Tamarind Tofu is a delicious, sticky, and tangy dish that offers an explosion of flavors with every bite. Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or just trying out tofu for the first time, this recipe is bound to become a favorite. With simple ingredients and a few kitchen tools, you can create this delightful meal right in your home kitchen.
If you’re a fan of bold, tangy flavors, this Sticky Tamarind Tofu recipe is for you. The combination of crispy tofu with a sticky tamarind glaze creates a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and sour. Whether you’re serving it as an appetizer, over rice, or with a side salad, this dish packs a punch and is incredibly satisfying.
What is Tamarind Tofu?
Tamarind tofu is a plant-based dish made by baking or frying extra firm tofu and coating it with a sticky tamarind glaze. The tamarind sauce offers a unique blend of sweet and sour flavors that elevate the tofu, making it a flavorful and textural delight. The tofu itself becomes golden brown and crispy, soaking in all the tangy goodness from the tamarind glaze.
Why Tamarind is the Perfect Ingredient
Tamarind is a tropical fruit that has a unique sour flavor, commonly used in Indian and Southeast Asian cooking. The fruit’s pulp is typically made into a paste or puree, making it a key component for tangy tamarind sauce. Its complex mix of sweet, sour, and slightly spicy flavors works perfectly with tofu, giving it an exciting twist. When combined with soy sauce, lime juice, and other spices, tamarind transforms a humble tofu recipe into something truly spectacular.
Key Ingredients
Extra Firm Tofu
This type of tofu holds its shape well and becomes crispy when baked or fried. It’s the perfect base for the tamarind glaze because it soaks up the sauce while maintaining its golden brown texture.
Tamarind Sauce
The heart of the dish! Tamarind paste, mixed with other flavors like soy sauce, vegan fish sauce, and spices, forms the tamarind sauce. It creates a beautiful sticky coating on the tofu.
Curry Powder
A sprinkle of curry powder adds warmth and depth to the tofu, making every bite more complex and flavorful.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Extra firm tofu – Essential for getting that crispy texture. If you don’t have extra firm tofu, you could use firm tofu, but it may not hold up as well.
- Curry powder – Adds a mild spice and warmth. You could substitute this with chilli powder or curry leaves if you’re looking for a different flavor profile.
- Cornstarch – This helps to create a crispy exterior on the tofu. If you don’t have cornstarch, you can use arrowroot powder or potato starch as an alternative.
- Soy sauce – Brings a salty and umami flavor. You can swap it with tamari for a gluten-free option or use vegan fish sauce for a bolder flavor.
- Tamarind sauce – Made from tamarind paste or tamarind pulp, this sauce is essential for the sticky glaze. If you can’t find tamarind, a mix of lime juice and brown sugar can provide a somewhat similar sour and sweet profile.
- Olive oil – Used to coat the tofu for baking. You can also use sesame oil for an extra nutty flavor.
Helpful Tools
- Baking Tray – You’ll need this to bake the tofu until it’s crispy.
- Parchment Paper – Prevents the tofu from sticking to the tray.
- Large Bowl – Essential for mixing the tofu with the seasonings.
- Small Bowl – To mix your tamarind sauce.
- Frying Pan – If you prefer pan-frying your tofu instead of baking, this is a good option.
- Tongs – Useful for flipping the tofu halfway through the baking process.
How to Make This Sticky Tamarind Tofu Recipe
Step 1: Prepping the Tofu
Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (around medium-high heat). Tear your extra firm tofu into bite-sized chunks.
This gives the tofu more surface area, allowing it to crisp up more effectively. Press the tofu first with a paper towel to remove excess moisture for a crispier texture.
Step 2: Seasoning the Tofu
In a large bowl, toss the tofu pieces with curry powder, cornstarch, soy sauce, and olive oil. The cornstarch helps the tofu develop a golden brown crust, while the curry powder gives it a hint of spice.
Step 3: Baking and Glazing
Lay the tofu pieces out on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, ensuring none of the pieces touch each other for even cooking. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Once the tofu is crispy and golden brown, toss it in the tamarind sauce and bake for another 5 minutes until the glaze becomes sticky.
Serve the tamarind tofu over rice, with your favorite cooked noodles, or alongside a fresh salad for a complete meal.
Garnish with spring onions and sesame seeds for added flavor and texture.
Tips & Tricks for the Perfect Tamarind Tofu
- Use extra firm tofu – This will ensure your tofu holds its shape and gets that crispy texture.
- Flip halfway through – Flipping the tofu ensures an even golden brown color on all sides.
- Add more tamarind sauce – If you like your tofu extra sticky, toss in more sauce after the second bake.
- Experiment with toppings – Sprinkle sesame seeds, sliced pak choi, or even fresh tomatoes on top for extra crunch and flavor.
- Store in an airtight container – Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days. Reheat on the stovetop with a little extra sauce to revive
FAQs
Yes, frying the tofu in hot oil will make it even crispier, but baking is a healthier alternative with less oil.
Tamarind paste is more concentrated, while tamarind pulp may need extra straining and mixing with water to achieve the right consistency.
Absolutely! You can substitute the tamarind sauce with a mixture of tomato paste, lime juice, and a bit of palm sugar for a sweet and tangy alternative.
If you use tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce alternative, this recipe is entirely gluten-free.
Sticky Tamarind Tofu Recipe With Tamarind Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 block extra firm tofu, pressed
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- ¼ cup tamarind sauce
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Tear the tofu into bite sized pieces and add into a large mixing bowl. See photos for reference.
- Toss the tofu chunks with curry powder, cornstarch, soy sauce and olive oil.
- Add the tofu onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20 mins flipping halfway.
- Toss the cooked tofu in your tamarind sauce, then throw them back into the oven to bake for another 5 mins or until crispy. Add a little more sauce if desired.
- Serve as an appy, or on top of rice with your favourite cooked vegetables or side salad. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Conclusion: Sticky Tamarind Tofu Recipe
This Sticky Tamarind Tofu recipe brings a bold, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor to your plate. It’s an easy-to-make dish that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or an impressive appetizer at your next gathering. With its combination of crispy tofu and a tangy tamarind glaze, this dish is sure to become a favorite.
This was amazing and so quick and easy to make! Can you use any tamarind sauce? Will they all be plant based?
Hiii thank you so much I’m so happy you loved the recipe! You can use any tamarind sauce I believe they should all be vegan but just double check the ingredients list to make sure. Sauces can sometimes have some sneaky dairy ingredients in them!
Loved this and I had all the ingredients already in the house!
I’m so happy you loved this recipe! Thank you so much 🙂