Tofu Steak in Garlic sauce. Beautiful and crispy from the outside, and buttery soft from the inside, these tofu steaks are super saucy and flavorful. In addition, fragrant garlic sauce with a hint of spice takes this beautiful dish to the next level. This dish is also vegan and super easy to make. I love garlic and try to explore more flavor combinations to enhance the flavor. Garlic always makes any type of dish more flavorful. It’s super fragrant and makes any dressing or sauce just irresistible. In short, magic happens when you use garlic in the kitchen. In addition, tofu is a staple in my kitchen, and I love to cook with it. It’s super quick and easy to make, a fantastic source of protein for vegans and vegetarians like us, and affordable. I use organic super firm tofu, readily available in all the big superstores. Tofu does not have its taste, and it’s super absorbent. Hence, I love how it absorbs sauce or flavor, making the dish super delicious. For me, it’s a comfort dish when paired with sticky jasmine rice. I love to enjoy tofu which has the perfect combination of spicy, sweet, and umami flavors.
How to Prepare Tofu for this Dish-
Well, that depends on your preference. I love to coat tofu with cornstarch/cornflour dusting. Remember, it should be thin and in a meager amount. Shake off all the excess flour before deep frying, air frying, or baking. Many people prefer to use tofu without it. Feel free to use it after pressing it under the tofu press or with a thick paper towel. I love the texture of fried or air-fried tofu. It’s crispy from the outside and has a melt-in-the-mouth texture from the inside. You should try this dish if you have not tried making crispy tofu.
Why Tofu Steak?
Here I have sliced the tofu into long strips. However, you can always use your shape and preference. Tofu steaks look pretty; that’s it. I wanted them to look like a beautiful vegan alternative to steak for my readers, hence the shape.
How to Deep Fry Tofu-
Heat a pan/wok over high heat. I use avocado oil for my deep frying needs, but you can use any oil you choose. I will suggest using some neutral oil which is suitable for frying. Always add tofu when your oil is hot enough; that way, the tofu does not absorb much oil. In addition, do not overcrowd the pan and wok. Leave tofu pieces in the oil for 3-4 minutes and remove them onto a paper towel after they turn golden. Shallow frying involves flipping them, and so does air frying. Air fry them at 400 f after spraying them with oil. It will take around 4-5 minutes for very crispy and 2-3 minutes for the moderately crisp outer skin. However, your time can vary depending on your tofu pieces and air fryer.
How to Make the Garlic Sauce-
This dish needs a fine chopping/mincing of ginger, garlic, green chili, and scallions. Most Asian dishes involve this base of aromatics, readily available in our pantry and fridge. Sauce preparation mainly involves two steps. The first step is constantly chopping all the aromatics and herbs; the second step is mixing all the sauces and condiments in a bowl. Whisk them and keep everything near the gas stove. This step ensures quick cooking, which is the key to making any good Asian dish. Heat the wok at a high temperature. Add oil; when it’s hot, add garlic, ginger, green chili, and scallion. Then, stir it for 30 seconds. Let them change their color. The oil will be fragrant by now. After that, add the sauce mix and cook it for one minute. Either drizzle this sauce over your crispy fried tofu or mix tofu and sauce in the wok. I prefer the latter one. This ensures that the tofu is simmered and has soaked all the flavor from the sauce, making the dish super delicious.
What to Serve With Tofu Steaks in Garlic Sauce-
You can eat this by itself or serve it with some sticky rice. Basmati rice or brown rice can be done too. To avoid carbs, you can perform this with steamed or stir-fried vegetables. You can help them with Veg Thai Fried Rice as well. You may also want to check out these other tofu dishes of mine, which are pretty popular among readers- Mongolian Tofu Stir Fry Tofu Stir Fry Tofu with Sichuan PepperCorn and Chili
