Korean Style Spiced Fried Tofu

I found a new favorite fish recipe that was quite delectable, and restaurant worthy when I was making an Asian feast for myself. It also was relatively frugal to make and not too much work to prepare. I wanted to make it for my family for supper but I have a son who doesn't eat fish, so I decided to see if I could recreate it with tofu.

Let's just say that it was a roaring success. I highly recommend this for anyone who is vegetarian, vegan, or just likes meat free meals. If I had to compare this and the fish version side by side, I'd say they are equally delicious. The only negative thing I have to say about this version is that the starch falls off more easily than on the fish. Not a big deal at all.

This Korean fried tofu probably isn't an authentic Korean recipe, but I can assure you that the flavors are diet is allergy friendly, with the only top 8 allergens it contains being soy. It's also gluten free, dairy free, egg free and easily corn free

Try it out. You won't regret it.

Korean Pan Fried Tofu Recipe - Gluten Free, Vegan, Allergy Friendly and Delicious

Ingredients

1 block of firm tofu
Potato starch or corn starch 
1/2 teaspoon salt
Oil for frying 
2 tablespoons oil
4 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 tablespoons gluten free soy sauce

1/2 cup water divided
1/4-1/3 cup sugar, coconut sugar, or sweetener of choice (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper flakes or to taste
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2-3 teaspoons potato or corn starch
2 green onions

Instructions:

1.  Cut your tofu into 1 cm thick slices.

2. Mix potato or corn starch with salt and dip your tofu in it so that it is completely coated. 

2. Heat up a layer of oil in a frying pan at least one centimeter deep on medium/high heat. 

3. Put your tofu in the hot oil completely flat, as many as can fit in your frying pan at a time without overlapping them. Do not move or disturb them until you can see the edges start to brown. This should take a few minutes.

4. Flip over your tofu to cook and get crispy on the other side. This can take as little as a minute, and feel free to check on it to see if it browned enough.

5. Mince or chop your garlic finely (I like using the smallest holes on my grater for this). 

6. In another pot, fry the garlic and your sesame seeds in 2 tablespoons oil until the garlic starts to get golden brown.

7. Add soy sauce, part of the water, sugar or a different sweetener, and sesame oil and bring to a boil.

8. Add the hot pepper flakes and adjust to taste.

9. Chop your scallions. 

10. Mix your starch with the rest of your water (feel free to use the starch that was left over from coating your tofu ) and pour it and the scallions into the pot. 

11. Mix, cooking until thick.

12. Dip your tofu piece by piece into the sauce, or brush the sauce onto your tofu with a silicon brush, coating both sides. If you like things extra flavorful you might want to double your sauce to have extra.

13. Serve hot. Works just as well as leftovers.

Enjoy!

What is your favorite way to prepare tofu? Does this look like a recipe you'd try?