Crispy Tofu and Cabbage Stir-Fry Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Greg

Oil Scolds, this recipe calls for one tablespoon of oil per serving, which amounts to 125 calories and 20% of the daily recommended amount of fat. Also it tastes good. Please have toasted cabbage if you like, but I'm not sure this is the hill on which to die for the cause of heart health.

Sheila Datt, Integrative Nutrition Coach

I roasted the onion, cabbage and added shiitakes on a sheet tray, 400 degree oven for 1/2 hour. Seared the tofu in a cast iron pan. Tossed everything together with lime juice, cilantro & coconut aminoes. Served over ramen rice noodles. Sooo good!!

Karen NBvW

Just saying...excessive oil once again in NYT recipe...cabbage (any variety0 caramelizes very well in a DRY cast iron pan! Pre heat pan, drop cabbage in, let sit on flame 7ish min. lift on one side if some light char lift & flip once all around, let sit again another 7min. & again flip not stir, last time maybe a moment or two shorter. When wanting toasted coriander seed here, or fennel & caraway in another recipe once charred 1st time flip & place in hot oven for 2nd & 3rd. Skips 1/2 the oil!

jessicabessica

Definitely tear the tofu! I was reluctant as my need for order and uniformity is real, but it creates a very interesting texture with lots of surface area where tips get charred a little and add to everything. Such a simple recipe that’s greater than the sum of its parts. It’s a new weekly go to in our house now!

LB

Am I the only one who has no idea how to interpret the “cut into 1-inch pieces, leaves separated” instructions for the cabbage? I read the rest of the recipe for context clues and looked at the photo but still couldn’t figure it out. Ended up just roughly chopping it.

ndchef

You can put the slices of tofu in the microwave for 3 min, and it will pull out the excess moisture, which you then pour off. Works great!

Sheri

Tears make more irregular edges, which makes more browning.

LO

Garrett, there's no measurement given for the salt. This one's on you!!!

Kristin Ohlson

I made this exactly as written and was thrilled with it. Served over brown rice ramen noodles. Will definitely make it again and perhaps serve with a sprinkle of chopped peanuts. Thank you!

Judy

Not a cabbage fan, I tried this anyway and loved it. Not sure why the tofu was torn instead of sliced, but I liked it! More like real food. Not a cilantro fan, I'll substitute that with parsley next time and half the lime juice. Crazy delicious! A little hot red pepper would be just right.

Garrett

Way too much salt indicated. Plus the soy sauce!!! Wish nutritional info was included in these recipes.

Cassie

This recipe hit all the right notes for me: bright cilantro-lime flavor, the bite of red onion that is softened but not caramelized, and cabbage that still has some body. A tablespoon of coriander seed sounds like a lot, but it wasn't overwhelming and contributed to the bright flavor. I like the idea of adding jalapeno slices for heat - I thought about topping with Sriracha sauce but didn't want to muddy the cilantro flavor.

Anita

I made this and the tofu, while tasty, was far from crunchy. The next time I made it, I drained the tofu, placed it on a cooling rack over a sheet pan, placed a double paper towel over it and place my cast iron skillet on top. I left it for 30 minutes and then proceeded with the recipe. The tofu came out firm and crispy!

Natasha

I made it with red and I think it would be better with Napa cabbage... It was a bit of a strange flavour profile. I also used a rounded wok and wasn't able to char the cabbage evenly...

KC

Loved this — delicious! Crunchy tofu is da bomb.My red onion was exceptionally strong. (Yes, tears were shed). I soaked it in water for a bit, but still too strong. Next time I would add to the cabbage for a minute or two.And, I’d add a handful of nuts to top it off. Sesame? Or cashew, to add a little sweetness? Or sliced almonds for the ultimate crunch? I also might add a splash of toasted sesame oil.YUM!

Adam V

this was much more flavorful than I anticipated!

Ellen

I made this with green cabbage and half of a yellow onion, as that's what I had. I did not have coriander seeds but added some ground coriander as well as the cilantro. I used half cornstarch and half nutritional yeast to coat the tofu. It turned out delicious! Ate it straight with some toasted sourdough bread on the side, which was yummy, although I like the idea of rice or noodles.

