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A Very Tasty Tofu Appetizer Or Main Course
This Easy Marinated Tofu With Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce is exploding with flavor. This white wine marinade is paired up perfectly with this spicy peanut sauce making it very additive. The peanut sauce is infused with hot chili oil and sesame oil bringing a wonderful Indonesian flare. Match this sauce with the marinated tofu and rice mixed with green onions, cilantro and fresh lime and it is an explosion of impeccable flavors. Serve this dish at your next dinner party or a dinner with your family. It is bound to be a hit!
What Tofu To Use For The Marinated Tofu
I for one love any kind of tofu. Although, I find that firm tofu or extra firm works best for marinating. The tofu has to be drained well under some compression to release most of the liquid that it comes in. This extraction helps the tofu to sponge up the marinade.
Most people use a tofu press for this but when in a pinch I put the tofu in a calendar on top of a plate and put heavy bowls on top of the tofu. This works really well. You do have to make sure the weight is not to much pressure when squeezing the tofu. If it crumbles it will be hard to keep it in cube form. It just crumbles or cracks a lot when it was pressed too hard.
How To Make The White Wine Tofu Marinade
Honestly this marinade is so quick and easy.
After you drain the tofu well cut it up into even cubes like in the photo. Then find a proper sized dish that fits the tofu and marinade. Don’t pick a dish that is too big the marinade will not be able to soak up on the sides of the tofu chunks.
In a medium size bowl mix all the ingredients for the marinade dipping sauce. Pour this over the cubed tofu arranged in the dish. Make sure all the tofu has marinade over it. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Having the tofu marinate 4 hours or over night is best.
After a couple of hours flip over the tofu for having the best results.
How To Pan Fry The Marinated Tofu
Heat a skillet or cast iron skillet on medium heat, let it get hot. Add sesame oil and let it get hot for about 30 seconds. Add the marinaded cubed tofu (do not add in the left over liquid marinade to the skillet) and set them down flat on the largest side. Let them cook for about 3 to 4 minutes or until brown. If you let them brown they are less apt to sick to the skillet.
Turn the tofu over and brown the other side for 3 to 4 minutes. When done serve as appetizers with the spicy peanut sauce or serve over rice. (Add to the cooked rice, 1/3 cup chopped green onions, 1/2 of a fresh squeezed lime and 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro to the rice). Fallow the recipe for the rice below.
How To Make Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce
When making this peanut sauce you can use smooth peanut butter or chunky peanut butter. They both work well for this recipe.
I first add the water and heat it up on medium heat until it’s warm. I then add the peanut butter and turn down the heat to medium low. Whisk the water and peanut butter until it is combined. Then add the soy sauce, lime juice, sesame oil, sugar, red pepper flakes and chili oil (if desired, I have also substituted sriracha before). Mix it all together until it is fully integrated. Turn the heat up to medium and bring to a boil and whisk often. Reduce heat to a low simmer uncovered for about 3 minutes for the sauce to thicken.
Remove from heat and let cool. Stir in the green onions and cilantro. Use immediately or transfer to a covered container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
We absolutely love this recipe! I hope to make more variations of this peanut sauce in the future. I just know your going to like it. Enjoy!
More Recipes You May Like:
Quick Soy Free Red Lentil Tofu
Asian Ginger Garlic Cucumber Salad
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Easy Marinated Tofu With Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 8 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Indonesian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Easy Marinated Tofu With Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce to exploding with Asian flavor. This white wine marinade is paired up perfectly with this spicy peanut sauce. The peanut sauce is infused with hot chili oil and sesame oil bringing a wonderful Indonesian flare. Match this sauce with the marinated tofu and rice mixed with green onions, cilantro and fresh lime and it is an explosion of impeccable flavors.
