Easy firecracker tofu is a vegan friendly recipe everyone will love. Tofu is marinated then fried and coated with a sweet and spicy firecracker sauce that’s utterly addicting and delicious!
If you’ve never tried firecracker tofu you’re going to love it. Firecracker tofu resembles firecracker chicken but made with tofu instead. We’ve been trying to cook with tofu more often. It’s incredibly versatile and healthy. In our home we’ve been trying to opt for a meatless meal once a week. By doing so we’re saying yes to less fat, cholesterol, and calories for dinner. So far we’ve been loving it. If you’re also enjoying a meatless meal once a week I highly recommend this spicy crispy tofu recipe.
We have been loving spicy tofu recipes. Firecracker tofu is the perfect balance between spicy and sweet. It's a vegan tofu dish that everyone will love. The tofu used in this firecracker tofu recipe is pressed then marinated overnight in part of the firecracker sauce.
If you’re not marinating your tofu you’re missing out on a ton of flavor because tofu absorbs just about anything it sits in. Then the tofu is coated in a batter then fried until crispy and golden on the outside and soft on the inside. The tofu is then finished with a sweet and spicy firecracker sauce. It is so amazing you’re going to want seconds! The heat level for this meal is moderate so if you have kids with sensitive palates this may not be for them.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Firecracker Tofu Recipe
- What Is Firecracker Tofu?
- What You'll Need to Make Firecracker Tofu
- Is This Firecracker Tofu Vegan?
- How to Make Firecracker Tofu
- How To Press Tofu
- Is Firecracker Tofu Healthy?
- Tips and Tricks to Make The Best Firecracker Tofu
- Try These Other Tofu Recipes
- Delicious Firecracker Tofu
Why You'll Love This Firecracker Tofu Recipe
- the firecracker tofu is incredibly easy to make. There’s not much to it, simply prep the tofu, marinate, fry, then top with the delicious sauce
- Actual cook time for the recipe is less than 30 minutes after the tofu has been pressed and marinated.
- The firecracker sauce and tofu batter are made with ingredients you probably already have on hand which makes grocery shopping a breeze. Don’t worry about buying obscure ingredients you’ll never use again with this recipe.
- Firecracker tofu is completely vegan which means less fat, no cholesterol, and less calories than meat.
What Is Firecracker Tofu?
Firecracker tofu is an adaptation to firecracker chicken. Some people commonly refer to it as vegan firecracker chicken. It’s also served at a widely known Asian kitchen called Pei Wei. This recipe resembles the pei wei tofu recipe so if you love that you're in for a treat. Firecracker sauce has bold flavor and is made with only a few ingredients. The most common ingredients to make the sauce are hot sauce such as sriracha, brown sugar, soy sauce, and garlic.
Some other variations of the sauce may include adding sesame oil, ginger, garlic, buffalo hot sauce, and hot pepper flake for added heat. I’ve personally made this with buffalo wing sauce and it has turned out amazing. The reason why I love this option is because the wing sauce includes garlic and butter which adds amazing flavor!
The sweet and spicy tofu sauce is very versatile and can be used as a glaze, marinade, stir fry sauce or a dip for your favorite meats or veggies. The sauce can be refrigerated or frozen for later use so if you end up having left overs consider storing using one of these options!
What You'll Need to Make Firecracker Tofu
For The Tofu
- Oil - for frying
- 1 block extra firm tofu - there are a lot of different types of tofu to choose from but I find that extra firm or super firm do a great job and resemble meat the most.
For The Firecracker Sauce
- Hot Sauce - such as sriracha or buffalo wing sauce. I have made it with both and both ways taste great. Consider using your favorite hot sauce in this recipe.
- Brown Sugar - make the sauce sweet, balances the spice, and adds a nice caramelized flavor to the fried tofu
- Soy sauce - balances the sweetness and adds umami to the sauce
- Garlic powder - because who doesn't love some garlic?
- Oil
Tofu Batter
- Cornstarch and flour - this is what makes the tofu nice and crispy on the outside as it fries. The cornstarch provides a lightness to the batter that makes it so good.
- Salt and pepper - to season the batter
Is This Firecracker Tofu Vegan?
So you may be wondering if the firecracker tofu is vegan. Yes it is, however, it all depends on the hot sauce you use. If you're using sriracha then it’s 100% vegan. On the other hand if you’re opting for a buffalo wing sauce it will not be vegan because of the butter. Most hot sauces are vegan but be sure to read the ingredients list if you're not sure.
