Honey garlic tofu recipe

• servings: 4 servings
• active time: 20 minutes
• total time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

14 oz extra firm tofu (1 block)

½ tsp coarse sea salt

½ tsp garlic granule

¼ tsp white pepper

⅛ tsp ginger powder

2 tbsp avocado oil (divided)

4 tbsp potato starch (or tapioca starch, divided)

Avocado oil spray (for air fryer basket)

1 oz garlic (5 large, finely minced)

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp oyster sauce

1 tbsp ketchup

1 tbsp honey (plus more for garnish)

¼ tsp shiitake mushroom seasoning (chicken bouillon, dashi powder, or msg)

½ cup chicken stock

1 tsp starch

2 scallion (dice to small rounds)

Toasted black sesame seeds

Chopped roasted peanuts (optional)

Directions

Prep and season tofu:

Pat dry the tofu

Tofu prep: Drain the tofu and pat it dry with paper towels. Slice it into a little larger than ½-inch (1.27cm) cubes. Pat them dry again with clean paper towels.

Season and coat the tofu: In a large mixing bowl, combine the seasonings from salt to ginger powder. Add the cubed tofu and gently toss with a rubber spatula. Add 1 tbsp oil and sprinkle in the starch 2 tbsp a time (up to 4 tbsp total) until all sides are coated evenly.

Air fryer option:

Prep air fryer basket

Air fryer basket: To air fry, spray the basket with avocado oil. Add the tofu and spread the pieces evenly in the basket with some space between them. Spray with more oil on top.

Air fryer time and temp

Air fry time and temperature: Air fryer at 400°F (204°C) for 10 minutes. Carefully flip the tofu, spray more oil on top and air fry for an additional 5 minutes. The tofu should be golden brown and a little crisp outside. Set them aside.

Oven bake option:

Oven bake time and temp

Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Place the tofu in a single layer with some space between the cubes. Lightly spray the tops with oil. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and slightly crisp on the edges.

Sauce and combine:

Thicken the sauce

Sauce prep: In the meantime, finely mince the garlic. Set aside ready to use. In a measuring cup, combine ingredients from soy sauce to starch. Stir well.

Combine tofu with sauce

Mix sauce with tofu: Preheat a large saute pan with the remaining 1 tbsp oil over medium heat until it feels warm, add the garlic and quickly saute for 10-15 seconds. Stir the sauce again then pour it into the pan. Turn heat up to medium-high, keep stirring the sauce for 1 to 1.5 minutes. Lastly, add-in the tofu, toss for 30 seconds. The sauce will thicken further. Turn off the heat.

Serve:

Garnish and serve: Garnish with scallions, sesame seeds, and roasted peanuts. Drizzle with a touch more honey if desired. Serve right away with steamed rice.

Nutrition

• Calories: 212 kcal
• Total Fat: 11 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Cholesterol: 0.01 mg
• Sodium: 1025 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 18 g
• Dietary Fiber: 1 g
• Total Sugars: 6 g
• Protein: 10 g