Art

I've made this twice including just now for lunch. It needs a bit more of all the seasonings for my tastes. I have cabbage growing in our garden so I can make it very fresh! One problem with the recipe is that it mentions using corn starch in the ingredients but then forgets about it in the preparation. I made it without the corn starch and the flavors didn't adhere quite as well to the cabbage. Next time I will add a bit of cornstarch slurry to keep the seasonings adhered to the ingredients.

Heather

For the amount of oil and soy sauce this doesn’t have much flavor. Added gochuguang to the tofu and no cornstarch. That never comes out for me. I added fish sauce which helped and don’t skip the lime, this dish needs it.

Stpeh

Not sure if it's kosher but we added some chopped peanuts as a topping. Seemed to fit.

Paul Z

I made the mistake of not squeezing out as much moisture as possible from the tofu. Result: most of the tofu stuck to the pan, despite the cornstarch. Otherwise, this is easy, and it's pretty tasty. It does need *something*, though. Next time I might add some black beans, or a can of green chile.Oh, and please serve over jasmine or basmati rice. Brown rice is a miss. (I used brown.)

emily

This was a delicious and simple weeknight meal with small tweaks. I subbed scallions for the onion, added a scant amount of sriracha and 1/4 cup of chopped peanuts at the end - the nutty crunch really uplifted the whole dish. I will make this again!

kathryn

I think it meant 1.5 pounds of cabbage before coring. Had to fry in 2 batches. Would add more soy sauce and lime juice next time. Served with turmeric rice.

Nancy

It took much longer for the cabbage and tofu to cook when I made this recipe. but it was very good. I would not toss the tofu in cornstarch and salt in a bowl. I would press out the water first, then cut it and dry the cubes and then sprinkle with cornstarch. it would cover much more evenly and be crisper on the outside.

Rebecca

I used my instincts and tasting for the oil and salt and this was surprisingly delicious considering the limited additional flavors. I should note that I made this without the coriander and cilantro because I just didn’t have them.

AND in CDMX

I've made this a bunch. We're both meat-eaters (but I make tofu fairly often), and we both like this one a lot. Fast, easy, good flavor pop. The cornstarch method gives the tofu a good exterior crispness. The coriander *seeds* and fresh cilantro are both pretty important, so I wouldn't make this if you lack either (or if you have that condition that makes cilantro taste like soap).Adjustment: you can slice the tofu into cubes instead of tearing it if you prefer. 1" is pretty big; I do smaller.

Paul

Loved it as written, probably double the coriander next time, but all in all, this dish has such pleasing taste and texture.

Adam

Fantastic dish. However, the cabbage needed to cook much longer than the recipe calls for. Also, we added garlic to the cabbage. Lastly, if you like a little heat, chili crisp or hot sesame oil should be on the table.

AC

My family liked this - Coriander added a pleasantly unexpected flavor to this dish, but note it may not be for everyone. Pressed the tofu beforehand, and - based on prior experiences w/ tofu sticking to cast iron- used a separate nonstick pan to brown the tofu (then lightly toast the coriander seeds) - can also bake tofu to use less oil. Soaked the onions in cold water, drained well, then threw them in with the cabbage for the last 30-60 seconds to take off some bite. Served w/ rice noodles.

NYC_ARCHITECT_UES

Easy, simple recipe with more subtle taste expression- i ended up adding cilantro 3 ways (seed, powder and chopped) that amped the flavor profile. Used aged soy at the end after cooking for an assertive touch. Def need to dry the tofu to get it to crisp properly! This one’s a keeper for that half-head of cabbage that always seems to linger around…

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Crispy Tofu and Cabbage Stir-Fry Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why won t my tofu get crispy? ›

If your crispy tofu isn't getting crispy, it could be because there is too much moisture in the tofu. Another issue could be the oil isn't hot enough to fry the tofu. Or you forgot to add the corn flour. These three reasons can cause your tofu to be soggy or not crisp up as much as you'd like.

Why do people soak tofu in brine before frying? ›

Why does the brine work? Both the heat and the salinity of the water draw moisture out of the surface of the tofu, helping it crisp and brown. The hot water also gradually tightens the proteins at the surface of the tofu, helping keep any remaining moisture inside.

Do you need to press tofu before stir frying? ›

Press the Tofu Before Stir-Frying

Young also advises pressing the tofu, even extra-firm tofu, between a few layers of paper towels and with something heavy to weigh it down. It's a few extra minutes of work, but there's a big payoff in the texture of the finished tofu.