Ingredients
Easy Marinated Tofu With Spicy Peanut Sauce
Marinated Tofu Recipe
- 1 brick of Firm Tofu, drained
- 1/2 cup dry White Wine
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup Soy Sauce or Bragg’s Liquid Amino’s (1/3 cup if you like it a little salty)
- 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced or garlic pressed
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- Frying Tofu
- 2 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce
- 1/2 cup Water
- 1/2 cup Smooth or Chunky Peanut Butter
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup Soy Sauce or Bragg’s Liquid Amino’s
- 1/4 Sesame Oil
- 1/4 cup Fresh Lime Juice
- 2–3 Tbsp Sugar
- 1/2 –1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/4 tsp Chili Oil, optional
- 1/4 cup Cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup Green Spring Onions, chopped
- Rice With Cilantro and Green Onions
- 1 cup Jasmine Rice, rinsed well
- 2 cups Water
- 2 tsp Coconut oil
- 1/4 cup Cilantro, chopped
- 1/3 cup Spring Green Onions, chopped
- 1/2 Fresh Lime, squeezed
- Garnish
- Lime wedges
- Red Chili Peppers, sliced
Instructions
Easy Marinated Tofu With Spicy Peanut Sauce
Press the firm tofu to extract the tofu liquid. You can use a tofu press or press it in a calendar with heavy bowls on the tofu.
Cut the brick of firm tofu into 12 pieces like in the photo above. (This shape is helpful when using chop sticks). Place them in a glass or ceramic dish that is in an appropriate size to the size of the brick of cut tofu. (Like the photo above). This is good so that the marinade can cover most of the tofu or all of it.
Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for up to 1 hour or 4 hour to over night is best.
If you are serving with rice: To make the rice take 1 cup of jasmine rice and rinse it well in water until the water is close to clear. Put the rice in a medium sauce pan with 2 cups of water and 2 teaspoons of coconut oil. Put the lid on and bring to a boil, turn down the heat to low and cook for 15 minutes. When done take off the burner and set aside. Do not take the lid off.
To make the spicy peanut dipping sauce use a small sauce pan on medium heat. Add the water and peanut butter of choice. Whisk the water and peanut butter together to combine. Then add the lime juice, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, red pepper flakes and chili oil (if desired, you can use sriracha instead). Whisk all the ingredients together until smooth. Let it come to a boil on medium high heat. Whisk it frequently! Reduce the heat to low as soon as it boils. Simmer for 3 minutes for it to thicken.
Remove from heat and let it cool. When it has cooled down add the fresh cut cilantro and green onions. Set aside.
If you are serving rice: Put the cooked rice in a large bowl and break it up to be more fluffy. Add the fresh chopped cilantro and chopped green onions. Toss and mix the cilantro and green onions into the rice. Then squeeze half of a fresh lime over the rice and toss and mix again. Put a plate upside down over the top of the bowl or unless you have a lid for your bowl put on it to keep it warm. Set aside until you are done cooking the tofu which should only take about 6 to 8 minutes.
Frying the up the tofu. In a medium sized skillet (I use American Made Lodge Cast Iron Skillets) heat the skillet on medium heat. After it is warm add the sesame oil. Let it heat up for about 30 seconds. Add the marinated tofu cubes (do not pour in marinade in with the tofu) to the hot oil. Place the cubes with the large flat side down, like in the photo above. Let the tofu fry for 3 to 4 minutes before turning over. Do not turn over before the 3 minutes because letting it fry helps it from not sticking. When you are done cooking the tofu on both sides it is ready to serve. Serve it alone with the spicy peanut dipping sauce or add the rice with it for a meal.
Garnish with sliced red chili peppers, lime wedges and or cilantro.
Enjoy!
Notes
Spicy peanut dipping sauce will last for 3 days in the refrigerator.
Reheat peanut sauce in a small sauce pan on medium low until hot. Make sure to stir it often while reheating.
Reheat tofu in a hot skillet on medium low heat with a little sesame oil until heated through on both sides. Should take only a minute on both sides.
