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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Published: Mar 17, 2023 by Melanie McDonald · This post contains affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 9 Comments

    Sticky Maple Garlic Tofu

    5 from 11 votes
    JUMP TO RECIPE WATCH VIDEO
    Sticky Garlic Maple Tofu

    Sticky, saucy, sweet and savoury pan-fried Maple Garlic Tofu. Easy to make in about 20 minutes, packed with flavour, and so good served with rice and veggies for a quick dinner!

    a bowl of maple garlic tofu, rice, and broccoli

    Sticky Maple Garlic Tofu! This is one for the sweet and savoury fans amongst you.

    We're talking tofu dredged in seasoned flour, pan-fried into nice little buttery, chewy, crispy squares, then simmered in a quick, sticky-sweet, buttery, garlicky maple sauce.

    It's sweet. It's savoury. It's caramelized. It's very garlicky. And it's up there on the same level as my Baked Tofu when it comes to fave tofu recipes I cannot get enough of. Because I mean...It's fried tofu in sauce. What's not to love?

    In this post - Everything you need to make Garlic Maple Tofu:

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How To Make Garlic Maple Tofu
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Tofu Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Reviews & Questions

    Ingredients

    Here is what you'll be needing to make this quick garlicky tofu recipe:

    tofu, flour, vegan butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, garlic, apple cider vinegar, salt & pepper

    And a couple of ingredient notes:

    • Tofu - This should be extra firm so it's nice and sturdy. I don't recommend pressing it for this recipe because we want it to stay perfectly intact, and we need some moisture for the seasonings to stick to.
    • Flour - If you eat gluten-free use cornstarch instead. Don't use arrowroot powder.
    • Vegan butter - Make sure it's a good tasting one as it's a major ingredient in the sauce. You can use olive oil instead if you prefer. Sorry oil-free folks. There is no oil-free alternative for this recipe.
    • Vinegar - I used apple cider vinegar but you could use rice vinegar instead.
    • Soy sauce - Coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce will work too if you're watching your sodium.

    How To Make Garlic Maple Tofu

    Let's make tofu magic happen! First up, cut the tofu into squares, season, and dredge it in flour.

    floured and seasoned tofu squares on a plate

    Fry it in vegan butter until golden.

    fried tofu squares in a pan

    To the crispy tofu, add the garlic, then very shortly after the sauce-makers (maple syrup, apple cider vinegar and soy sauce). Let it all caramelize, (while basting regularly) and serve when sticky, very golden, and delicious!

    sticky caramelized tofu squares in a pan

    Serving Suggestions

    Maple Garlic Tofu is just perfect with noodles, or served over a pile of hot, steaming coconut basmati rice (or coconut lime rice), with a green vegetable side. Broccoli (steamed, roasted, or air-fried) and green beans work very well. A scattering of sesame seeds, green onions, or chili flakes wouldn't go amiss.

    It's also great with a simple stir-fry, Lemon Orzo Salad, crisp green salad, Peanut Noodles, or in a deliciously messy sandwich-type situation!

    Recipe FAQs

    Why is my tofu sticking to the pan?

    To start it's important to use a good quality non-stick pan or a very well-seasoned cast iron pan. Tofu will stick if the pan isn't preheated well (make sure it's very hot), and if there isn't enough oil/vegan butter. This shouldn't be a problem with this recipe because quite a lot of butter is used. If you used less than the recipe calls for though that could be a contributing factor. Also once the tofu squares are in the pan, don't touch them for a few minutes. It's important to wait until a golden crust is formed. Then they will release much easier when it's time to flip.

    More Tofu Recipes

    • a bowl of ginger tofu and rice
      Ginger Tofu
    • a baking tray with triangles of baked tofu and a couple of pretty chive flours
      Baked Tofu
    • a bowl of nutritional yeast tofu garnished with parsley
      Nutritional Yeast Tofu
    • a bowl of tofu, rice and bok choy
      Five Spice Tofu

    If you try this recipe, let me know how you like it by leaving a comment and rating below! And be sure to join my mailing list for more deliciousness!

