Salt and Pepper Tofu
Crisp cubes of tofu tossed with chili, garlic, and toasted pepper.
Ingredients
- 400 g Firm tofu
- 4 tbsp Cornstarch
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 2 Scallions
- 3 Dried chilies
- 1 tsp White pepper
- 4 tbsp Neutral oil
- 1 tsp Salt
Method
- Press the tofu: wrap it in a towel, set a weighted plate on top, and let it drain.
- While the tofu presses, mince the garlic and dried chili and thinly slice the scallions.
- Cube the pressed tofu into bite-size pieces.
- Heat the neutral oil in a wok or skillet over medium-high until shimmering, about 175C/350F.
- While the oil heats, toss the cubed tofu in the cornstarch to coat it evenly.
- Shallow-fry the cornstarch-coated tofu in the hot oil until golden and crisp on all sides, turning as needed, then drain.
- Stir-fry the garlic, chili, and scallions briefly, then toss the tofu back in with the salt and white pepper.
- Pile onto a plate and serve hot.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Salt and Pepper Tofu
Salt and pepper tofu is the vegan cousin of the classic Cantonese salt and pepper shrimp, and it holds its own on texture alone. The key move is pressing the tofu first to drive out moisture, then coating the cubes in cornstarch and shallow-frying them until every side turns golden and genuinely crisp. Done right, the crust crackles while the inside stays soft and custardy, giving the same crunch-to-tender contrast that makes the seafood version so satisfying. Tossed with garlic, dried chili, scallions, and toasted white pepper, it delivers a savory, peppery, gently spicy bite.
White pepper is doing the heavy lifting here, lending that distinctive warm, slightly funky aroma that sets the salt-and-pepper family apart from ordinary fried tofu. Serve it hot as a shareable appetizer or snack, ideally with something cold to drink, or plate it over rice with a green vegetable for a full meal. Because the crispness fades as it sits, it's best eaten straight from the pan. Firm or extra-firm tofu is essential, since softer blocks won't survive the frying.
Salt and Pepper Tofu: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Salt and Pepper Tofu?
A serving has about 253 calories — 9.8g protein, 15.1g carbs, 18.1g fat, 2.2g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Salt and Pepper Tofu gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Salt and Pepper Tofu has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Salt and Pepper Tofu take to make?
About 25 minutes start to finish, but only around 19 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
How many servings does Salt and Pepper Tofu make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.