Crispy tofu cubes in a sticky honey garlic sauce. This honey garlic tofu is ready in 30-minutes and perfect for meatless Monday! Pair it with basmati rice and steamed broccoli for a balanced weeknight meal.
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In This Post: Everything You Need to Know to Make This Easy Honey Garlic Tofu
Recipe Notes
This Easy Honey Garlic Tofu recipe is one of my go-to meals for meatless Monday! Tofu is an excellent heart-healthy protein source. It also contains a similar amount of protein as chicken, making it an excellent plant-based swap for meat.
Though I’m a fan of tofu, not everyone is (my household included), so I get that sometimes it can be a hard sell. In my opinion, two things are needed to make the tastiest tofu:
1. a crispy texture
2. cooking it with a flavourful sauce
This Easy Honey Garlic Tofu recipe results in crispy, lightly browned tofu without needing to deep fry or coat it in breadcrumbs. Tofu is relatively flavorless on its own and will absorb the flavors of the food or sauces that it is cooked with. I love using the honey garlic sauce with tofu because it is so flavourful and thickens to a delicious sticky texture. Yum!
Ingredients Needed:
- Extra firm tofu, pressed
- Avocado oil
- Honey
- Low-sodium soy sauce
- Garlic cloves
- Ground ginger (or fresh)
- Rice vinegar
- Cornstarch
- Sesame seeds for serving (optional)
- Green onion for serving (optional)
Equipment Needed:
- Tofu press OR some paper towel and a heavy pan (such as cast iron) or a stack of books to press tofu
- Large non-stick pan
- Cooking utensils, such as a wooden spoon
- Small bowl to make the sauce
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Chef knife and cutting board
How to Press Tofu
Pressing helps remove excess moisture from the tofu. This step is ESSENTIAL if you want your tofu to get nice and crispy without deep frying or breading.
You can press tofu ahead of time using a tofu press (pictured below). To use a tofu press, all you need to do is place the tofu inside the press and tighten the lid. I use the Tofuture tofu press (you can find it here (USA) or here (CAN)). I love this tofu press because I can set up my tofu in the morning before heading to work and leave it in the fridge to press during the day. This way, the tofu is ready for cooking when I get home from work, helping me get this meal on the table even quicker.
If you don’t have a tofu press, don’t worry! While I love the simplicity of using a tofu press, I previously pressed tofu without an actual press for years. To do so, wrap your tofu in a couple of sheets of paper towel and place it on a plate or cutting board. Place a heavy pan, such as a cast iron pan, or a stack of books on top of the tofu to press out the moisture.
Regardless of your method of choice, aim to press your tofu for at least 30 minutes, or ideally over one hour for best results.
How to Make Easy Honey Garlic Tofu:
Step 1: Cut your pressed tofu into 1/2-inch cubes.
Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp of avocado oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the tofu to the pan and cook, undisturbed, until the bottom side is lightly browned. Flip each cube of tofu and repeat until tofu is browned and crispy on all sides. This step will take 10-15 minutes, depending on how hot your pan is.
Step 3: While your tofu is cooking, whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Let the sauce sit until your tofu has browned on all sides.
Step 4: Once the tofu is browned and crispy, reduce the cooking temperature to low-medium and add the sauce to the pan. Stir to coat the tofu.
Step 5: Let the tofu simmer gently in the sauce until the sauce has thickened and becomes sticky. This will take about 5 minutes.
Step 6: Remove the tofu from the heat and serve with rice and veggies, such as broccoli or frozen peas for a balanced meal!
Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to press the tofu before cooking?
I highly recommend that you press your tofu for at least 30 minutes for the best crispy texture!
Can you make this recipe ahead of time?
You can certainly make this recipe ahead of time. However, it is best served immediately after cooking, as the tofu will lose its crispy texture after being reheated.
Can you use garlic powder instead of fresh?
Since garlic is such a major component of the honey garlic sauce, I suggest using fresh (or minced from a jar) for best results.
What should I serve honey garlic tofu with?
I suggest serving this honey garlic tofu with a side of whole grains such as basmati rice or quinoa, and a vegetable, such as steamed broccoli, cooked frozen peas, or sauteed greens to make a balanced meal.
Print
Easy Honey Garlic Tofu
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 3–4 servings 1x
Description
Crispy tofu cubes in a sticky honey garlic sauce. The honey garlic tofu is ready in 30-minutes and perfect for Meatless Monday!
Ingredients
1 block extra firm tofu (350g), pressed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (see notes for pressing instructions)
1 tbsp avocado oil
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
5–6 garlic cloves (depending on the size), minced
1/4 tsp ground ginger (or 1/2 tsp fresh minced ginger)
1 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp cornstarch
Sesame seeds and green onion for serving (optional)
Instructions
1. Heat avocado in a large pan on medium-high heat.
2. Add cubed tofu to the pan in a single layer. Let tofu cook undisturbed until it starts to brown on the bottom side.
3. Flip each piece of tofu to an uncooked side, continuing to cook until browned. Repeat until all sides of the tofu cubes are lightly browned. This will take ~10-15 minutes, depending on the temperature of your pan.
4. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, garlic, rice vinegar, cornstarch, and ground ginger. Let the sauce sit until the tofu is finished browning.
5. Once the tofu is browned on all sides, reduce heat to low-medium and pour the sauce into the pan. Simmer the tofu until the sauce has thickened and becomes sticky, about 5 minutes.
6. Serve with rice and steamed broccoli for a balanced meal.
Notes
Pressing tofu will help get rid of excess moisture from its packaging, allowing it to get crispy when cooked. Press tofu ahead of time using a tofu press (see in the post above for an example) or by wrapping your tofu in a paper towel and placing a heavy pot (such as cast iron) or a stack of books on top. Leave tofu for at least 30 minutes to press, ideally 1 hour.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Vegetarian
- Method: Stove top
