Waffle Iron Crispy Tofu
Make waffle iron crispy tofu with very little effort! It’s deliciously meaty in texture, and can be paired with a variety of toppings. My kids love it with the dipping sauce I’ve included the recipe for.
I got the idea to try this from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken. I made an Instagram reel of my process that is currently at 7 million views and counting.
View this post on Instagram
I was nervous to put tofu in my waffle maker. Would it stick? Would this be a waste of tofu? Would it actually get crispy? Turns out, this method is extremely effective at turning mushy tofu into crispy, chewy, meaty tofu. It’s faster than heating the oven to bake it, and uses less oil than pan-frying it. Let me show you how to make waffle iron crispy tofu!
How to Make Waffle Iron Crispy Tofu
Get your waffle iron pre-heating. I use this Hamilton Beach waffle iron and it is very non-stick. For tofu, you do have to spray both sides with oil or it will stick, however. I love this oil sprayer (although some people tell me theirs gets clogged, mine doesn’t.).
Buy extra firm or super firm tofu. Open the package, drain the liquid off, and cut into four slabs, cutting lengthwise.
Put some cornstarch or arrowroot starch in a shallow dish and coat each side of the tofu lightly with it.
Making sure your waffle iron is sprayed with oil, place the four coated slabs into the hot waffle maker.
The, clasp the waffle maker shut, and if you’d like to really squeeze all the water out, put some heavy objects on top (I used a heavy cookbook and a cast iron pan) of the waffle maker so it’s like a tofu press and a crisping machine at the same time.
Next, set the timer for 10 minutes, to give it plenty of time to get nice and crispy. Meanwhile, mix up the quick sauce if you’d like to use it.
Slice up the green onions and stir them together with the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, maple syrup, sriracha and sesame seeds.
Once the tofu looks crispy and golden, remove it with tongs (that are not metal, so you don’t scrape up your waffle iron) and place it on a plate.
What to Eat It With
Our favorite is to enjoy this crispy tofu with the green onion dipping sauce, but you can go so many ways with it! Try waffle tofu with:
- mashed avocado and everything bagel seasoning
- go sweet with peanut butter and sliced banana
- cut and dip in BBQ sauce or gochujang sauce
- cut up and add to stir fry or peanut noodles
FAQ
Can you marinate the tofu before putting it in the waffle iron?
Yes, you can marinate it or add seasoning but it will stick more and be more messy. I personally like to keep it plain and add the flavor on top. It is faster and cleaner, and I feel like the flavor is more in the surface of each bite.
I have a round waffle maker, can I make this recipe?
Yes, just cut it into whatever shapes you need to make it fit, and you may need to do two batches if it’s very small.
Do you eat this for breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Any! It’s also a great high-protein snack.
Is tofu healthy? Does tofu increase estrogen?
There is a BIG debate about this in the comments of my reel. Pretty strong tofu opinions out there!
If you’ve ever heard that soy contains “estrogen” and wondered whether tofu is actually good for you, here’s some good news: the science is much more reassuring than the internet often makes it sound.
Soy contains naturally occurring compounds called isoflavones, which are a type of phytoestrogen. Despite the name, phytoestrogens don’t simply act like human estrogen in the body. They interact with estrogen receptors differently and much more weakly. See this study.
In fact, research has associated soy consumption and soy isoflavones with several potential health benefits. Clinical trials and meta-analyses have found modest improvements in cholesterol levels, while observational research has associated higher soy intake with lower cardiovascular disease risk. Research on soy and breast cancer has also been reassuring, with some studies finding a lower risk among people who consume more soy foods.
So there’s no need to avoid tofu because it contains phytoestrogens. Tofu is a nutritious whole-food source of plant protein, and soy foods can absolutely be part of a healthy diet.
More Delicious Tofu Recipes (perfect for tofu beginners!)
If you make this, please come back to leave a star rating and comment!
Waffle Iron Crispy Tofu
Equipment
- waffle iron I love this one
- tongs to remove tofu from waffle iron such as these
Ingredients
- 1 14-16 oz package extra firm or super firm tofu
- 3 TBSP cornstarch or arrowroot powder
Green Onion Dipping Sauce
- 3 green onions, sliced
- 2 TBSP soy sauce or tamari
- 1 TBSP maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce or sriracha
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Get your waffle maker preheating. Spray each side with oil of your choice, making sure oil gets into the crevices. Oil is necessary to make sure it doesn't stick.
- Cut open the package of tofu, drain the liquid, and cut it lengthwise into four slabs, about 1/2 inch thick each. Place cornstarch into a shallow dish, and coat each side of the tofu in it. Brush it off so it's a light coating.
- Place each coated slab of tofu into the waffle maker. See the blog post for photos.
- Shut the waffle maker closed and place something heavy on top if it doesn't clasp shut. This helps press the water out and steam away as it cooks.
- Set a timer for 10 minutes. While it cooks, make the dipping sauce or other toppings of choice (our other favorite is barbeque sauce!). Check it, and cook 5-10 minutes longer if it's still not super golden and crispy. The length of time will depend on the waffle maker.
- Use silicone tongs to loosen the tofu, remove it and set it on a plate.
Green Onion Dipping sauce
- Chop the green onions and stir all together.
- Either cut the tofu up and dip little squares into the sauce, or pour it over each slice and enjoy with a fork.
Notes
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