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!

You simply can’t go unsuitable with crispy tofu! There are such a lot of methods to make tofu scrumptious, however I at all times know that dishes like my tofu chicken nuggets, crispy tofu steaks, and vegan fish fillet sandwiches will convert even the staunchest tofu skeptics. One in all my favourite methods to create a crispy tofu recipe is by borrowing methods from non-vegan dishes — and right this moment 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 shocked at how straightforward it’s to make this delicious vegan model of a Japanese traditional in your individual kitchen!

Elements You will Want

Under you may discover a listing of elements on this recipe, with notes and substitutions. Scroll all the way in which to the underside of the submit to see the total recipe, together with the quantity of every ingredient.

Tofu. Further-firm tofu works finest. It has a pleasant agency texture, however remains to be gentle sufficient for absorbing marinade. Tremendous-firm tofu will also be used (and doesn’t require urgent), however it will not maintain as a lot marinade.
Soy sauce. We’re utilizing each common and reduced-sodium soy sauce. In case you do not feel like shopping for each, simply use common soy sauce and dilute it with about one-third water as a substitute for the reduced-sodium selection.
Rice vinegar. Search for this within the worldwide aisle of the grocery retailer.
Liquid smoke. That is constituted 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. Standard sugar is usually processed utilizing animal bone char.
Spices. We’re utilizing white pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. You could find 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, also called white flour.
Non-dairy milk. Use any unsweetened and unflavored selection, comparable to almond, soy, or oat milk. Learn my guide to dairy-free milks for those who need assistance selecting.
Cornstarch.
Panko breadcrumbs.
Salt.
Vegetable oil.
Accompaniments. Tonkatsu is historically served with rice and shredded cabbage. I additionally wish to prime mine with some toasted sesame seeds and scallions.

How It is Made

Under is an in depth picture tutorial on the best way 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 will wish to press it for not less than half-hour with a purpose to take away plenty of moisture and make room for it to absorb the marinade. In case you’ve by no means pressed tofu earlier than, don’t fret — I’ve bought a whole guide to pressing tofu.

Tofu slabs marinating in a dish of sauce.

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 not 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.

White wooden surface set with three bowls of flour, batter, and breading.

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.

Hand dipping a tofu cutlet in a bowl of flour.

Steps 7 & 8: Get able to fry. Start heating up your oil in a medium skillet. Whereas your oil heats up, dip certainly one of your tofu slabs within the flour. Get it properly coated. Subsequent, dip it within the batter, then the breading.

Two Tofu Tonkatsu cutlets frying in a skillet.

Step 9: Fry the tofu. Place as many slabs in your scorching skillet as you may match with out crowding, coating each utilizing the strategy above. Fry them for a couple of minutes on either side till golden brown and crisp. Allow them to drain on a wire rack once they’re carried out.

Plate of Tofu Tonkatsu with napkin and scallions in the background.

Step 10: Serve. I wish to slice my tofu tonkatsu into strips earlier than serving, however that is elective. 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 a substitute borrow the curry sauce from my eggplant katsu curry.
Vegan “hen” katsu. Skip the liquid smoke within the marinade, and as a substitute add a pair tablespoons of dietary yeast flakes. It will give your cutlets a barely totally different taste that is extra according to 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.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

I have never examined a gluten-free model of this recipe. If you would like to present it a attempt, use all-purpose gluten-free flour, vegan gluten-free breadcrumbs, gluten-free tamari, and ensure your Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free.

Can I bake my tofu tonkatsu?

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. That is the strategy I used to make my baked tofu nuggets.

How ought to I retailer and reheat leftovers of this recipe?

Leftover tofu tonkatsu cutlets will maintain in an hermetic container within the fridge for about 3 days. To reheat, place them below a broiler and broil either side till scorching and crispy once more.

Extra Vegan Japanese Recipes

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Recipe

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Course Entree, Predominant Course

Delicacies American, Japanese

Prep Time 15

Cook dinner Time 15

Inactive Time 30

Elements

1 (14 ounce/397 gram) bundle 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 not 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, minimize 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 (Word 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 certainly 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 evenly coated on all sides. Dip it within the batter subsequent, once more getting it properly coated, then dip it within the breading.
Rigorously place the coated tofu slab into the skillet of scorching oil. Repeat the dipping course of, including as many tofu slabs as you may match with out crowding. I wish to cook dinner two at a time. You possibly can cook dinner the remaining slabs in a second batch, including oil to the skillet if wanted. Cook dinner the tofu for 3 to 4 minutes on either side, till golden brown and crispy. Transfer them to a wire rack to empty once they’re carried out frying.
Optionally, minimize 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 embrace rice or cabbage.