Easy Crispy Sesame Tofu – Gluten-Free + Vegan Option

Crispy Sesame Tofu is a simple Asian-inspired vegetarian dish is sticky, saucy, and tastes better than takeout. Crispy pan-fried tofu is covered in a soy, honey, and sweet Thai chili sauce, then topped with sesame seeds. You can make this recipe in 30 minutes.

Close up shot of the Sticky, crispy sesame tofu on a white plate with white rice.

Easy Crispy Sesame Tofu (30-Min Better Than Takeout)

Tofu is the most versatile protein! You can add this flavor-absorbing protein to any cuisine.

This Sesame Tofu is my favorite Asian-inspired tofu recipe, with super crispy tofu covered in a sweet-and-savory sauce made with honey, gluten-free soy sauce, and sweet Thai chili sauce.

Serve this simple main dish over fluffy white rice to make the most of the delicious sauce. You’ll want to smother your veggies in it, too!

Add this yummy vegan recipe to your monthly meal planning to skip the takeout. Your family won’t believe you made this at home!

Overhead shot of a plate of sticky, crispy sesame tofu with white rice and easy crispy sesame tofu in pan

INGREDIENTS IN GLUTEN-FREE, CRISPY SESAME TOFU

Tofu: I use extra-firm tofu for the crispiest pan-fried tofu! Make sure you press it well before dicing and frying it. I like to use EZ Tofu Press.

Sesame oil: I love this nutty oil! It makes a super crispy tofu with a light flavor, too.

Gluten-free soy sauce: You can use regular soy sauce, too, but I like to keep my dishes gluten-free when I can.

Honey: Swap maple syrup for it if you’re looking for a vegan sesame tofu recipe. You need a little sugar for the sticky sauce.

Sweet Thai chili sauce: Bring a little heat to the yummy honey-soy sauce with a touch of chili sauce. You won’t regret it!

Rice wine vinegar: For the most balanced sauce, you need a touch of acid, too. Rice wine vinegar brings a delicate flavor with that tang, too.

Cornstarch: To get your sauce perfectly thickened, you’ll need just a touch of cornstarch. It helps the sauce cling to the fried tofu bites.

Green onions: There’s no better garnish than green onions! They’re colorful, crunchy, and add a great light oniony flavor to the mix.

Sesame seeds: I love the little pop of sesame seeds as I eat them. They also pair well with the sesame oil, obviously, since they’re related!

Rice: I like to serve this over fluffy white rice, but you could use brown rice, black rice, or even quinoa if you’d rather! Just cook as you normally would.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below, and I will get back to you ASAP!

Collage of steps to make pan-fried sesame tofu with an Asian-inspired sticky sauce

HOW TO MAKE SESAME TOFU

After pressing the tofu with your EZ Tofu Press, dice the extra-firm tofu and sauté the cubes in sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat.
While the tofu is frying, whisk together the gluten-free soy sauce, honey, sweet Thai chili sauce, rice wine vinegar, and cornstarch.
Once the tofu is golden brown on all sides, add the honey soy sauce and increase the heat. Keep stirring!
When it starts to boil, remove it from the heat and stir for a few more seconds until the bubbling stops. Serve the tofu and yummy, sticky sauce over white rice, garnished with green onion and sesame seeds.

These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below.

WHY DOES THE CRISPY SESAME TOFU RECIPE WORK?

There are three items that are a must when working with tofu to get the ultimate crisp and flavor.

First, you must press the tofu block. Even if the block says “extra firm,” you must press it to squeeze out any liquid that could make it squishy. No matter how you are preparing – baking, frying, air-frying- the liquid must be pressed out prior to preparing the tofu. Otherwise, you could end up with a glob of tofu in a pan.

Second, cornstarch is a must. Adding a dash of cornstarch prior to cooking gives tofu structure. Coating the cut squares of tofu can prevent them from sticking to the pan. It is not 100%, but it helps.

Third, the sticky tofu sauce is what makes the sesame tofu recipe so good. It is sweet and sticky, all combined. The sauce is my favorite part of the recipe. This recipe could change with just the sauce; try Orange Tofu or BBQ Tofu. The sauce makes the dish!

