5 from 10 votes
Crispy Tofu Bites
Crispy Tofu Bites feature medium-firm tofu cut into cubes, salted, and fried until golden and crisp. A quick ginger, garlic, mirin, and soy sauce glaze is boiled to thicken and adds savory, slightly sweet, and aromatic notes. Toasted sesame seeds and scallions finish the bites for texture and freshness, making a flavorful snack or appetizer with a satisfying crispy exterior and tender interior.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Additional Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 22 mins
Servings:
2
servings
Calories:
74 kcal
Course:
Main Course, Appetizer
Cuisine:
Japanese
Ingredients
- 453 grams tofu medium-firm
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 6 grams ginger
- 6 grams garlic (grated)
- ¼ cup mirin
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (coarsely ground)
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds toasted
- scallion chopped for garnish, greens
Instructions
- Drain the tofu on a wire rack for at least one hour.
- Set the tofu on a few layers of paper towels and cut it into 9 cubes. Sprinkle them evenly on all sides with the salt.
- Grate the ginger into a pan and then gather up the pulp and squeeze out as much juice as you can into the pan. Discard the pulp.
- Add the grated garlic, mirin, soy sauce, and black pepper to the pan. Bring the mixture to a boil and continue boiling until the sauce just starts to thicken and it no longer smells like alcohol (about a minute after it comes to a full boil). Transfer the sauce to a bowl and set aside.
- To fry the tofu, heat 2-inches of oil in a heavy-bottomed pot until it reaches 360 degrees F (180 C). Be sure to use a deep pot and don't fill it more than ½ way as the the moisture in the tofu will make the oil bubble a lot.
- Pat the tofu dry on all sides with fresh paper towels and carefully lower the tofu into the hot oil using tongs.
- Fry the tofu undisturbed for about 5-6 minutes or until you're able to pull the tofu away from the bottom of the pot without breaking it. Flip the tofu over and let it continue frying for another 5-6 minutes or until it's golden brown on all sides.
- Transfer the hot tofu straight into the bowl with the sauce and sprinkle on the sesame seeds. Toss to coat the tofu with glaze and then transfer the tofu to a serving plate.
- Garnish with more sesame seeds, black pepper, and chopped scallion greens.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
74kcal
(4%)
Carbohydrates
15g
(5%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Sodium
1378mg
(57%)
Potassium
79mg
(2%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
7g
(14%)
Vitamin A
3IU
(0%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
31mg
(3%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 74
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 74kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 15g | 5% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 1378mg | 57% |
| Potassium | 79mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 3IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 31mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.