Should you marinate tofu before frying? ›

For the tastiest results, marinade the tofu overnight. Roll slices or cubes of marinated tofu in some rice flour, potato starch, corn flour or grated coconut before pan-frying for an extra-crispy crust. Be sure to use a non-stick pan with a generous amount of oil. Deep-frying is also an option.

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

How do you get cornstarch to stick to tofu? ›

A light coating of cornstarch will absorb even more moisture from the tofu's surface and contribute to a distinct coating. Sprinkle over the starch (potato starch, tapioca starch, and arrowroot all work too) a little bit at a time and toss the tofu, pressing gently so the starch adheres.

Do you put cornstarch before or after marinating tofu? ›

Once the tofu is marinated, I use a cornstarch coating with some cumin powder in it. Not only does it create a super crispy result, but the seasoning further brings out the flavor of the tofu.

What happens if you don't drain tofu before cooking? ›

Here's the thing: even though tofu might be labeled firm or extra-firm, it contains a lot of water. This excess water can cause the tofu to crumble when you cook it, and it will also have a hard time crisping up. But when you press tofu, you remove the excess moisture.

Why pour boiling water over tofu? ›

It may seem counterintuitive to add water to something you're trying to dry out, but boiling water will actually cause the tofu to squeeze out more moisture, bringing it to the surface and making it easier to blot off, while the salt gently seasons the slices.

What kind of tofu is best for stir fry? ›

Extra-Firm Tofu has the least amount of liquid. It's what I always recommend for stir fries, especially if it will be cubed like in this General Tso's Tofu Stir Fry. It still has enough liquid to where you will need to squeeze some of the liquid out.

How long to press tofu for stir fry? ›

Whichever make you have, simply put the tofu between two plates, tighten the press, and place it somewhere that will catch the liquid drained (inside a clean sink or a rimmed baking sheet). Press the tofu for 15 to 20 minutes.

What can I marinate tofu in? ›

In a mixing bowl or measuring cup with a spout, whisk together the marinade: soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, olive oil, sesame oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, ginger, and Sriracha. Drizzle over the tofu. If any pieces look bare, turn them over in the marinade a few times so all of the sides are coated.

How do you keep fried tofu crispy? ›

Cornstarch – This is the secret to the most perfect fried tofu. Cornstarch forms a protective layer around each cube of tofu, which crisps up when added to heat. If you don't have cornstarch, arrowroot powder and tapioca starch also work. Garlic powder – This is optional but adds a delightful savory, garlicky flavor.

How to make tofu more flavorful? ›

Coat it in a lot of dry seasonings.

You can also use your favourite potent seasoning mix and coat your tofu in it. Pre-season it, then let it soak in a sauce to soak up flavours. My Slow Cooker Tofu Butter Chicken wasn't even pre-seasoned, but it was well pressed, and so it truly soaked up the flavours of that sauce.

Is firm or soft tofu better for frying? ›

When pan-frying tofu, choose firm or extra-firm tofu. The former may take a little longer to pan-fry because it has more moisture, but pan-fried firm tofu absorbs flavors well simply because it's not as dense as extra-firm tofu.

Why is my tofu always soggy? ›

Tofu has a porous surface and releases water before the coating gets crispy, so toss the tofu in a bit of cornstarch or arrowroot powder. Shake the excess off and then fry in oil for a crispy outside and tender inside. For even tastier results, try frying in an oil that's full of flavors, such as sesame or coconut oil.

How long to press tofu for crispy? ›

How long does it take to press tofu? It takes around half an hour to press the tofu in preparation for cooking. It's simple to do and requires very little effort. You only need a plate, some absorbent fabric or paper, such as clean tea-towels or kitchen paper, and a weight – we often use a frying pan.

How long to press tofu for crispy tofu? ›

Step 3: Press the tofu by placing paper towels, and something heavy on top. I usually use a sheet pan, and put heavy cans on top. Press for at least 30 minutes if you want super firm tofu. You should see a pool of water that has come out, and it should look and feel very dense.

Why is my fried tofu chewy? ›

You can fry tofu without pressing it, and we recommend not pressing it before cooking. We think it's better not to press the tofu to keep it moist, soft, and silky inside and crispy on the outside. Pressed tofu can be dry, chewy, and rubbery.

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