Sheet-Pan Crisp Tofu and Sweet Potatoes Recipe (2024)

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Whoops

In case anyone else is reading through this very quickly...the cornstarch goes on top of the tofu, not with the remainder of the sauce. Most people would figure out the correct meaning of the grammar, but not me! Currently waiting for my soggy tofu to finish cooking so I can top it with cornstarch-filled sauce. Sigh.

Eli W

Haven't tried cooking this yet, but I always bake things with parchment paper laid down first in the roasting pan. Everything slides right off, removing any clean up!

Maureen Cotner

I have been baking tofu for years. To avoid the clean up and still get the crunch cover your sheet pan with pan with parchment paper

Leslie

Sounds good but I really don't want to end up with the baking sheet cleanup from sticking tofu. I have been marinating tofu similarly for years but I cornstarch it and fry it in about a half-inch of oil. Guaranteed crunch and it absorbs very little oil. For extra crunch, coat with cornstarch and set aside for a few minutes, then coat again.

Diane from Chicago

Tofu is tasteless. It did crisp up and look pretty. Extra sauce didn't help. 1 tbsp of cornstarchwas not adequate for coatingf the tofu. I added cornstarch as needed to cover the tofu, sifting each addition to avoid lumps. Usually when you roast vegetables that have cut side up, you brush with oil. This was not in the recipe but I knew better. The roasted sweet potatoes were good. To avoid a messy cleanup I roasted everything on parchment. I will not be making this recipe again.

Maggie B

dip the tofu in the sauce, then roll it in the corn starch, almost like you are breading something to fry. You want the corn starch to be the outer coating that gets crispy when you bake it.

Jackie

I’m really surprised at all the negative comments. This was easy and very flavorful. The addition of the pickled green onions and peanuts really put a bow on it. I will make this again!

Fiona

I found the portion where you toss the cornstarch unclear - was I supposed to put it in the liquid and toss or take the tofu out of the liquid and dredge it. I tried both, and conclude that you add the cornstarch and then toss the tofu in the liquid.We liked the recipe but felt that it could you use about double the sauce, both the tamari and the rice vinegar one. Used a silpat - it dispensed with the sticking issues. Thx for the tip!

Annie

I think I will love this recipe! One, because I love roasted any vegetable, especially sweet potatoes, and two, because I am always on the lookout for ways to use Tofu. Only ingredient I don't have readily on hand is Tamari but a quick supermarket trip will fix that. This is tonight's supper for this alone old girl. Will check back with my review but I never doubt Melissa's contributions.

NJA

Tossing marinated tofu squares in cornstarch before roasting makes them wonderfully crunchy and brown. Here, the tofu is cooked alongside spears of sweet potato, which are soft and silky against the crisp squares. A tamari-honey dressing spiked with rice wine vinegar acts both as marinade for the tofu and sauce for the finished dish. Then quick-pickled scallions and hot sesame oil make for a bright and spicy garnish.

Bethany

Definitely use parchment paper for tofu. And toss the cornstarch with the tofu to coat (it doesn't get added to the sauce).

Claudia from San Francisco

For someone reading from their phone while in the kitchen it was easy to miss that not all the vinegar goes into the sauce and some needs to be reserved for the scallions. Would have been helpful to explicitly point this out. As a result my tofu is wetter than it should be as it goes into the oven.

Louise

It's quick and easy. With parchment paper, the tofu slides right off. Tofu is bland, but of course - it's Tofu! Use any flavorful dipping sauce. Tofu crisped up surprisingly well - I'm picky about usual spongy tofu texture but this was ok. I baked it for 20 on one side, 25 on the other.

RB

Should’ve read the comments below- the tofu-on-foil was a hot mess. It was an extraction process that yielded mostly torn tofu, about 1/3 of which was stuck on the foil. I ended up making a minimalist baker peanut sauce to drizzle over to cover up the unsightliness (and add flavor- super bland) Needs ~ 2 tbsp cornstarch, more flavor and PARCHMENT PAPER.

Margaret

This recipe greatly disappointed us as it takes much longer to cook the sweet potatoes than instructed here. Count on at least an hour, not 35 - 40 minutes. Also, this is not a "sheet pan" recipe it's a "three sheet pan" recipe.

