Pan-Fried Crispy Teppanyaki Tofu
平底锅版铁板脆皮豆腐，赛过路边摊 · pan chinese cuisine
Teppanyaki tofu is a common find at Chinese street carts. This version cooks it in a regular frying pan with a cumin-chili sauce. The author notes the sauce amount given here is exactly enough for one full plate in her multi-function pan; scale the seasonings proportionally if you use more or less tofu.
Gus WhitfieldRetired firefighter in Texas, been smoking brisket since before it was cool. Low and slow is the only way. Still burn the rice sometimes, don't judge.Nutrition & allergens
Contains:EggSesameSoyWheat
Some ingredients are not yet allergen-surveyed; this label is not exhaustive.
Per serving (4 servings)
- Energy (kcal)
- Unknown
- Protein (g)
- Unknown
- Fat (g)
- Unknown
- Carbs (g)
- Unknown
- Sodium (mg)
- Unknown
Estimated from verified ingredient data for the original formula — not lab values, and one dish is not a full meal.
tofu豆腐
1.0 whole
egg鸡蛋
1.0 piece
olive oil橄榄油
0.13 cup
1.0 clove
Chili flakes辣椒面
0.06 cup
Cumin孜然
0.03 cup
0.32 oz
0.21 oz
black pepper黑胡椒粉
to taste
1.8 oz
0.74 oz
0.53 oz
Techniques you'll use
- Pan-frying (jian) ↗
Sear food in a shallow layer of oil, one side at a time.
Steps
- 1
Step 1
Gather the simple ingredients: tofu, starch, egg, and garlic. Firm tofu is recommended because it is easier to handle — silken or soft tofu breaks easily when flipped.
✅ Done when: All ingredients are laid out and ready before you start.
- 2
Step 2
Slice the tofu into pieces.
✅ Done when: The tofu is cut into even slices of consistent thickness.
- 3
Step 3
Using a household stainless steel teaspoon or spoon, combine the coarse chili powder, cumin powder, white sesame seeds, sugar, minced garlic, and a small amount of black pepper.
✅ Done when: All the dry seasonings and garlic are added to the same bowl.
- 4
Step 4
Add the light soy sauce, oyster sauce, and aged vinegar to the bowl. (The author used reduced-sodium light soy sauce for a lighter option.)
✅ Done when: All three liquid seasonings are in the bowl with the dry mix.
- 5
Step 5
Stir the sauce together until well combined.
✅ Done when: The sauce is uniform, with the sugar and powders fully dissolved and mixed in.
- 6
Step 6
Beat the egg until evenly mixed, and prepare a small plate of dry starch.
✅ Done when: The egg is fully beaten with no streaks of white, and the starch is spread out on a plate.
- 7
Step 7
Brush a small amount of olive oil in the frying pan. Coat each tofu slice first in starch, then in egg, and arrange the slices neatly in the pan.
✅ Done when: Every slice is coated in starch and egg and arranged in a single layer in the pan.
Fry over low heat. Do not move the tofu at first; once the bottom is golden brown, flip each slice.
✅ Done when: The underside of each tofu slice is golden brown and releases cleanly from the pan.
While continuing to fry, brush the prepared sauce over the top surface of the tofu.
✅ Done when: Each slice is coated with the sauce while it continues frying.
Once the sauced underside is golden, the tofu is ready to eat. For an extra touch, flip it one more time — the chili powder and cumin become more fragrant with additional heating.
✅ Done when: The sauced bottom is golden brown and the pan smells fragrant from the toasted spices.
- 11
Step 11
Sprinkle with white sesame seeds and chopped scallion greens to finish the dish.
✅ Done when: The sesame seeds and scallion are evenly scattered over the tofu and the dish is plated.
- 12
Step 12
Serve hot — crispy outside, tender inside.
✅ Done when: The tofu is eaten while hot, with a crisp exterior and soft interior.
- 13
Step 13
The finished dish is ready.
✅ Done when: The plated dish is complete and ready to serve.