Blackened Tofu with Ponzu Sauce
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Pan fried tofu glazed with a bright, citrus Ponzu sauce can be served with rice, on a bed of greens, or as a snack!
Tofu is one of our favorite vegetarian proteins. It’s so versatile and it really picks up the flavor of whatever sauce is put on it.
There are so many different ways to make tofu. This Fried Tofu Sandwich is so amazing even meat lovers will enjoy it. When Asian food is on the menu Korean BBQ Tofu Bowls are part of our monthly menu plan. In the summer we enjoy Grilled Eggplant with Tofu Steaks in Hoisin Sauce.
It’s important to buy the correct type of tofu for this recipe as well as prepare the tofu properly. In this case you want to buy firm or extra firm tofu to use.
How do you prepare tofu?
To prepare the tofu drain the water from it. Then you can press the tofu between two plates or under a baking sheet topped with a heavy pot or can for 15 minutes. Discard the excess water. We eat tofu so much that I actually own a Tofu Press and use that to extract the extra water.
Once the tofu has drained it is sliced into several pieces. The original recipe calls for the tofu to be rubbed with five spice powder. I’m not a huge fan so I used a traditional blackened seasoning. You can use either one to coat the tofu.
Then the tofu is fried and coated with a Ponzu sauce. You can buy Ponzu sauce at an Asian grocer or make your own!
What is Ponzu Sauce?
Ponzu sauce is a classic Japanese citrus-based sauce that combines tangy, savory, and slightly sweet flavors. It’s typically made with ingredients like soy sauce, citrus juice, rice vinegar, and sometimes a small amount of dashi for an umami flavor.
Ingredients:
- firm or extra firm tofu (do not use silken tofu in this recipe)
- five spice powder or blackened seasoning (your choice!)
- salt and pepper
- vegetable oil
- Ponzu sauce (make your own using THIS RECIPE)
- green onions
To make the tofu press out the water between two plates with a heavy object on top or with a tofu press. Slice into 4 to 6 slices. Sprinkle the slices of tofu with salt and pepper and either the five spice powder or blackened seasoning.
Heat the vegetable oil in a saute pan over medium high heat. Add the tofu and cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until the tofu begins to crisp.
Add the Ponzu sauce to the pan and cook the tofu for an additional minute on each side. Serve over top of rice with green onions on top.
This tofu was super tasty! I liked how firm it was and that the exterior was just a little bit crisp. The sauce caramelizes some on the tofu and gives it a bright, bold flavor. The blackened seasoning adds a punch of flavor as well.
We served our tofu over top of rice. Then we had Ponzu Carrots on the side which was the perfect pairing.
How else can I enjoy Tofu with Ponzu Sauce?
Another great way to enjoy this tofu is putting it in a Buddha bowl for a burst of flavor. This tofu is also great on top of a salad. You can always cut it into smaller pieces and serve it as an appetizer as well.
While we ended up pan frying this tofu I think you could also bake it in the oven then put the sauce on it for the last 5 minutes of baking if you would prefer to do that.
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Blackened Tofu with Ponzu Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 14 oz. firm or extra firm tofu
- 1 Tablespoon five spice powder or blackened seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/4 c. Ponzu sauce
- 2 green onions thinly sliced on a diagonal
Instructions
- Drain the water from the tofu. Press in between two plates with a heavy object on top or use a tofu press.
- Cut the tofu into four to six 3/4 inch slices
- Sprinkle each piece of tofu with salt, pepper, and either the five spice powder or blackened seasoning.
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add the tofu and cook for 4 minutes per side.
- Add in the Ponzu sauce and cook for 1 minute per side.
- Remove from the oven and top with green onions.
Notes
