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Better-Than-Takeout Crispy Sesame Tofu

July 8, 2024

Say goodbye to takeout and say hello to the perfect vegetarian recipe that comes together in under 40 minutes. This is my Better-Than-Takeout Crispy Sesame Tofu and comes together with perfectly baked tofu, sautéd green onions, and a thick, restaurant-style sauce. Serve it over rice or a bed of lettuce, and you’ve got the perfect weeknight dinner recipe!

Friends, have you seen my new series over on Instagram? Each week, I’ve been sharing a new way to use tofu in healthy and delicious recipes. While tofu may be a bit of a “controversial” ingredient to some people, I absolutely love it. It’s plant-based, packed with protein, and is SO versatile. You can use it in-place of meat in tacos, turn it into a scramble without the eggs, and even make it into a delicious, better-than-takeout dinner option.

This Crispy Sesame tofu is crispy, sweet, salty, and so delicious, even my meat-loving boys love it! The sauce is nice and thick, and paired with the crispy tofu and bright green onions? It’s truly the perfect combination. I promise, you’re going to love it!

A top-down view of a kitchen counter with ingredients for a recipe including two blocks of tofu, green onions, a knife, soy sauce, sesame seeds, a small bowl of oil, a glass of rice wine, a jug of sauce, and garlic cloves laid out on a wooden board and countertop. — To make this recipe, you’ll need hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, coconut aminos, water, toasted sesame oil, arrowroot starch, extra-firm tofu, avocado oil, green onions, and garlic.

A bowl filled with large chunks of tofu, some coated in white powder. A hand is seen adding a red paste to the tofu with a spoon. Other ingredients, including a knife, scallions, a bowl of sesame seeds, and garlic, are arranged around the bowl on a countertop. — To make this recipe, you’ll need hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, coconut aminos, water, toasted sesame oil, arrowroot starch, extra-firm tofu, avocado oil, green onions, and garlic.

What You Need to Make This Perfect Tofu Dish

Hoisin Sauce: Hoisin sauce is a thick and fragrant soy-based sauce that adds the best flavor to this recipe.
Rice Vinegar: Rice vinegar adds just the right amount of tang to the sauce. Don’t skip it!
Coconut Aminos or Low-Sodium Soy Sauce: If you want to keep this recipe gluten-free, you can use coconut aminos. Otherwise, low sodium soy sauce works great, in this recipe.
Water: A little water helps to thin the sauce so that it reaches the perfect consistency.
Toasted Sesame Oil: Sesame oil is packed with flavor, and really brings this sauce to life.
Arrowroot Starch or Corn Starch: A little arrowroot starch or corn starch helps to thicken the sauce, so it’s truly restaurant-style!
Extra-Firm Tofu: Of course, you’ll need tofu for this recipe! Extra-firm tofu is the key here, as it has less water content and will hold up while cooking.
Avocado Oil: Avocado oil is a neutral oil that is filled with healthy fats, making it the best option for cooking the tofu and green onions.
Green Onions: Fresh green onions add a bright and vibrant flavor to this tofu.
Garlic: I always recommend using fresh garlic, whenever possible. The flavor is truly unbeatable!

A top-down view of a kitchen workspace with ingredients for cooking. A bowl of sauce with sesame seeds is being whisked, surrounded by green onions, a bowl of tofu pieces, a block of tofu, a head of garlic, a knife, and other small bowls of ingredients. — Add the sauce ingredients to a small bowl or large measuring cup – the hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, coconut aminos, water, toasted sesame oil, and arrowroot starch – and stir to fully combine. The sauce should be thick! Set it aside once done.

How to Make This Better-Than-Takeout Vegetarian Dinner

To make this Crispy Sesame Tofu, start by preheating your oven to 425 F. Next, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. Add the sauce ingredients to a small bowl or large measuring cup – the hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, coconut aminos, water, toasted sesame oil, and arrowroot starch – and stir to fully combine. The sauce should be thick! Set it aside once done.

Next, prepare the tofu. Press the tofu block into a towel to squeeze as much water out of it as possible. Then, use your hands to break it up into chunks and add them to a bowl. Add the avocado oil, coconut aminos (or low-sodium soy sauce), and arrowroot starch (or corn starch) to the bowl with the tofu and toss until the tofu is fully coated. Next, transfer the tofu to the baking sheet and spread it out evenly, so that the pieces aren’t touching. This is important, otherwise they will stick together!

A close-up of a large skillet filled with tofu and green onions in a flavorful brown sauce. A small bowl of white rice is partially visible in the upper left corner, and a small pitcher containing more of the sauce is in the bottom right of the image. — Heat a pan on the stove and add in the green onions and garlic. Sauté them, then add in the baked tofu and the sauce and stir until the green onions and tofu are fully coated in the sauce.

A plate of white rice topped with glazed tofu pieces and green onions, sprinkled with sesame seeds. A fork rests on the plate. Surrounding the dish are bowls of white rice and sesame seeds, along with a glass of water and a brown napkin. — Heat a pan on the stove and add in the green onions and garlic. Sauté them, then add in the baked tofu and the sauce and stir until the green onions and tofu are fully coated in the sauce.

Bake the tofu for 30 minutes, flipping at the halfway point. Once the tofu is done, remove it from the oven and set it aside. Next, heat a pan, on the stove, over medium heat, and add in the avocado oil. Chop the green onions into larger pieces. Then, once the oil is hot, add the green onions in and sauté them for 2 minutes. Then, add in the mashed garlic and continue to stir it with the green onions, being careful that the garlic doesn’t burn.

Finally, add in the baked tofu and the sauce and stir until the green onions and tofu are fully coated in the sauce and the sauce has thickened – this should take about 2 minutes. Serve over rice or lettuce, then serve and enjoy!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim

Dairy Free/gluten-free/Grain Free/Nut Free/Refined Sugar Free/Vegan