Take your tofu game to the next level with this deliciously spicy & Sticky BBQ tofu recipe!
If you think you still can’t make tofu taste great, then this Sticky BBQ Tofu Recipe is for you! Not only super easy but also delicious and if I’m completely honest: addictive. My favourite way to serve up this spicy & sticky tofu is alongside rice or a delicious stir fry with rice noodles, yum!
And don’t worry, if spicy is not your thing, simply leave out the sriracha sauce from the recipe and your barbecue tofu will be wonderfully mild and gentle on your tastebuds, it might even become one of your favourite vegan recipes!
What you’ll need to make this Sticky BBQ Tofu Recipe
Ingredients
- Extra firm tofu
- Cornflour
- Rapeseed oil
- Carrot
- Yellow pepper
For the sauce:
- Tomato puree
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Maple syrup
- Smoked paprika powder
- Sriracha
- Cornflour
- Water
How to make Sticky BBQ Tofu Recipe
Making the perfect tofu
If you’ve ever thought ‘oh I simply can’t make tofu taste great’, then this recipe is definitely one for you. There are a few simple steps you can take, that will make your tofu taste fantastic and before you know it, you’ll be craving it. It’s not rocket science 😉
One important part of a great tofu recipe is the texture. For tofu bites (such as this recipe) it’s important to use extra-firm tofu. Other types of tofu, such as silken and soft tofu are great – but for other recipes. Do not even attempt to recreate this recipe with non-firm tofu, it will not be worth it (believe me!). I love to use Cauldron, which is an organic tofu brand – it’s available at Tesco, online and in-store, alongside lots of other places, and it’s the perfect tofu base for this Sticky BBQ Tofu recipe.
Now that we’ve got the perfect tofu narrowed down, let’s get down to business! An important ingredient to creating a sticky & partially crispy tofu is: cornflour! Yes, just one ingredient. Simple, ay? What’s also important however is to thoroughly coat your tofu chunks with cornflour, don’t be shy! I also like breaking apart my tofu with my hands, rather than cutting it into perfect shapes. I find it gives it a more interesting structure than having perfectly smooth rectangular pieces.
Once generously coated in cornflour, heat the rapeseed oil in a non-stick pan – and ensure it’s hot before adding the tofu chunks. If you need, fry the tofu in batches, so you only have one layer in the pan as it will otherwise stick together and get messy. Flip the tofu chunks regularly so they become evenly crispy on all sides. I like to use chopsticks to easily flip and move the tofu bites in the pan.
Cooking the Sticky BBQ Tofu Sauce
The next step is to create the sauce: simply combine tomato puree, olive oil, maple syrup, smoked paprika powder, sriracha and 1/2 Tbsp cornflour with a little water, until you get a thick but runny paste. The tomato paste creates the base for the sauce, I always use an organic tomato puree from Mr Organic. The smoked paprika gives it the delicious smoky-ness of barbecue sauce and the maple syrup will caramelise the sauce wonderfully and give it that typical BBQ flavour. The sriracha adds a great kick to the sauce – if spicy is not for you, simply leave this one out. The cornflour is added to the sauce to make it nice and thick, so it sticks to the tofu bites just perfectly.
Add all the crispy tofu to the pan, reduce the heat to low/medium and pour in the sauce, covering the tofu and gently toss it in the pan to evenly coat the tofu pieces. Stir and cook until the BBQ sauce thickens, then remove the pan from the heat. Serve with rice, in a stir fry or on a buddha bowl (the options are endless!).
This recipe is:
- 100% vegan
- gluten free
- delicious
- addictive
- great served alongside rice or a stir fry
- perfect for tofu lovers!
Sticky BBQ Tofu Recipe
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Tofu
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Spice up your tofu game with this delicious Sticky BBQ Tofu recipe! Perfect served up with rice, on a buddha bowl, with a stir fry – or whatever your tastebuds desire.
Ingredients
- 280g extra firm tofu
- 3 Tbsp cornflour
- rapeseed oil for frying
- 1 carrot, julienne
- 1 yellow pepper, thinly sliced
For the sauce:
- 1 Tbsp tomato puree
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp smoked paprika powder
- 1 tsp sriracha
- 1/2 Tbsp cornflour
- water
Instructions
- Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium/high heat. Add rapeseed oil for frying.
- Prepare the firm tofu by pulling it into bite-size pieces with your hands. Coat each piece generously in cornflour and place the tofu into the hot pan in a single layer.
- Flip the tofu pieces regularly and let them evenly cook until golden and slightly crispy.
- Set the crispy tofu aside and add the carrots and pepper to the pan. Cook until softened, then add the tofu back in and reduce to low/medium heat.
- Blend all ingredients for the sauce to create a thick, but runny paste, then pour the sauce over the tofu & veg. Toss and stir to evenly coat the tofu and remove from the heat as the sauce thickens and sticks to the tofu.
- Serve alongside rice, a stir fry or a buddha bowl. Enjoy!
Notes
Serve with rice, as a stir fry, on a buddha bowl – or alongside whatever your heart desires!
Ensure the pan and oil are hot before adding the tofu to avoid soggy, oily tofu bites.
Be generous with the cornflour coating on your tofu!
Keywords: tofu, BBQ tofu, tofu recipe, recipe, spicy tofu, spicy tofu recipe, sticky tofu, sticky tofu recipe
Love cooking tofu? Check out these delicious tofu recipes – here are some of my faves:
- Vegan Egg McMuffin Recipe
- Vegan Tofu Parmigiana (High Protein)
- Curried Hummus and Tofu Sandwich
- Sticky Balsamic Tofu
