Salt and Pepper Tofu (EXTRA CRISPY!)

Salt and Pepper Tofu is a classic popular recipe that is super addicting and easy to make at home.

My Salt and Pepper Tofu is FAIL-PROOF, and I also have a few secret tips for extra crispy tofu, plus my homemade savory pepper seasoning. T

his recipe is one of my favorite ways to enjoy tofu and is always a crowd-pleaser.

Salt and Pepper Tofu takes less than 30 minutes to make and is a perfect weeknight dinner with simple-to-find ingredients. 

Whenever I go to eat DimSum, I ALWAYS order Salt and Pepper Tofu.

There are so many different variations, and every restaurant has its take on the seasoning mix.

There is the Taiwanese version (a little sweeter), the Chinese Sichuan version (more numbing), and also a classic HK Style version (salt and white pepper). 

I love all the variations, so my homemade Salt and Pepper Tofu versions combine all three. 

The key to making EXTRA CRISPY Salt and Pepper Tofu is letting the tofu rest in salt water for at least 10 minutes.

Not only does this help draw out the water, which makes the tofu crispy, the salt also seasons the tofu as well.

Salt and Pepper Tofu have a distinct texture where it is crispy on the outside but still juicy and soft on the inside.

Letting it rest in saltwater and then coated with rice flour helps replicate the Tofu texture you find at restaurants. 

Even though it is called Salt and Pepper Tofu, many other spices make up the seasoning powder.

I use white pepper, salt, ground Sichuan pepper, garlic powder, ground chili, and mushroom powder.

If you never tried white pepper before, it is a staple ingredient in Asian cuisine. White pepper is more spicy compare to black pepper, so a little goes a long way!

Another essential ingredient is a mushroom powder; I am using LKK Mushroom Powder which contains MSG, to give you the restaurant-style quality. But you can also grind up dehydrated shiitake mushroom for natural MSG flavors. 

Do you want more Vegetarian Recipes? Here are some of my favorite Vegetarian Recipes that are super easy to make at home! 

• Vegetarian Dumplings (EASY & Healthy!)
• Taiwanese Popcorn Mushroom (CRISPY & JUICY!)
• Egg Fried Rice (Better Than Takeout!)
• Vegetarian Spring Rolls (CRISPY!)

Ingredients 

• 14 ounces of Medium Firm or firm Tofu (cut into cubes) 
• 1 tbsp of Salt 
• 2 cups of Water 
• 1.5 cups of Tapioca Starch

Seasoning Powder: 

• ¾ tsp of salt 
• ½ tsp of garlic powder
• 1 tsp of white pepper 
• ½ tsp of ground Sichuan peppercorn 
• 1 tsp of mushroom powder 
• ¼ tsp of ground chili 

Rest of the dish: 

• 6 cloves of garlic (minced) 
• 3 red chili (chopped) 
• 2 green onion (chopped) 

1. Cut tofu into bite-sized pieces. Soak the tofu in 1 tbsp of salt and 2 cups of water. Make sure all the tofu is soaked in the water for at least 10 minutes.
2. Gently pat dry the tofu, and coat the tofu in tapioca starch. Let the tofu rest in the tapioca starch for 5 minutes while you heat the oil. 
3. In a pan, add in oil, turn the heat up to medium-high. Add tofu once the oil is hot and let it fry for 3-4 minutes until crispy and golden brown. 
4. Remove and set aside, optional but highly recommended, turn the heat up to high, and double fry in high heat for another 1-2 minutes to make it EXTRA crispy!
5. Mix all the ingredients for the seasoning mix – salt, white pepper, garlic powder, Sichuan peppercorn, mushroom powder, and ground chili. 
6. In a pan, drizzle in oil and add in minced garlic, chopped red chili, and green onion. Saute together for 2-3 minutes. 
7. Add in crispy tofu, season with seasoning salt, and toss in high heat for 30 seconds. 

Print

Salt and Pepper Tofu

Salt and Pepper Tofu is a classic popular recipe that is super addicting and easy to make at home. My Salt and Pepper Tofu is FAIL-PROOF, and I also have a few secret tips for extra crispy tofu, plus my homemade savory pepper seasoning. This recipe is one of my favorite ways to enjoy tofu and is always a crowd-pleaser. Salt and Pepper Tofu takes less than 30 minutes to make and is a perfect weeknight dinner with simple-to-find ingredients.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Active Time20 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American, Asian, Chinese, Taiwanese

Keyword: Asian Food, Asian Recipes, Chinese american food, Chinese Food, Easy, Easy Recipes, Fried Tofu, GARLIC RECIPE, gluten free, Night market, QUICK RECIPES, Street Food, Taiwanese Food, Taiwanese Recipes, take out, Tofu, VEGETARIAN, Vegetarian Recipes

Yield: 4 People

Materials

• 14 ounces of Medium Firm or firm Tofu cut into cubes
• 1 tbsp of Salt
• 2 cups of Water
• 1.5 cups of Tapioca Starch

Seasoning Powder:

• ¾ tsp of salt
• ½ tsp of garlic powder
• 1 tsp of white pepper
• ½ tsp of ground Sichuan peppercorn
• 1 tsp of mushroom powder
• ¼ tsp of ground chili

Rest of the dish:

• 6 cloves of garlic minced
• 3 red chili chopped
• 2 green onion chopped

Instructions

• Cut tofu into bite-sized pieces. Soak the tofu in 1 tbsp of salt and 2 cups of water. Make sure all the tofu is soaked in the water for at least 10 minutes.
• Gently pat dry the tofu, and coat the tofu in tapioca starch. Let the tofu rest in the tapioca starch for 5 minutes while you heat the oil.
• In a pan, add in oil, turn the heat up to medium-high. Add tofu once the oil is hot and let it fry for 3-4 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
• Remove and set aside, optional but highly recommended, turn the heat up to high, and double fry in high heat for another 1-2 minutes to make it EXTRA crispy!
• Mix all the ingredients for the seasoning mix – salt, white pepper, garlic powder, Sichuan peppercorn, mushroom powder, and ground chili.
• In a pan, drizzle in oil and add in minced garlic, chopped red chili, and green onion. Saute together for 2-3 minutes.
• Add in crispy tofu, season with seasoning salt, and toss in high heat for 30 seconds.