This vegan Lemon and Toasted Garlic recipe is packed full of flavour! I served my lemon garlic tofu with rice but it’s also delicious with noodles. I love garlic so the crispy toasted garlic that I topped this with is perfect for garlic-lovers.
TOASTED GARLIC
I toasted the garlic on a pan before adding it onto the sauce, which helped it release a lot more flavour and also added that crunch!
THE LEMON AND GARLIC SAUCE
You can also use the sauce recipe for other stir-fries and even for noodles!
PREPARING THE TOFU
- Drain water from the tofu by wrapping them in paper towels and then placing a heavy flat surface (a board or plate) on top of each. Leave for 15 minutes until water has been absorbed by the towels. You can also opt to use a tofu press.
- Once dry, slice tofu into 1-inch cubes.
- Sprinkle the salt on the tofu cubes then add the cornstarch. Coat the tofu well.
- In the same pan used for the garlic, add more oil. Pan-fry the tofu cubes until crisp and golden. You will need to turn around the tofu cubes to get them crisp on all sides.
- Take out the tofu from the pan.
COOKING THE LEMON GARLIC TOFU
I then sautéed some bell peppers and onions in a large pan. Afterwards, I added back in the pan-fried tofu and then poured in the lemon garlic sauce before leaving it to thicken.
SERVE AND ENJOY YOUR TOFU
I enjoyed this tofu with some steamed Japanese rice for a really satisfying meal.
If you make this recipe, please tag me on my Facebook or Instagram and use the hashtag #thefoodietakesflight 🙂
Get the recipe below. Enjoy!
OTHER TOFU RECIPES YOU MIGHT LOVE:
Check out my tips on how to store tofu!
- Kung Pao Tofu
- Pineapple Cashew Tofu Stir-Fry
- Crispy Salt and Pepper Tofu
- Black Pepper Tofu Steaks
- Tofu “Chicken” Teriyaki
- Korean Spicy Braised Tofu
- Fried ‘Chicken’ and Gravy
- Tofu Katsu
- Nori-Wrapped Tofu in Spicy Sauce
- Maple Hoisin Tofu
Lemon and Toasted Garlic Tofu
This vegan Lemon and Toasted Garlic recipe is packed full of flavour! They're crispy pieces of tofu coated in a really aromatic and tangy sauce. Perfect served over rice for a hearty meal! Can be prepared in a big batch for meal prep too.You can also check out the video below for more saucy tofu recipe ideas!
Ingredients
- 1 lb extra firm tofu
- 2 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp salt for tofu
- 4 tbsp oil for pan-frying
- 2 tbsp minced garlic –1.5 tbsp for the sauce, the remaining for topping later on
- 1 small red bell pepper sliced
- 1 small onion sliced
- More lemon for squeezing
- Chopped spring onion for topping
Sauce
- 2 tbsp lemon juice from 1 small lemon
- 3 tbsp coconut sugar or other sugar adjust depending on desired sweetness
- 1-2 tbsp soy sauce plus more to taste as needed
- 1.5 tbsp toasted garlic see cooking steps below
- 3/4 cup vegetable broth or room temp water
- 1/4-1/2 tsp salt to taste
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
For Serving
- Cooked rice for serving (I used steamed Japanese rice)
Instructions
Toasted Garlic and Sauce
- See photos above.In a pan, heat 2 tbsp of oil. Add in the minced garlic and cook over medium heat until the garlic is golden brown and crisp. Remove garlic and set aside. Leave to cool for a few minutes. No need to wash this pan, as you'll be using this for the tofu too.
- Mix all the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl until sugar is diluted. Set aside.
Preparing the Tofu
- Drain water from the tofu by wrapping them in paper towels and then placing a heavy flat surface (a board or plate) on top of each. Leave for 15 minutes until water has been absorbed by the towels. You can also opt to use a tofu press.
- Once dry, slice tofu into 1-inch cubes.
- Sprinkle the salt on the tofu cubes then add the cornstarch. Coat the tofu well.
- In the same pan used for the garlic, add more oil. Pan-fry the tofu cubes until crisp and golden. You will need to turn around the tofu cubes to get them crisp on all sides.
- Take out the tofu from the pan.
Cooking the tofu
- Add some oil then sauté the onion and bell peppers until tender.
- Add in the cooked tofu. Mix the sauce well again (to make sure the cornstarch isn’t sitting at the bottom of the bowl). Pour the sauce in the tofu.
- Turn up heat and continue to mix until the sauce starts to thicken. Leave to cook for a few more minutes. Season with more salt, to taste (if desired). Turn off heat and serve with some rice.
- Top with more garlic and chopped spring onions + squeeze more lemon juice, if desired. Enjoy while hot! You can also check out the video below for more saucy tofu recipe ideas!
WATCH Video
NUTRITIONAL INFO
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1041mg | Potassium: 415mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1244IU | Vitamin C: 59mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 2mg
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This Post Has 2 Comments
This was my first time making a tofu recipe and we all loved it. The flavors were fantastic together and my tofu was firm. I wrapped it in a clean dish towel on a lipped plate and put a cast iron pan on top for 2 hours. It really worked! I’ll make this again!
Hi Laura, so happy you liked it. Thanks so much for giving it a try!! ◡̈