Salt and Chilli Tofu

Salt and Chilli Tofu (Salt and Pepper Tofu) is a dish of tofu pieces that are fried until crispy and then sprinkled with a mixture of salt, pepper, and other spices which gives a spicy and savory taste. With a crunchy texture on the outside but soft on the inside, this tofu is one of your favorite choices for a delicious vegetarian dish full of flavor.

Are you bored with tofu dishes served as heavy meals? You can try making this dish because you can serve tofu as a snack. The name of this dish is Salt and Chilli Tofu. Making this dish is very easy. The preparation time is 10 minutes while the time to make it is 20 minutes. Doesn’t waste much time, right?

The main ingredients are tofu, cornstarch, all-purpose flour, and others. All ingredients are available in markets and supermarkets. The crispy outside of the tofu is complemented by various spices for a perfect combination. Serve this snack while relaxing with family or friends.

Overview of This Dish

This dish is popular and originates from Chinese cuisine. The main ingredient of this dish is of course tofu. Generally, this dish uses tofu which has a rather hard texture. This texture is important so that the tofu can be crispy when fried. Apart from tofu, other spices used include salt, pepper, chilies, onions, and others.

The way to cook this dish is to cut the tofu into cubes and remove the water from it. Once the tofu is dry, coat it with the seasoned dry ingredients. Fry the tofu until golden. Saute the spices until cooked and add the tofu. Some restaurants serve this dish by adding a sprinkling of sesame or fresh coriander leaves as decoration to add aroma and an attractive appearance. With a combination of crunchy texture, savory taste, and a spicy touch, this dish successfully pampers the taste buds and provides a satisfying culinary experience.

Tips for Cooking This Dish

Here are some tips for cooking this dish so that the results are crispy, tasty, and delicious.

Remove Water from the Tofu

Before cooking, it is very important to remove the water from the tofu so that it turns out crispier. To do this, wrap the tofu in a clean cloth or kitchen tissue, then press gently. If the tofu is dry, the results will be even crispier.

Make Sure the Oil is Hot

Use oil with a high smoke point such as vegetable oil to fry tofu. Make sure the oil is really hot before adding the tofu, around 180-190°C.

Fry in Small Amounts Gradually

Don’t put too much tofu at once into the hot oil. This will lower the temperature of the oil and prevent the tofu from being crispy. Fry in small batches so the tofu cooks evenly and remains crispy.

Drain Tofu Properly

After frying, drain the tofu on kitchen paper so that the excess oil can be absorbed, so the tofu is still crispy.

Mix Tofu and Spices

Saute the spices used first. Once the spices are cooked, immediately add the fried tofu and stir quickly so that the spices are mixed evenly. Don’t cook it for too long because you know it could lose its crunchiness.

The Texture of Salt and Chilli Tofu

Here is a detailed explanation of the texture of this dish that many people love.

Crispy on the Outside

Frying the tofu in hot oil until golden produces a very crispy, crunchy exterior. This process results from coating the tofu with cornstarch, which provides a thin but crunchy coating when fried. The crunch on the outside makes every bite satisfying.

Soft Inside

Even though the outside of the tofu is crispy, the inside is still soft, tender, and juicy. When you bite into the tofu it feels like it melts in your mouth, in contrast to the crunchy outside.

Seasonings That Stick to the Outside of Tofu

Quickly stir the tofu that has been coated in dry flour with a mixture of salt, pepper, and chili. These spices cling to the crunchy outer layer, adding dimension to the slightly gritty texture of the grains of salt and pepper.

Other Variants of Salt and Chilli Tofu

Here are some interesting variations that you can try to enrich the taste of this classic dish.

Mushroom Tofu

Add mushrooms such as shiitake that have been thinly sliced ​​and fried until crispy before stirring with the tofu. Mushrooms add a chewy texture and umami aroma that enriches the taste of the dish, providing a delicious balance of crunchy and savory.

Salted Egg Tofu

After the tofu is fried, stir it with the salted egg sauce that has been sauteed with a little butter and chili. It provides a savory, creamy, and slightly salty taste.

With Sweet Black Sauce

After frying the tofu, stir it with sweet soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a little palm sugar. This dish will have a layer of sweet and savory caramel. Serving this goes well with white rice or fried rice to balance the flavors.

The Uniqueness of This Dish

Here are some of the unique features that make this dish so interesting.

Quick and Easy to Set Up

This dish can be the perfect choice for a practical menu at home. You only need a few basic ingredients, such as tofu, garlic, chili, and pepper. With a relatively short cooking time, this dish is suitable for those who are busy but still want to enjoy delicious food.

Appetizing Savory and Spicy Taste

This dish has a rich taste with a combination of salt, pepper, and chili which creates a savory and spicy combination. This dish also provides complex flavors even though it uses simple spices.

Suitable for Various Events

With its delicious taste and attractive appearance, serving this dish is perfect for various occasions, be it a family lunch or a small party.

