Crispy Tofu Bowls with Peanut Sauce
These Crispy Tofu Bowls with Peanut Sauce will convert you into a tofu lover! Loaded with fluffy rice, crunchy cucumbers, protein-packed edamame, and perfectly crispy tofu (air fryer or oven—you choose!), every bite is the perfect mix of textures. It's finished off with a drizzle of creamy peanut sauce for a vegan meal that's just as satisfying as it is nourishing!
Equipment
- dish towel
- tofu press or heavy object
- Air Fryer or baking sheet + parchment paper
- medium pot with lid
- small bowl
- spoon
Ingredients
For the Crispy Tofu:
- 1 block firm or extra firm tofu (14-16oz)*
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos or tamari, soy sauce**
- 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 tbsp arrowroot starch or cornstarch
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
For the Peanut Sauce:
- 3 tbsp smooth natural peanut butter (ingredients are just peanuts + salt)
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos **
- 1 tsp maple syrup or honey
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp sriracha (adjust to taste)
- juice from ½ lime
- 2-3 tbsp water as needed to thin
For the Bowls:
- ¾ cup dry white rice
- 1.5 cups water
- 1 cup shelled edamame thawed***
- ¾ large english cucumber diced
- chopped green onion
- sesame seed optional, for garnish
Instructions
- First, drain off excess liquid from the tofu package. Then, wrap it in a dish towel and place it on a cutting board with a heavy object (such as a cast iron pan) on top. If you have a tofu press, use that instead! Press the tofu for 30 minutes.1 block firm or extra firm tofu
- Then, turn the tofu on it's short side and cut it in half lengthwise. Then, place the block back on it's long side and cut it in an 8x6 grid, resulting in about 96 very small cubes (see video for reference).
- Add cubed tofu to a large bowl along with the coconut aminos and oil. Use your hands to gently toss until evenly coated. Then add the arrowroot starch, ginger and garlic and toss again.1 tbsp coconut aminos, 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp arrowroot starch, ¼ tsp ground ginger, ¼ tsp garlic powder
- For the Air Fryer Method: Add tofu to your air fryer tray or basket, making sure there's space between each cube. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to do this in two batches. Air fry at 400F for 15 minutes.
- For the Oven Method: Preheat your oven to 425 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread tofu out evenly on the baking sheet, making sure there's space between each cube. Bake for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Meanwhile, add water to a medium pot and bring it up to a boil. Then add rinsed rice and stir. Once it begins to boil again, cover the pot with a lid, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes.¾ cup dry white rice, 1.5 cups water
- Next, prepare the peanut sauce by mixing together all the ingredients in a small bowl. The texture will look funky at first, but keep stirring and it will become smooth. As the sauce sits, it starts to thicken up so feel free to add more water as needed to get it to a drizzle-able consistency.3 tbsp smooth natural peanut butter, 1 tbsp coconut aminos, 1 tsp maple syrup, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp sriracha, juice from ½ lime, 2-3 tbsp water
- Assemble your crispy tofu bowls starting with a bed of white rice, diced cucumber, edamame, crispy tofu, a drizzle of peanut sauce, chopped green onion and sesame seeds. Enjoy!1 cup shelled edamame, ¾ large english cucumber, chopped green onion, sesame seed
Video
Notes
*NOTE: You can also use an even firmer tofu (the kind that comes in a vacuum sealed package) and then you can skip the pressing. **NOTE: Coconut aminos are aa gluten free and soy free alternative to soy sauce and their flavor is a bit sweeter. You can substitute tamari or soy sauce in this recipe, but I'd recommend adding a bit more maple syrup/honey to the peanut sauce. ***NOTE: I typically buy shelled edamame from the freezer section of the grocery store and then cook/thaw it according to package instructions. Some stores, such as Trader Joe's, also sell it fresh.
Nutrition
Calories: 553kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 347mg | Potassium: 489mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 81IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 272mg | Iron: 4mg