside the tofu, so it does not have a greasy taste.
Fried tofu is actually quite easy, but there are a few steps to follow. First you rinse and drain the hard tofu. There's no need to press for a long time, just pat it dry and gently press between a few kitchen towels.
I cut a large piece of tofu into 4 smaller rectangles. If you use regular tofu, you can skip this step.
After this is done, heat about 2 cups of neutral oil in a large pot over medium heat.
When frying tofu, pay attention to the following points:
The oil must be hot enough. When the tofu is added, it makes a hissing sound. You can test whether the oil is hot enough by dipping it in a wooden spatula or spoon. If you notice bubbles around, the oil is hot.
Don't blow it up for too long. As soon as the tofu is light yellow in color, remove it from the oil and place it on a board lined with kitchen paper towels to remove excess oil. If you fry for too long, the skin will harden and become bitter. I found 3 minutes to be the best time for tofu to maintain a good pastel color on the outside.
turn over. To obtain a homogeneous skin, use a wooden spoon or spatula to flip at least once during frying.
Drain the oil. After the tofu turns yellow, remove it from the oil immediately and transfer it to a plate lined with kitchen towels to remove excess oil.
Fried tofu can be used in many dishes:
Stir-fry: Simply add it to the frying pan and cook it together with the vegetables.
Noodle soup: Cut it into thin slices and season with salt, pepper and some sugar. Stir and coat with a little oil, then sauté for 2-3 minutes. Then add it to the soup.
Curry: Perfect for adding texture, color and more protein.
Sandwich or wrap: Cut the tofu into small strips and marinate with soy sauce, maple syrup and ginger. Sauté for a few minutes, then use for wraps or sandwiches.
Hope you enjoy this little guide to fried tofu! This fried tofu is chewy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside. It absorbs everything from marinade sauces to soups, making it perfect if you're tired of pure white tofu.
Learn how to make the perfect fried tofu, this tofu is chewy on the outside and juicy on the inside, perfect for adding to stir-fries, soups, salads, sandwiches, and more!
4 pieces of hard tofu (about 4 ounces each)
2 cups neutral oil
Rinse the tofu with cold water. Wrap it up with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel and pat it dry. Gently press with your hand to remove excess water.
Heat the oil in a medium pot, it is recommended that you use a deep pan to avoid spilling the oil, and check if the oil is hot enough by dipping wooden chopsticks or spatula into the oil. If there are oil bubbles around, you can fry them.
Carefully pour a pile of tofu into the oil, fry for about 3 minutes until the tofu turns golden brown, and flip it once halfway through.
Next, use a long-handled spoon to transfer the tofu to a plate lined with kitchen tissues to remove excess grease.
Repeat the fried remaining tofu.
The fried tofu will be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Used for stir-fry, soups, wraps, salads, etc.!
Serving Size: 1 piece 4 oz
Calories: 214
Sugar: 0 g
Fat: 12.4g
Carbohydrates 2.2g
Fiber: 0.3 g
Protein 13.5g