Vegan Crispy Tofu Banh Mi (Print)

Golden tofu, tangy pickled vegetables, and spicy sriracha mayo over fragrant jasmine rice.

# Ingredients:

→ Tofu

01 - 14 oz firm tofu, pressed and cut into ¾-inch cubes
02 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
05 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

→ Pickled Vegetables

06 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
07 - 1 small daikon radish, julienned
08 - ½ cucumber, thinly sliced
09 - ½ cup rice vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon sugar
11 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Rice

12 - 2 cups cooked jasmine rice

→ Sriracha Mayo

13 - ¼ cup vegan mayonnaise
14 - 1 to 2 tablespoons sriracha
15 - 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

→ Garnishes

16 - ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
17 - 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
18 - 1 small handful scallions, sliced
19 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
20 - Lime wedges

# Directions:

01 - In a bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until dissolved. Add carrot, daikon, and cucumber. Toss to coat and set aside to pickle, stirring occasionally.
02 - Pat tofu cubes dry. In a large bowl, toss tofu with soy sauce, then sprinkle with cornstarch and toss to coat evenly.
03 - Heat sesame oil and vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu in a single layer. Cook, turning occasionally, until golden and crispy on all sides, approximately 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat.
04 - Cook jasmine rice according to package instructions if not already prepared.
05 - Combine vegan mayonnaise, sriracha, and lime juice in a small bowl, stirring until well incorporated.
06 - Divide cooked rice among four bowls. Top each bowl with drained pickled vegetables, crispy tofu cubes, and garnishes of cilantro, jalapeño, scallions, and sesame seeds. Drizzle with sriracha mayo and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Crispy tofu that actually tastes good, not like a sad protein substitute, because we coat it just right.
  • The quick pickles are done in minutes and taste like you've been tending them all day.
  • Everything comes together in bowls, so it's somehow both impressive and completely low-stress to serve.
02 -
  • Pressing your tofu is non-negotiable if you want crispy results—I learned this the hard way by wrapping it in a towel and hoping for the best, which never works.
  • Don't crowd the tofu in the pan; give each piece space to breathe and brown, or you'll end up steaming instead of crisping.
03 -
  • If your tofu doesn't get crispy, your oil wasn't hot enough or you crowded the pan—next time, wait for a real shimmer and give each piece breathing room.
  • Make the pickles while the tofu cooks, and you've got a complete meal in less time than ordering takeout.
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