This sticky, crispy Ginger Sesame Tofu is about to be your new weeknight hero, no marinating required! Extra-firm tofu gets cooked on the stovetop with a simple dredge and a sweet, gingery sesame glaze that comes together in just 20 minutes. It’s protein-packed, full of flavor, and perfect with rice and veggies.
Friends, I’m on a mission as a Registered Dietitian to make tofu taste AMAZING. And trust me, this recipe totally delivers.
If you’ve ever thought that tofu is boring, bland, or just not your thing, I promise this Ginger Sesame Tofu is about to change your mind.
And look, I’m no stranger to absolutely delicious tofu recipes (like, hello, have you tried my super popular 20-Minute Marry Me Tofu recipe?!)
But this one? It might be my new favorite.
Okay, I know I say that all the time, but it checks all the boxes for me. I’ve tested it multiple times to make sure it’s crispy, packed with sweet-salty-gingery flavor, and the best part?! No marinating required, but it’s still somehow SO flavorful.
It’s the kind of meal I make on repeat when I want something healthy, satisfying, and packed with a whopping 32 grams of plant-based protein per serving!
Love sticky-sweet, savory sauces but want to switch it up from tofu? You have to try my 15-Minute Sticky Sesame Chickpeas with Ginger! The same crave-worthy flavors, but even faster and totally pantry-friendly.
What Goes With Tofu? Basically Everything
Honestly, this ginger tofu tastes amazing with pretty much anything, but when I want something super fast, I love it paired with my quick and easy vegetables cooked from frozen and a grain like couscous or rice.
Let’s Sizzle Up Some Tofu!
To make this sesame tofu, we use the same method as my protein-packed Maple Glazed Tofu, which is another stovetop favorite.
It’s all about dredging the tofu in a simple batter, pan-frying it until crispy, then pouring over a delicious sesame-gingery sauce.
I’ve tested this recipe multiple times to make sure it’s foolproof and comes out perfectly every time. Seriously, it couldn’t be easier!
The Best 20-Minute Ginger Sesame Tofu
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Tofu
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 350 g extra firm tofu cut into 4 large rectangles
For the Dredge
- 3 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger minced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
For the Sauce
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp maple syrup can be subbed with brown sugar or honey
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar can be subbed with apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- Wrap the tofu in a paper towel and press gently to remove some of the excess water. Slice the tofu into 4 large rectangles.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, minced garlic, ground ginger, fresh ginger, salt and pepper. Coat the tofu pieces in the flour mixture on all sides.
- Heat a large pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Place the tofu pieces in the pan once it's warm and cook for 5 minutes on each side, or until lightly golden brown.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the sauce ingredients. Once the tofu has turned lightly golden brown on each side, pour the sauce into the pan over the tofu and reduce the heat to low.
- Let the sauce simmer in the pan for 3-4 minutes until it reduces, flipping the tofu half way through and coating in the sauce. Once the sauce has reduced and is completely coating the tofu, serve and enjoy!
We made this recipe last night; it was really great! We will definitely make it again. Looking forward to trying your other recipes. Take good care.
I’m so glad you liked it, Melissa! Thank you for letting me know 🙂