Why isn't my tofu getting crispy in the oven?

First off, you may have not baked your tofu at a high enough temperature . High heat is important for getting your tofu to turn out nice and crispy. Aside from that, I think it's important to coat the tofu in something to help it crisp up.

Is tofu less fattening than meat?

And while chicken breast is also slightly lower in fat, tofu comes out on top in this category because it contains all monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, aka the “good” kind ; whereas chicken contains a little bit of saturated fat and cholesterol, which tofu is free of.

Is tofu high in calories and carbs?

Tofu is relatively low in carbs , with a100-gram serving containing only 1.2 grams of carbohydrates. The same amount of tofu has 83 calories, 5.3 grams of fat, and 10 grams of protein. It can be suitable for the ketogenic diet because of the division of its fat, protein, and carbohydrate content.

What not to mix with tofu?

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

What to use instead of cornstarch for crispy tofu?

Substitutions: If you prefer not to cook with cornstarch, you can substitute in an equal volume of all-purpose flour or potato starch . Tofu: This recipe can also be made with medium-firm tofu, but you'll need to be a bit more gentle while pressing and coating it.

Is crispy tofu unhealthy?

Despite the nutritional benefits of tofu, fried tofu is not a healthy food choice . The problem lies in the frying cooking method. Although tofu is naturally low in calories and fat, frying adds tons of fat grams to the tofu and drastically increases the dish's calorie count.

Is tofu high in calories?

Tofu is a low-calorie food , with around 70-100 calories per serving, depending on the type and serving size. This makes it a good choice for people looking to manage their weight or maintain a healthy diet.

Is tofu high or low in calories?

Tofu is a low-calorie food that's high in protein, which may help you to feel fuller for longer so you eat less of your meals over time. May improve the metabolic profile of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a hormonal imbalance in women that can lead to weight gain and increased diabetes risk.

Is tofu good for you calories?

Nutritionally, tofu offers much to love. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, half a cup of firm tofu offers 21.8 grams of protein with 181 calories and 11 grams of fat. Most of that fat is of the healthy polyunsaturated kind. The high level of protein makes tofu a good alternative to animal-derived meat.

Is Fried Tofu high in calories?

Frying tofu can give it a crispy texture, but comes at a cost – it can be high in calories , up to three times more than baked or air-fried tofu. This is because frying requires added oil as a heat conductor, which cooks the tofu evenly but also makes it absorb more oil, resulting in more fat and calories.

Crispy Baked Tofu Tacos Recipe — Registered Dietitian Columbia SC

This recipe for crispy baked tofu tacos with cilantro lime slaw gets an umami coating from a combination of nutritional yeast and soy sauce!Inspired by the best vegetarian tacos I’ve had on a trip to Sonoma!

A few years ago when I was visiting my sister-in-law and her husband in Sonoma, I had the BEST vegetarian tacos of my life.

After an early morning cross country flight, we stopped at Pappas and Pollo for lunch and a beer. It was my brother-in-laws high school hangout, because living in Sonoma your high school hangouts are infinitely cooler than the McDonalds parking lot you loitered in. Their menu is filled with everything smoked, braised pork, carne asada, and jumbo prawn, but my brother-in-law swore that his favorite thing to order was their house tofu. So when a 30-year-old dude is recommending tofu, obvs that’s what you’ve gotta get.

It’s been years since I had those tofu tacos, but I swear I remember exactly how they taste. You know that thing when a food is exactly the thing you’re craving in a moment? Paired with a cold IPA, basically every salsa from the salsa bar, and a big scoop of black beans and rice to fill my empty belly, it was textbook joyful eating. And that tofu y’all…DREAMY. Yes, I’m actually talking about tofu here.

Crispy Baked Tofu Tacos Recipe — Registered Dietitian Columbia SC - Rachael Hartley Nutrition (2)

Crispy Baked Tofu Tacos Recipe — Registered Dietitian Columbia SC - Rachael Hartley Nutrition (3)

I was unsuccessful in my attempt at getting the recipe, but I was successful in getting a single ingredient from our server - nutritional yeast. Hey, better than nothing! Thankfully that clue turned out to be kinda like getting the corner pieces of a puzzle, and experimenting with a couple of recipes I found online, I think I was able to (mostly) recreate it with this crispy baked tofu taco recipe.

The Best Crispy Baked Tofu Recipe

The trick for making this crispy baked tofu was a mixture of nutritional yeast, soy sauce, and cumin for spice. It mixes up into a thick marinade that gets soaked up by the tofu, then bakes up into a crispy coating. Y’all, it’s so good I was doing that thing where I licked up the little bits leftover on the baking sheet once it cooled - my husband saw and DEFINITELY judged me.

I served these crispy baked tofu tacos with a quick cilantro-lime slaw, one of my go-to side dishes, and a creamy tomatillo sauce made from a blend of yogurt and jarred tomatillo salsa.

Crispy Baked Tofu Taco Recipe Notes

This crispy baked tofu taco recipe is pretty easy to make. While the tofu gets nice and toasty in the oven, whip up the easy slaw and creamy salsa verde sauce. However, there are a few tricks I’ve learned from making this recipe many, many times.

Don’t forget to press the tofu. This removes extra liquids and ensures the tofu will get nice and crispy in the oven.
If you like, feel free to let the tofu marinade even longer than 30 minutes. This is something you can do in the morning them bake the crispy tofu at night.
The cilantro-lime slaw is also something you can make in advance and let sit in the fridge. It’ll soften up the cabbage as it sits.
Be sure to use a full-fat yogurt for the most flavor! I prefer regular yogurt for this recipe, as Greek yogurt can be a bit thick.

If you like this crispy baked tofu tacos recipe, follow my taco recipes PInterest board for more inspiration.

Crispy Baked Tofu Tacos Recipe — Registered Dietitian Columbia SC - Rachael Hartley Nutrition (5)

This crispy baked tofu taco recipe was originally published December 2015. Recipe, images and text have been updated to give you the best content possible!

Serves 3-4ish

Ingredients:

Tofu:

1 16-ounce block extra-firm tofu
4 tablespoons nutritional yeast
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Cilantro-Lime Slaw:

4 cups shredded cabbage
2 green onions, sliced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 lime, juiced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Tacos:

1/3 cup plain, full-fat yogurt
1/4 cup salsa verde
Corn tortillas

Directions:

Drain tofu, then wrap it with a clean kitchen towel and weigh down with a heavy skillet or can to remove liquid for 30 minutes.
Cut tofu into 3/4-inch cubes. In a large bowl, whisk together soy sauce, nutritional yeast, cumin and olive oil. Season with black pepper. Add tofu cubes, toss to coat, and marinate at least 30 minutes.
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Place tofu cubes evenly on a large, oiled baking sheet, drizzling with extra marinade. Bake 35-40 minutes until golden, flipping halfway.
While tofu is baking, make slaw. Mix cabbage, green onions and cilantro in a large bowl. Toss with lime juice and olive oil, and season with salt. Next make sauce for tacos. Whisk together yogurt and salsa verde, and season with salt.
Char tortillas lightly over low flame on a gas stove for 30ish seconds. Serve tortillas filled with a scoop of slaw and baked tofu, topped with salsa verde sauce.