Angela

I thought it was super bland - even for tofu.

Veronica

First, I wish there was a way to "key word" search the comments.Second, I've used potato starch or a blend of potato/corn starch to get crispier results. Since i can't search the results I'm wondering if anyone has tried potato starch for this

Will D.

Simple to make and quite flavorful!

sfwom1

Directions ARE confusing. Make enough marinade with the cornstarch to toss with sweet potatoes too otherwise potatoes are unattractive and shriveled. Marinated tofu is delicious and double it. The marinaded tofu has lots of uses.

Suzanne

This dish has potential - - - but it really needs some kind of sauce. It's terribly dry and a bit blah - needs a pick-me-up!

Karen & David

• This is a TWO sheet pan dish.• Use foil or parchment on pans (to prevent sticking)• Sweet potatoes must be OILED so don’t stick.• Slice slab of tofu into two “sheets” (so < 1” thick) before cutting into 4 slices each.• 3 sweet potatoes is plenty (for 32oz)• Make 1.5x or 2x amount of “tamari sauce” — to have enough to baste tofu before cooking — and have some left over to drizzle on before serving.

Nssf

Wow, the first ever NYT recipe that I would not make again.

Rupert Pupkin

In addition to the cornstarch tip others have mentioned, next time I’ll double the amount of tofu (for 3-4 people) and oil the sweet potatoes a little to give them a little more crisp.

DDK

Use half the cornstarch. Great with sweet potatoes. Marinated the scallions. Probably not necessary .Served with kale. A winner.

dana

This recipe was confusing to me. The lack of any oil or fat on the sweet potatoes had the effect of making them really dry. The final product didn’t feel cohesive. The tofu and sauce were good but I wouldn’t make this combo again

Joe

Try tossing your package of tofu in the freezer when you get home. When thawed the moisture comes out much better.

Sabine

Hadn’t baked tofu with cornstarch before and definitely will need some more practice. Flavor was good but I rolled the marinated tofu in cornstarch before baking. Tofu pieces came out with crunchy edges but way too chewy. Not sure how to dust - maybe the trick with the paper bag and shaking? Will try marinating longer and then draining tofu before dusting.

Lyndall Heyer

Well, this was not a keeper. I think it would have been better with mashed sweet potatoes. It was pretty dry and I followed the direction pretty closly including the cilantro and the roasted salted peanuts.The tofu part was good. I used avocado oil - didn't have peanut - and pickled a sliced red onion instead of scallions- that was good.

mikeO

Great as a side dish for a non-traditional thanksgiving. The comments to double the sauce were on point, as well as spraying the sheet pan with oil. No issues with the bake or the marinade, thanks to the comments. Also we found the stated cooking time to be fine for our potato wedges. The onions are a nice fresh touch. Chili crisp made this a definite “make again” recipe as it took it to another level flavor-wise. We will try with other veggies.

beebeebee

“Step 2In a small bowl, whisk together oil, tamari, honey and 1 teaspoon vinegar. Toss half the mixture with the tofu, then toss in cornstarch.” I find these instructions SO confusing!Do you mean I should divide the mixture into 2 bowls, then take one of the bowls, toss in the tofu, and then toss in some cornstarch?

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Sheet-Pan Crisp Tofu and Sweet Potatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my tofu not getting crispy in the pan? ›

If your crispy tofu isn't getting crispy, it could be because there is too much moisture in the tofu. Another issue could be the oil isn't hot enough to fry the tofu. Or you forgot to add the corn flour. These three reasons can cause your tofu to be soggy or not crisp up as much as you'd like.

What is the secret to cooking tofu? ›

Press it. Tofu contains a lot of water, and you'll want to squeeze most of it out, especially if you're baking, grilling, or frying it. I recommend using a tofu press to do this, because it gives the tofu a delicious chewy texture and makes cleanup a breeze. But having one isn't necessary.

Should I toss tofu in cornstarch? ›

To ensure every bite is loaded with flavor and plenty of crunch, the tofu cubes are seasoned with a little soy sauce and garlic powder. And you can't forget about the secret ingredient! Tossing the tofu in cornstarch gives it the most mouth-watering crispy, golden brown exterior.

