Sweet and Sticky Tofu. Tender tofu coated in a delicious sweet and sticky sauce made with simple ingredients! Ready in 30 minutes.
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This has become my most favourite way to eat tofu for dinner or lunch! It's so easy and the ingredients are minimal compared to other sticky tofu recipes. I love serving these sticky tofuĀ bites as a main dish with steamed rice and leafy greens, like bok choy!
What makes my version sticky is the blend of ketchup, honey, cornstarch, and water. The blending of the cornstarch and water is the key to getting a thick sticky sauce that will coat the tofu so it won't slide off.
I created this Asian-inspired tofu dish with my husband in mind as he really enjoys eating this plant-based ingredient. I love to experiment in the kitchen and after working with tofu for years, I thought it was time to create my version of this dish.
Ingredients
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.Ā
- Extra Firm Tofu: I wouldn't suggest substituting with firm or medium firm tofu.
- Cornstarch: or potato starch
- Salt
- Regular soy sauce:Ā or substitute with low sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce.Ā If youāre gluten-free, substitute with tamari sauce, coconut aminos or a gluten-free soy sauce of your choice.Ā
- Honey: or substitute with maple syrup
- Sesame oil
- Cold water
- Ketchup
- Sesame seeds: optional garnish
- Neutral oil:Ā like avocado oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or canola oil with a high smoke point. Avoid olive oil or any heavy scented oils with a low smoke point.
Expert Tips
- Be gentle in working with tofu even if it's extra-firm
- Be patient when browning the tofu on all sides.
How to make Sweet and Sticky Tofu
Prepare Tofu
Slice extra-firm tofu into long bite size pieces. Pat them dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
Coat Tofu
In a small bowl, mix together only 3 tablespoon of cornstarch (reserving 1 tablespoon for later) and salt. Evenly coat tofu pieces in the cornstarch mixture ensuring no bald spots. This will make the tofu more crispy.
Make Sauce
In a small bowl, combine regular soy sauce, ketchup, honey, cold water and 1 tablespoon cornstarch until well combined. Set aside.
Pan-Fry Tofu
Then in a non-stick large pan set over medium-high heat, add vegetable oil. Pan-fry tofu until crispy and golden brown on all sides, 10-15 minutes in total.
Add Sauce
Reduce to low heat. Then pour in sauce and gently toss with tofu. Once each tofu piece is coated in the thickened sauce, remove off heat.
Garnish
Garnish with sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Storage & Reheating
Leftovers will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, microwave for 2-3 minutes until hot or reheat in a pan on medium heat.
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š Recipe
Quick & Easy Sweet and Sticky Tofu
Ingredients
- 1 lb extra firm tofu strained of liquids
- Ā¼ cup cornstarch or potato starch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon regular soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon honey or substitute with maple syrup if you want to make this vegan
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Ā¼ cup water cold
- 2 tablespoon ketchup
- 3 tablespoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil
Instructions
- Slice extra-firm tofu into long bite size pieces. Pat them dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- In a small bowl, mix together only 3 tablespoon of cornstarch (reserving 1 tablespoon for later) and salt. Evenly coat tofu pieces in the cornstarch mixture ensuring no bald spots. This will make the tofu more crispy.
- In a small bowl, combine regular soy sauce, ketchup, honey, cold water and 1 tablespoon cornstarch until well combined. Set aside.
- Then in a non-stick large pan set over medium-high heat, add vegetable oil. Pan-fry tofu until crispy and golden brown on all sides, 10-15 minutes in total.
- Reduce to low heat. Then pour in sauce and gently toss with tofu. Once each tofu piece is coated in the thickened sauce, remove off heat.
- Garnish with sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Lynn
This was absolutely delicious! My husband was not a big tofu fan and he asked me to make this again. I added steamed veggies. I left out the oil and served with jasmine rice.
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe Lynn! I appreciate it and your kind comment. Glad it was well enjoyed by your husband š
Johanna
I'm trying to cook more tofu but am not it's biggest fan. This recipe however is totally delicious and now my go to tofu dinner. I love it. And, it's super easy to prepare and cook which makes it even better! Thank you so much.
christieathome
Happy to read this kind review and glad I could make tofu taste delicious for you! Thanks for making my recipe!
Diane K
Well this was just delicious! I had leftover tofu from dinner the night before, so I just reheated that in a pan till crispy and hot. I did swap the honey for maple syrup to keep it vegan. I may never eat tofu without this sauce again.
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe Diane, so glad you enjoyed it!
Lauren
OMG this was so good - I followed your recipe exactly but added a little chili garlic sauce for heat. Delicious. Will be a go to recipe for now on.
christieathome
Awww that makes me so happy to read. Thank you so much for making my recipe Lauren! I'm glad you enjoyed it and that chili garlic sauce is a great idea.
Martin E
Made this for dinner tonight and it was amazing! The hardest part was frying the tofu. The sauce was super easy. Iām not sure if it did anything to change the intended taste but I used olive oil instead of avocado.
christieathome
Thank you so much Martin! I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe! I found it was easiest to cook the medium firm tofu on a non-stick pan so it flips over without getting stuck to the pan. But feel free to use extra firm tofu to make it easier š
Martin E.
Just to explain my comment above, when I said "the hardest thing was frying the tofu," I meant that the recipe is super easy! š The frying part was totally easy. I just wish I had more stove space so I could have more than one pan going so I could get to the eating part faster LOL. I did use extra firm tofu, so yeah, it was easy to work with. Also, I am making this again tonight because this recipe was that good! š
christieathome
Ahhh gotcha! So glad you liked it! I find that's always the hardest part too - controlling myself from wanting to eat the food as it's cooking LOL! I hope you enjoy having it again tonight. Thanks Martin!
Sue
Made this tonight. Family liked it. I did double the sauce. Glad the prep was short and sweet (and yummy)!
christieathome
So glad you and the family enjoyed it Sue! Thanks for making my recipe! š
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs
This homemade sticky sauce looks so mouthwatering!! I love tofu and know I will just devour this!! Thanks for another great recipe Christie!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
I love your tasty good homemade honey soy sauce... and that crunchy texture is so perfect. Using a quality tofu really makes all the difference. Yum!!
Leanne
Iām always looking for new ways to try tofu and this sweet and sticky version sounds like just the recipe I need to make next! Thanks for the inspo Christie!
Sherri
As a huge tofu lover, I am definitely going to have to give this a try! I can literally eat tofu for breakfast, lunch and dinner lol! Love this recipe! š