How to Make Firecracker Tofu
Step 1. In a small bowl whisk together the hot sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic powder, and oil until smooth. Separate half of the sauce and place in another bowl.
Step 2. Place the pressed and chopped tofu into a small bowl and stir to coat with the sauce. Marinate in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Reserve the second bowl of firecracker sauce for later.
Step 3. In a separate bowl add the cornstarch, flour, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Once the tofu is done marinating add to the bowl with the flour mixture. Mix until all the tofu pieces are coated on all sides. Work in batches if needed.
Step 4. In a large skillet over medium heat add enough oil for frying, about ½ inch on all sides of the skillet. Once heated add the tofu working in batches making sure none touch. Fry for about 3-4 minutes on all sides and flip once golden.
Step 5. Place the fried crispy tofu on a cooling rack and let cool. Once cooled add the tofu to the second bowl with firecracker sauce and coat all the fried tofu pieces with the sauce. Serve immediately with broccoli and or rice.
How To Press Tofu
Pressing tofu is simply applying a weight to the tofu to squeeze the excess water from the block. I typically place the tofu on a plate then I put another plate on top of the tofu. Then, I top the plate with fresh fruit or 1-2 canned vegetables. Let the tofu sit for at least 30 minutes. Drain the excess water and pat with paper towels.
Be careful not to press the tofu with too much weight. This could cause the tofu to be crushed making it very difficult to slice into blocks. It may also crumble. I recommend using less pressure for firm tofu vs extra firm since it may not hold up the same way.
So why is it necessary to press tofu? A firmer, drier tofu absorbs flavor a lot more readily than if it wasn’t pressed. Not pressing the tofu will also lead to an undesirable texture and it won’t get crispy the way you want it to for this recipe.
Is Firecracker Tofu Healthy?
So is this firecracker tofu healthy? Well it depends. When you're comparing the firecracker tofu to the chicken alternative, I would say it might be a little healthier. This meatless option has more fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and folate than chicken and it also has fewer calories. Tofu is also low in saturated fat and contains no cholesterol. When choosing tofu I highly recommend going for an organic brand.
When it comes to the overall meal, there are ways to make it healthier. Frying anything is not the most healthy way to prep because of all the calories you get from the oil. However, you can still fry without all the foil by baking the tofu instead.
To do this preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cover the pressed, chopped tofu in the flour mixture and place on the baking dish. Bake for 25-30 minutes flipping the tofu half way until golden on all sides. There you have it, baked firecracker tofu. Simply add the firecracker sauce to the tofu and serve immediately.
Tips and Tricks to Make The Best Firecracker Tofu
- Make sure the oil in the pan is completely heated before adding the tofu or else you'll have greasy and oily tofu.
- Placing the tofu on a cooling rack after it's been fried will make a difference. It allows the tofu to crisp up as it cools instead of sitting in the grease. If you don't have a cooling rack you can place the tofu on a place with paper towels to soak up any excess oil.
- Use a hot sauce that you love and add red pepper flakes to take it up a notch. This recipe is versatile so make it your own!
Try These Other Tofu Recipes
Delicious Firecracker Tofu
Ingredients
- Oil for frying
- 1 block of extra firm tofu pressed and chopped into bite sized pieces
Firecracker Sauce
- ½ cup hot sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon oil
Tofu Batter
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons flour
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk together the hot sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic powder, and oil until smooth. Separate half of the sauce and place in another bowl.
- Place the pressed and chopped tofu into a small bowl and stir to coat with the sauce. Marinate in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Reserve the second bowl of firecracker sauce for later.
- In a separate bowl add the cornstarch, flour, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Once the tofu is done marinating add to the bowl with the flour mixture. Mix until all the tofu pieces are coated on all sides. Work in batches if needed.
- In a large skillet add enough oil for frying, about ½ inch on all sides of the skillet. Heat over medium heat. Once heated add the tofu working in batches making sure none touch. Fry for about 3-4 minutes on all sides and flip once golden.
- Place the fried tofu on a cooling rack and let cool. Once cooled add the tofu to the second bowl with firecracker sauce and coat all the fried tofu pieces with the sauce. Serve immediately with broccoli and or rice.
Foodluv says
FIRECRACKER receipe is easy to make and quick, Its really good to have as snacks
Cathy says
Can the firecracker tofu be airfried?
Kate says
Yes! I suggest air frying at 375 for 10-15 minutes. Spray or toss with oil to get a nice crispy coating.