Does tofu get crispy? ›

And even though it might seem counterintuitive, since many types come packaged in water, tofu can also be “crispy” too. I put crispy in quotation marks because we're not talking fried chicken– or Pringles–level crispy here. Rather, “crispy” tofu is golden brown all over with a distinct crust.

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

How long to press tofu for crispy? ›

How long does it take to press tofu? It takes around half an hour to press the tofu in preparation for cooking. It's simple to do and requires very little effort. You only need a plate, some absorbent fabric or paper, such as clean tea-towels or kitchen paper, and a weight – we often use a frying pan.

What makes tofu taste better? ›

Coat it in garlic, black pepper, salt (plus more of your favourite seasonings), liquid aminos and some olive oil. Then mix it into some cornstarch and toss it all together, then bake for about 20 minutes. Cornstarch also helps to draw out excess moisture so it really gets the tofu crispy.

Is it better to fry or bake tofu? ›

It sticks, and the crispy bits end up sticking to the pan, which is a tofu tragedy. Plus, it requires more oil, and you don't need to use a lot of oil to get crispy tofu. When you bake your tofu, you give it time to develop crispy edges and warm, pillowy insides. It's simply the best.

How do you know when tofu is cooked enough? ›

Heat vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add the tofu to the pan, making sure not to overcrowd the pan (otherwise it'll steam). Cook the tofu until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

What is the best oil to fry tofu in? ›

Type of oil to use for frying tofu: Canola is great and so are vegetable/soybean oil and refined peanut oil. In general, choose a neutral-flavored oil that has a high smoking point. That is, don't deep-fry with sesame oil.

What to use instead of cornstarch for crispy tofu? ›

6 Cornstarch Substitutes for All Your Cooking and Baking Needs
  1. Potato Starch. Potato starch is the cornstarch substitute favorite of associate food editor Kendra Vaculin. ...
  2. Rice Flour. ...
  3. All-Purpose Flour. ...
  4. Tapioca Flour. ...
  5. Arrowroot Powder. ...
  6. Xanthan Gum.
Jun 13, 2022

What goes with crispy tofu? ›

I love to serve it up with some rice and broccoli to make a sort of buddha bowl, but you can also serve it in a stir fry or with my vegan fried rice. Tofu does not contain sesame as it is just made with soy beans, but this recipe contains sesame oil for a delicious sesame flavor.

Why is my baked tofu not crispy? ›

Why won't my tofu get crisp? This could likely be a result of not drying out the tofu enough to drain out the extra moisture. It's also possible that your oven temperature is not hot enough. Make sure it's preheated and heat the pan in the oven for extra crispness.

What to season tofu with? ›

Tofu seasoning rub: Rub the pressed tofu with lots of spices like garlic or onion powder, salt and pepper, nutritional yeast or a spicy taco seasoning, KFC seasoning, Buffalo spice, etc. Tofu marinade: Soak the tofu cubes in your favorite chicken/meat marinade to infuse extra flavor.

What is the crispy tofu called? ›

Crispy deep-fried tofu served in a flavorful umami sauce, Agedashi Tofu is a popular appetizer you can find at izakaya and Japanese restaurants.

Why is my tofu always soggy? ›

Draining excess water from your tofu helps to create that crispy texture during the frying or baking process. If you don't properly drain it (or don't drain it at all) you're left with a lot of moisture while cooking and this is what often causes the tofu to stick.

How do you cook tofu so it's not rubbery? ›

Tofu has a porous surface and releases water before the coating gets crispy, so toss the tofu in a bit of cornstarch or arrowroot powder. Shake the excess off and then fry in oil for a crispy outside and tender inside. For even tastier results, try frying in an oil that's full of flavors, such as sesame or coconut oil.

How do you know when tofu is done frying? ›

Add tofu to the pan in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the pan. Allow tofu to cook, undisturbed for about 4-5 minutes or until the underside is golden brown and crispy.

How do you keep fried tofu crispy? ›

I tried coating tofu with various blends of flour, potato starch, rice flour, and corn starch, both pan-frying and deep-frying, and found that the crispest, cleanest-tasting results came from a deep-fry in a simple coating of cornstarch. Crisp fresh out of the fryer, that is.

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