    Recipe

    sticky garlic maple tfu with rice and broccoli

    Sticky Maple Garlic Tofu

    Author: Melanie McDonald
    5 from 11 votes
    Sticky, saucy, sweet and savoury pan-fried Maple Garlic Tofu. Easy to make in about 20 minutes, packed with flavour, and so good served with rice and veggies for a quick dinner!
    PRINT PIN SAVE Saved!
    PREP TIME: 5 minutes minutes
    COOK TIME: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes minutes
    Servings 2

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 package (about 14 oz /400 grams) extra firm tofu , pack sizes vary. It doesn't have to be exact.
    • a few pinches salt and pepper
    • ¼ cup (32 grams) all-purpose flour
    • 3 tablespoons vegan butter , or 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 4 cloves garlic , minced
    • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar , or rice wine vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • ⅓ cup (80 ml) pure maple syrup , NOT pancake syrup
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • Open the tofu. If it's packed in water drain it and shake off any excess liquid but don't completely dry it or press it. Cut the block of tofu into 4 evenly sized pieces. First, cut it in half horizontally then cut each of those rectangles into 2 to create 4 squares. This process is shown clearly in my video.
    • Lay the tofu pieces on a plate in a single layer. Season with a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper, then sprinkle flour generously over the surface, giving it a gentle rub in with your hand, then flip and do the same on the other side.
    • Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
    • Once very hot, place the tofu in the skillet and let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes until golden. Turn and cook the other side for a few more minutes until golden.
    • Turn the heat down to medium-low then add the chopped garlic around the tofu and let it cook for about a minute stirring a few times so it cooks evenly. Don't let it get brown or it will become bitter.
    • To the pan add the vinegar, soy sauce, and maple syrup. Stir or shake the pan to combine then bring the sauce to a simmer. Tip the pan to one side, scoop up some sauce with a spoon, and baste the tofu with it regularly. Cook for about 5 minutes until the sauce is slightly thickened, turning the tofu over about halfway so it browns evenly.
    • Remove from the stove and serve immediately.

    NUTRITION

    Serving: 1piece of tofu | Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 385mg | Potassium: 237mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 401IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did you make this recipe?Rate it & leave feedback in the comments section below. I love seeing your remakes too. Tag @avirtualvegan on Instagram! 🌟

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Rachael says

      August 12, 2023 at 1:23 am

      5 stars
      Included the garlic, maple syrup and vegan butter and guess what? It was delicious! Thanks for another great recipe.

      Reply
      • Melanie McDonald says

        August 12, 2023 at 10:29 am

        Ha ha! It's amazing what a difference actually following the recipe makes!😆 So pleased you enjoyed it Rachael!

        Reply
    2. Alyson says

      July 18, 2023 at 11:40 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for this amazing recipe! I’ve been wanting to try this for a while but needed maple syrup, so worth the wait. I didn’t add pepper as I don’t like it but everything else was to recipe. Definitely recommend. I loved it, had it with avocado, sweetcorn & pasta & it was so tasty & delicious.

      Reply
    3. Shona says

      June 05, 2023 at 9:31 am

      Maple syrup too expensive so we didn’t use it and we don’t like garlic. We are oil free so forget the vegan butter. unhealthy. Was pretty tasteless. Don’t think I’d make it again.

      Reply
      • Cindy says

        August 03, 2023 at 3:49 pm

        Is this a joke? Of course there wasn't any flavour, you omitted anything with flavour

        Reply
    4. Patty says

      April 05, 2023 at 4:43 pm

      5 stars
      Finally got around to making this and wow is it good! My husband and I loved it. Super easy and just one pan. I followed the recipe exactly and it is so delicious. Served it with rice and asparagus. Definitely going in my regular rotation. Thanks for this!

      Reply
    5. Christine says

      March 29, 2023 at 6:39 pm

      5 stars
      I just tried this and replaced the tofu with cauliflower and it was terrible. Just kidding. In all seriousness, I had some cauliflower that I needed to use and I remembered seeing this recipe on instagram and I thought I would give it a shot with cauliflower. It turned out super delicious - the sauce is so good. Definitely will be trying this again with tofu, as well! Also hopefully you do find this funny, it just reminded me of the cauliflower recipe debacle from a few months ago. Haha.

      Reply
      • Melanie McDonald says

        March 29, 2023 at 8:29 pm

        Ha ha! You made me spit out my tea 🤣. So funny.
        What a great idea though. I need to try it. I can just imagine how well it would work.

        Reply
    6. Judy says

      March 19, 2023 at 9:52 am

      5 stars
      I made this for lunch today. It was excellent. I will definitely be adding this to my regular rotation. Thanks

      Reply

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