Description
This Easy Honey Garlic Tofu is a quick, flavorful plant-based dish featuring crispy baked tofu coated in a sweet and savory sesame garlic glaze. It’s perfect served with rice and vegetables for a wholesome, satisfying meal ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- For the Tofu:
- 1 block firm or extra firm tofu
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil (or neutral cooking oil)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- For the Honey Garlic Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 3–4 large cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup/agave for vegan)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 teaspoon water (slurry)
- Optional Garnish:
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped green onion
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut tofu into ½–1 inch cubes. Wrap in paper towels and press gently to remove excess moisture.
- Place tofu in a mixing bowl, drizzle with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
- Sprinkle cornstarch over tofu and toss again until evenly coated.
- Arrange tofu on the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- While tofu bakes, heat sesame oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Sauté garlic for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Add cornstarch slurry and bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly until thickened (30–60 seconds). Remove from heat.
- Transfer baked tofu to a large bowl and pour sauce over it. Toss gently to coat.
- Serve immediately over rice or grains with steamed or roasted vegetables. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions if desired.
Notes
- Use tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten-free version.
- Swap honey for maple syrup or agave to make it vegan.
- For extra crispiness, air fry or pan-fry the tofu instead of baking.
- Keep tofu and sauce separate during storage to maintain texture.
- Great with rice, quinoa, or alongside roasted vegetables like broccoli or bok choy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/3 of recipe)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
