This vegan tonkatsu options tofu cutlets soaked in a smoky marinade, then breaded and fried till irresistibly golden and crispy. Serve with rice, cabbage, and a drizzle of tangy tonkatsu sauce for a comforting, Japanese-inspired meal that’s surprisingly straightforward to make!
You simply can’t go flawed with crispy tofu! There are such a lot of methods to make tofu scrumptious, however I all the time know that dishes like my tofu hen nuggets, crispy tofu steaks, and vegan fish fillet sandwiches will convert even the staunchest tofu skeptics. One among my favourite methods to create a crispy tofu recipe is by borrowing methods from non-vegan dishes — and right now we’re making tofu tonkatsu. It’s positively a brand new favourite!
Bounce to:
Conventional tonkatsu is made with a pork cutlet that is breaded and fried. Tofu is DELICIOUS breaded and fried. A fast soak in a smoky marinade provides it that traditional taste, and all of it will get served with rice, cabbage, and zippy tonkatsu sauce. You’ll be stunned at how straightforward it’s to make this delicious vegan model of a Japanese traditional in your personal kitchen!
Components You may Want
Under you will discover a checklist of elements on this recipe, with notes and substitutions. Scroll all the way in which to the underside of the publish to see the complete recipe, together with the quantity of every ingredient.
- Tofu. Further-firm tofu works finest. It has a pleasant agency texture, however remains to be delicate sufficient for absorbing marinade. Tremendous-firm tofu can be used (and doesn’t require urgent), but it surely will not maintain as a lot marinade.
- Soy sauce. We’re utilizing each common and reduced-sodium soy sauce. Should you do not feel like shopping for each, simply use common soy sauce and dilute it with about one-third water as a alternative for the reduced-sodium selection.
- Rice vinegar. Search for this within the worldwide aisle of the grocery retailer.
- Liquid smoke. That is made out of precise distilled smoke, and it’s very vegan. Most shops promote it close to the barbecue sauces.
- Sugar. Use natural sugar to maintain the recipe vegan. Typical sugar is usually processed utilizing animal bone char.
- Spices. We’re utilizing white pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. You will discover all of them within the spice aisle of most grocery shops.
- Ketchup.
- Vegan Worcestershire sauce. Watch out, as many manufacturers of Worcestershire sauce include anchovy paste. Entire Meals and Annie’s are vegan.
- Flour. I’ve solely examined the recipe utilizing all-purpose wheat flour, often known as white flour.
- Non-dairy milk. Use any unsweetened and unflavored selection, similar to almond, soy, or oat milk. Learn my information to dairy-free milks when you need assistance selecting.
- Cornstarch.
- Panko breadcrumbs.
- Salt.
- Vegetable oil.
- Accompaniments. Tonkatsu is historically served with rice and shredded cabbage. I additionally prefer to high mine with some toasted sesame seeds and scallions.
How It is Made
Under is an in depth picture tutorial on learn how to make this dish. Scroll all the way in which down if you would like to skip proper to the recipe!
Step 1: Press the tofu. You may need to press it for no less than half-hour with the intention to take away numerous moisture and make room for it to take in the marinade. Should you’ve by no means pressed tofu earlier than, don’t be concerned — I’ve obtained an entire information to urgent tofu.
Steps 2-4. Marinate the tofu. Stir collectively the low-sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, liquid smoke, sugar, onion powder, and garlic powder. Minimize the tofu into slabs and mix it with the marinade. Let it soak for no less than half-hour.
Step 5: Combine the sauce. Stir ketchup, vegan Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and garlic powder collectively in a small bowl. That is your vegan tonkatsu sauce.
Step 6: Put together dipping stations. Place flour in a single bowl. In one other bowl, whisk collectively non-dairy milk, flour, and cornstarch to make your batter. And in a 3rd bowl, make the breading by stirring collectively panko breadcrumbs, flour, salt, and white pepper.
Steps 7 & 8: Get able to fry. Start heating up your oil in a medium skillet. Whereas your oil heats up, dip considered one of your tofu slabs within the flour. Get it nicely coated. Subsequent, dip it within the batter, then the breading.
Step 9: Fry the tofu. Place as many slabs in your sizzling skillet as you’ll be able to match with out crowding, coating every one utilizing the strategy above. Fry them for a couple of minutes on both sides till golden brown and crisp. Allow them to drain on a wire rack once they’re executed.
Step 10: Serve. I prefer to slice my tofu tonkatsu into strips earlier than serving, however that is non-compulsory. Serve it with rice, cabbage, and your tonkatsu sauce, together with some scallions and toasted sesame seeds.
