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Fried Tofu Sandwiches are crispy fried tofu slab that are tangy and a touch spicy then served on a bun with spicy mayonnaise and shredded cabbage for a crave-worthy sandwich.

In general we eat meatless about twice a week. Many of our meatless days are either pasta or pizza but the other day is almost always tofu.

While you can go from silken tofu to extra firm we generally choose extra firm. The way to get the best texture is to actually freeze the tofu, then thaw it, then press all of the water out. This makes the tofu porous so that it will absorb any flavors you put on it.

We often use tofu in our Asian meals because it is delicious when stir fried. I’ve also used it in Mexican dishes as well. Occasionally we use it for something else but not very often.

One day I was looking for something a little different when I came across a recipe for Crispy Fried Tofu Sandwiches. While it didn’t sound that great of the bat once I read the recipe I couldn’t get it out of my head.

Ingredients:

tofu
dill pickle juice
hot sauce
Dijon mustard
flour
cornstarch
black pepper
salt
paprika
garlic powder
vegetable oil
spicy mayonnaise (regular or vegan)
cabbage
hamburger buns

Cut the tofu slab in half horizontally. Cut each piece in half crosswise so that you have 4 slices total.
Use a tofu press and press the water out of the tofu. If you don’t have a tofu press simply wrap the tofu in paper towels and weigh it down with a heavy pan.
Meanwhile, pour the pickle juice into a shallow dish. Add the tofu and let soak for 10 minutes, flipping after 5 minutes.
In a small bowl mix together the hot sauce and mustard.
In a shallow bowl combine the flour, cornstarch, black pepper, salt, paprika, and garlic powder.
Pour vegetable oil in a large, heavy skillet to 1/4 inch. Heat over medium high heat.
Remove the tofu from the pickle juice and pat dry.
Dredge each piece through the flour and shake off excess. Brush the hot sauce mixture all over the tofu then dredge through the flour again.
Place in the hot oil and fry until crispy and golden brown about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and place on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet to drain. Sprinkle with additional salt.

Since we always have tofu in the freezer I pulled some out and made these the next day. I was super excited to try them and my husband was too.

As I was frying up the tofu it smelled really delicious. I figured between the hot sauce, pickle juice, and spices there would be a lot of flavor to them.

Double flouring the tofu made it extra crispy which was needed for a vegetarian sandwich. The extra shredded cabbage on top was the perfect addition.

I just bought my tofu and it wasn’t frozen. Do I have to freeze it?

While you don’t have to freeze it this recipe will taste so much better if you do. Whenever you freeze tofu then thaw it and press out the water it really changes the texture and makes it more porous so that the flavors really get into it. This can be a simple 24 hour process. Freeze for 10 hours, thaw for 12 hours, then press the water for an hour or two. Then your tofu is ready to go!

I’m not very familiar with tofu. What type should I buy?

For these sandwiches I recommend extra firm tofu. If you can’t find extra firm then get firm. Don’t buy silken or regular firm as they won’t hold up as well in this recipe.

How do I make spicy mayonnaise?

Making your own spicy mayonnaise is super easy. Combine 1/3 cup of mayonnaise with 1-2 Tablespoons of hot sauce, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and salt and pepper. If you don’t have hot sauce you can use 2 teaspoons of Sriracha in this recipe instead.

I don’t like tofu but these sandwiches sound yummy! Could I use meat in place of the tofu?

I would think you could totally use chicken breasts in place of the tofu if you sliced them fairly thin and cooked them for longer than the recipe calls for. Please not I haven’t actually done this but you should be able to do it and get similar results.

These sandwiches were amazing. It was almost hard to believe we were eating tofu. The tofu itself was a little bit tangy, a little bit spicy, and really crispy.

The spicy mayonnaise was a nice addition along with the crunch from the shredded cabbage. I think even meat eaters would enjoy one of these hearty sandwiches for lunch or dinner.

More Tofu Recipes:

If you’ve tried my Fried Tofu Sandwich or any other recipe on Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you! You can FOLLOW ME on: