This fried silken tofu / soft tofu is easy to prepare in just 15 minutes. It boasts a golden, crispy panko exterior and a velvety, melt-in-your-mouth tofu interior.
A perfect choice as an appetizer or a side dish to serve with rice.
What is Silken Tofu / Soft Tofu?
Silken tofu (sometimes called soft tofu) is that ultra-smooth, custardy kind of tofu made from soybeans.
It has a jiggly, almost flan-like texture, and you’ll find it in all kinds of Asian dishes, from light desserts to comforting savory recipes. It’s also a wonderful option for anyone cooking vegetarian or vegan.
Because it holds a lot of moisture, silken tofu is incredibly delicate and breaks apart with the slightest touch – which is why frying it can feel almost impossible.
But don’t worry. With a little trick I picked up from Vietnamese home cooks, you can turn this wobbly, watery tofu into beautifully crispy fried silken tofu with a thin, crunchy crust. Much easier than you’d think!
If you love tofu, don’t miss my lemongrass tofu — it’s just as flavorful and every bit as addictive.
Ingredients for Fried Soft Tofu
- Soft / Silken Tofu: The star ingredient, offering a creamy interior against a crispy exterior.
- Flour and Water: Combine to create the adhesive wet batter for tofu and panko.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Known for their light, airy texture, they yield an irresistibly crispy crust.
- Seasonings: Elevate the flavor with mushroom powder and black pepper powder.
- Cooking Oil: Choose neutral options like vegetable or canola to allow flavors to shine.
Instructions
- Prepare Tofu: Carefully cut the soft tofu into 0.8-inch or 2cm cubes or slices
- Create Wet Batter: In a bowl, combine flour, water, and seasonings to make a wet batter.
- Coat Tofu: Dip the silken tofu pieces into the wet batter, ensuring they’re well coated, and then transfer them to the bowl of panko breadcrumbs. Make sure all sides of the tofu are covered with breadcrumbs. Repeat for all the tofu pieces.
- Heat Oil: In a pan, heat a generous amount of oil. The quantity of oil depends on whether you want to pan-fry or deep-fry the tofu.
- Fry Tofu: Fry the silken tofu until it turns golden and crispy. Flip the tofu pieces to ensure all sides become crispy.
- Serve: Serve the fried silken tofu with mayo-based dips.
Expert Tips
Cutting Tubed Soft Tofu:
If you’re working with soft tofu in a tube (the extra fragile kind), use a sharp knife to make a gentle cut across the middle. Then carefully slide or squeeze the tofu out so it keeps its shape.
Prevent Oil Splattering:
To avoid oil popping during frying, pat the tofu pieces thoroughly dry with kitchen paper before dipping them into the wet batter. Getting rid of excess moisture makes the whole process much calmer — and much cleaner.
Substitution:
No silken tofu? Egg tofu works wonderfully too and fries up just as nicely.
Serve:
Fried silken tofu is such a fun little appetizer or side dish — crispy outside, silky inside. For extra flavor, pair it with creamy sauces like Japanese Kewpie mayo, Japanese Aurora sauce (just ketchup mixed with mayo), or vegan mayo if you’re keeping the dish plant-based.
Easy Fried Silken Tofu (Soft Tofu)
Equipment
- 2 bowls
- 1 non-stick pan
Ingredients
- 1 tube silken tofu
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 4 tbsp water
- ½ tsp mushroom powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper powder
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Cooking oil
Instructions
- Gently cut the soft tofu into 0.8-inch or 2cm cubes or slices.
- Create a wet batter by combining flour, water, and seasonings in a bowl.
- Coat the silken tofu pieces thoroughly in the wet batter, then transfer them to the bowl of panko breadcrumbs, ensuring full coverage. Repeat for all tofu pieces.
- Heat a generous amount of oil in a pan, adjusting the quantity for your preference of pan-frying or deep-frying.
- Fry the silken tofu until it achieves a golden, crispy exterior, flipping the pieces to ensure even crispiness.
- Serve the fried silken tofu with a mayo-based dip such as Japanese Aurora Sauce (Mayo-Ketchup Sauce).