Overhead shot of sauced crispy tofu over white rice with sesame seeds and green onions on top.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH CRISPY SESAME TOFU

If you don’t want to make white rice, spice it up with this simple air fryer fried rice! There’s no better Asian-inspired side dish packed with veggies and flavor.

You don’t need hibachi dinners to have edamame! Enjoy this classic appetizer before or during dinner. You’ll love it and the nutritional value, too!

If you’re not a broccoli fan, try crispy Air-fryer Brussels sprouts or Air-fryer green beans on the side. They go great with this sweet-and-savory sauce and add some green to the mix.

Throw your favorite frozen egg rolls in the air fryer while you’re cooking the tofu.

HOW TO PRESS TOFU

I love tofu. It’s such a versatile protein and so easy to make!

I’ve been obsessed with the EZ Tofu Press for years. It gives me perfectly pressed tofu every time while I finish prepping other ingredients.

vertical photo of the new improved EZ Tofu Press design.

To press extra-firm tofu,

Place the tofu block between the press plates
Tighten the knob.
Every 3 to 4 minutes, tighten the knob again. I usually do 3 to 4 rounds of tightening before it’s done.
As you tighten, the excess moisture will vanish, leaving you with perfectly firm. Forget the soggy squares!
Dice tofu into perfect squares.

HOW TO GET CRISPY TOFU EVERY TIME WITH CORNSTARCH

Pressing Tofu for 10 to 15 minutes removes excess moisture.
Creates a dry coating – Tofu holds a lot of moisture. When you toss it in cornstarch, it forms a thin, dry layer on the outside. That coating helps absorb surface moisture so the tofu can actually crisp instead of steaming.
Forms a crunchy crust – when heated (especially when frying or baking), cornstarch gelatinizes and then dries out into a light, crackly shell. That’s what gives you that golden, crispy exterior.
Prevents sticking – cornstarch acts as a barrier between the tofu and the pan, reducing sticking and helping it brown more evenly.
Enhances browning – it helps create a more uniform surface, which means better contact with heat, thus, more consistent crispiness.
Never crowd the pan – it is better to fry in batches so the tofu has room to cook.

CAN I BAKE THE SESAME TOFU WITHOUT DEEP FRYING?

I love the crispy texture of pan-fried tofu in just a little oil. But you can totally opt for a hands-off option and bake it!

For a baked tofu version, toss the pressed tofu in sesame oil and spread it out on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet.

Bake it for about 30 minutes at 400 degrees F, flipping halfway through.

Make the sticky sesame sauce as directed and simmer it in a saucepan. You can add the tofu to the saucepan or pour the sauce over it to cover it, too!

You can also serve the sauce on the side this way for the best Asian-inspired dipping sauce for tofu, veggies, and anything on your plate.

A plate of sesame tofu with white rice and green onions next to a pot of more sauced tofu

COMMON MISTAKES

Soggy tofu (not pressed) – it cannot be emphasized enough that you must press the tofu prior to cooking/baking.
Sauce too thin – the sauce should be sticky and thick enough to coat. If your sauce is too thin, you may need to add a touch more cornstarch.
Flipping too early – each side of the tofu needs to have a good crust. If you flip it and it does not turn golden brown, the tofu needs more time.
Low heat – check your stove for temperatures. If you have it too low, then it will take too long to pan-fry.

MORE YUMMY ASIAN RECIPES

If you love this Sesame Tofu recipe, you’ll love the side-dish companion: air fryer honey sriracha cauliflower! This saucy cauliflower is crisped in the air fryer and perfectly spicy and sweet.

It’s just as yummy as this simple honey sriracha tofu with a little broccoli and white rice.

Warm up with a big bowl of Instant Pot ramen. Add all your favorite veggies and garnishes so everyone’s happy.

Skip the delivery tonight and make this General Tso tofu takeout fakeout in less than half an hour! You’ll be done before you can say Uber Eats.

Sauced, crispy sesame tofu on a white plate with fluffy rice, green onions, and sesame seeds with overlay text

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