Variations
- Tofu katsu curry. Skip the tonkatsu sauce, and as an alternative borrow the curry sauce from my eggplant katsu curry.
- Vegan “hen” katsu. Skip the liquid smoke within the marinade, and as an alternative add a pair tablespoons of dietary yeast flakes. It’s going to give your cutlets a barely totally different taste that is extra consistent with hen katsu.
- Katsu sando. Stuff your vegan tonkatsu cutlets between two slices of bread with cabbage and katsu sauce to create a vegan model of the traditional Japanese sandwich.
Steadily Requested Questions
I have not examined a gluten-free model of this recipe. If you would like to provide it a attempt, use all-purpose gluten-free flour, vegan gluten-free breadcrumbs, gluten-free tamari, and ensure your Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free.
That ought to work! I like to recommend spritzing the cutlets with a little bit of oil after breading, though this is not required. Then bake on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet at 425° for about 20 to 25 minutes, or till golden and crispy, flipping about midway by means of. That is the strategy I used to make my baked tofu nuggets.
Leftover tofu tonkatsu cutlets will hold in an hermetic container within the fridge for about 3 days. To reheat, place them underneath a broiler and broil both sides till scorching and crispy once more.
Extra Vegan Japanese Recipes
Like this recipe? If that’s the case, please cease again and depart me a evaluate and ranking beneath when you attempt it! Additionally you should definitely observe me on Fb, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my e-newsletter for extra recipes like this one!
📖 Recipe
Tofu Tonkatsu
This vegan tonkatsu options tofu cutlets soaked in a smoky marinade, then breaded and fried till irresistibly golden and crispy. Serve with rice, cabbage, and a drizzle of tangy tonkatsu sauce for a comforting, Japanese-inspired meal that’s surprisingly straightforward to make!
Components
- 1 (14 ounce/397 gram) package deal extra-firm tofu
For the Marinade
- ⅓ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon natural granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
For the Tonkatsu Sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons natural granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
For the Batter
- ½ cup unflavored and unsweetened non-dairy milk
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
For the Breading
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper, or extra to style (as much as ½ teaspoon)
For Frying
- ½ cup vegetable oil, or as wanted
For Serving
- Cooked rice
- Shredded cabbage
- Chopped scallions
- Toasted sesame seeds
Directions
-
Take away the tofu from the packaging, then drain the water and press the tofu for no less than half-hour.
-
Whereas the tofu presses, stir the marinade elements collectively in a small container or bowl.
-
When the tofu has completed urgent, lower the tofu block into 4 slabs by slicing lengthwise, parallel to the widest sides to maximise floor space.
-
Plate the tofu slabs right into a shallow dish and pour the marinade over it. Let the slabs soak for about half-hour (Notice 1), often turning the items and spooning the marinade over them.
-
Whereas the tofu marinates, stir the sauce elements collectively in a small bowl.
-
Put together your dipping stations. Place the dredging flour into one bowl. Whisk the batter elements collectively in a second bowl. Stir the breading elements collectively in a 3rd bowl.
-
Add oil to a medium nonstick skillet, getting it about ¼ inch deep. Place the skillet over medium-high warmth to start heating up the oil.
-
When the oil begins to shimmer, take away considered one of your tofu slabs from the marinade. Gently shake off any extra liquid, then dip the slab into the bowl of flour, getting it flippantly coated on all sides. Dip it within the batter subsequent, once more getting it nicely coated, then dip it within the breading.
-
Fastidiously place the coated tofu slab into the skillet of sizzling oil. Repeat the dipping course of, including as many tofu slabs as you’ll be able to match with out crowding. I prefer to prepare dinner two at a time. You possibly can prepare dinner the remaining slabs in a second batch, including oil to the skillet if wanted. Prepare dinner the tofu for 3 to 4 minutes on both sides, till golden brown and crispy. Transfer them to a wire rack to empty once they’re executed frying.
-
Optionally, lower every tofu cutlet into skinny slices. Serve over rice and cabbage with tonkatsu sauce and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds and chopped scallions.
Notes
- Be certain to cowl the dish and place it within the fridge if marinating for greater than 2 hours. You possibly can depart it within the fridge to marinate for as much as 24 hours.
- Vitamin data doesn’t embody rice or cabbage.
Vitamin
Energy: 399kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 14g | Fats: 17g | Saturated Fats: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 10g | Monounsaturated Fats: 4g | Trans Fats: 0.1g | Sodium: 1585mg | Potassium: 387mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 144IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 126mg | Iron: 4mg