After knowing a little about this dish, you must try making it!

Ingredients of Salt and Chilli Tofu

• 5 tofu cut into small cubes: The main ingredient because its texture is soft on the inside but can become crispy on the outside when fried and also absorbs spices well.

Wet Batter

• ⅛ cup Cornstarch: Helps create a crispy layer on the outside of the tofu after frying.
• ⅛ cup All-purpose flour: Adds structure to the dough, helping to create a thicker, crispier coating. The combination with cornstarch produces the perfect texture.
• ⅛ tsp Salt: Gives a basic flavor to the dough, ensuring the tofu is not bland.
• ⅛ tsp Pepper: Gives a subtle warm spicy taste, adding dimension to the taste.
• ⅛ tsp Chicken stock powder: Adds a rich and deep savory taste, making tofu more delicious.
• ½ cup Water: To dissolve the dough ingredients into a liquid that is thick enough to coat the tofu well.
• 1 cup Tapioca flour for dry coating: To coat the tofu after it has been covered in wet dough. This gives a super crispy outer layer when fried, as tapioca flour can form a crispy crust.

Seasoning

• 4 tbsp Vegetable oil: To saute the spices so that the aroma and taste of the spices can absorb into the tofu.
• 6 Curly chilli red pepper: Gives a distinctive spicy taste which is the main characteristic of this dish. Additionally, chilies also add an attractive red color.
• 2 Garlic chopped: Gives a fragrant aroma and distinctive savory taste to dishes.
• 1 tbsp Green onions, thinly sliced: Adds a fresh and savory taste, and beautifies the appearance of the dish.
• ½ tsp Salt: Helps strengthen the flavor and balance the overall seasoning.
• ½ tsp Pepper: Gives an additional warm spicy taste to fried tofu.
• ½ tsp Chicken stock powder: Adds a savory taste to stir-fried seasonings.

How to Make Salt and Chilli Tofu

First, cut the tofu into bite-sized cubes or slices, depending on your preference.

In a shallow bowl or dish, combine the cornstarch, all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper, chicken stock powder, and water

Set aside another bowl of tapioca flour for dry coating.

Coat each piece with a light wet batter, then coat the tofu with the tapioca flour. This will help create a crispy golden exterior when fried.

Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add a little vegetable oil. When the oil is hot, carefully add the tofu pieces. Then, fry the tofu for 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden and crisp. Remove the tofu and drain on paper towels to remove any excess oil.

In another frying pan, heat a little more oil and sauté the chopped garlic until fragrant. This will give the oil a savory base flavor. Then toss in the sliced curly chili peppers for a pop of color and spice. Add the seasoning and the thinly sliced green onions.

Next, toss in the fried tofu and stir-fry until the seasoning evenly coats it. Be careful not to break up the tofu pieces. You want each piece nicely coated in the flavorful, aromatic seasoning.

Serve immediately and enjoy your crispy, spicy Salt and Chilli Tofu!

Recipe Notes

Want more heat? Add extra chili flakes or fresh red chilies to up the heat.

Serve this tofu with steamed rice or a side of stir-fried vegetables for a complete meal!

Nutrient Content

The following is a description of the nutritional content of this dish.

Tofu

Rich in high-quality plant protein, making it an ideal protein source for vegetarians and vegans can help repair body tissue and build muscle. Additionally, it is rich in various minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus, which are important for healthy bones and other body functions. Other ingredients in tofu are B vitamins, especially riboflavin (B2) and niacin (B3) for energy metabolism.

Chilli

Using chilies in this dish provides a spicy taste and contains capsaicin, a compound that can help increase metabolism and has antioxidant effects. Chilies are also rich in vitamin C, which is useful for improving the immune system.

Pepper

Contains piperine which helps increase the production of digestive enzymes and speed up metabolism.

Serving Recommendations

Here are some recommendations for other dishes that are perfect to enjoy with this dish.

Cooked Rice or Fried Rice

Serve this dish often with warm, neutral cooked rice, so it can absorb the savory and spicy flavors of the tofu. This combination makes for a simple but satisfying main course. For another variation, Salt and Chilli Tofu can also be served with fried rice with vegetables and spices.

Fried Noodles or Boiled Noodles

Serving this spicy and savory fried tofu is also suitable with Chinese-style fried noodles or boiled noodles. You can add vegetables such as carrots, mustard greens, and bean sprouts to complete the dish.

Stir-fried Vegetables

To complete nutrition, serve Salt and Chilli Tofu with stir-fried vegetables such as broccoli, pak choy, or kale. This combination makes the dish healthier and more balanced with added fiber and vitamins.

Salt and Chilli Tofu is a simple but flavourful dish, suitable for both meat lovers and vegetarians. With a combination of crunchy texture, savory taste, and a spicy touch, this dish succeeds in providing a satisfying culinary experience. For those of you who want to try cooking at home, making this dish is not only easy but can also be made into various variations according to taste.

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