Deep Fried Tofu Recipes

Steps:

• Wrap tofu in a clean towel and place onto a plate. Set another plate on top, and place a 3- to 5-pound weight on top. Press tofu for about 20 minutes; drain and discard the accumulated liquid.
• Cut tofu into 1-inch by 2-inch chunks. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt onto one slide; flip over and sprinkle remaining 1/4 teaspoon on the other.
• Heat oil in a wok or large skillet. To test if the oil is ready, dip a chopstick or wooden spoon in it; if bubbles rise, it is ready. If the oil smokes, it is too hot.
• Gently place 5 to 8 pieces of tofu at a time in hot oil using metal tongs. Be very careful as oil may splatter; use a splatter guard if possible. Fry tofu until golden, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Drain tofu on a plate lined with several paper towels. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Steps:

• In a bowl mix salt, 5 spice powder, sugar, pepper and garlic.
• Add tofu 1 at a time and turn over to coat evenly.
• Let stand 1 hour.
• In a wok, heat oil until smoking.
• Add tofu and deep fry for 5 minutes until puffy and golden.
• Drain on paper towels and serve immediately with green onions.

Steps:

• Remove the excess moisture from the block of tofu by wrapping it in a clean towel and placing it between 2 cutting boards, let stand for an hour or two.
• Now cut the tofu block into triangle shapes, about two inches long.
• Pour the oil into the wok and heat, when you dip a chopstick into the heated oil and bubbles rise from it the oil is ready for use.
• If the oil smokes it is too hot.
• Using the wok's spatula, slide the tofu triangles one at a time into the hot oil.
• Fry on both sides until golden brown.
• Scoop the triangles out of the wok and allow them to drain on the wok's draining grill (or place on paper towels).
• Once the triangles are drained and cool, it's a good idea to give them a second deep frying.
• This deepens their golden color and makes them nice and crisp.
• Place once again on the grill to drain and cool.
• The final step requires that you place the fried tofu triangles in a colander and run very hot water over them. I put the colander in the sink and allow the hot water from the faucet to run over the tofu, while I simultaneously pour boiling water from a pot over the triangles. This hot water bath completely leeches all remnants of oil from the tofu, resulting in tofu that you would never imagine as having been deep fried.
• Pat dry the tofu and serve with rice or noodles and a little shoyu, or use the fried tofu in another recipe.