Welcome to the tofu sandwich of your desires! This unbelievable vegan sandwich stars crispy breaded tofu, tangy Russian dressing, and crunchy pickles that create a taste explosion everybody will love.
Right here’s your final tofu sandwich: crispy breaded tofu, tangy Russian dressing, and crunchy pickles create a taste explosion that may have you ever wanting seconds after the primary chew! We modeled this recipe after a crispy fish sandwich, proper all the way down to that savory creamy sauce, and it’s acquired all essentially the most satisfying taste and texture contrasts. We examined it on a pal who claims to not like tofu, and she or he wolfed it proper up! It’s a enjoyable plant-based recipe and vegan dinner to impress your family and friends.
The keys to this tofu sandwich
Right here’s the factor a few tofu sandwich: tofu has a really tender texture. It’s so tender, actually, that it may be onerous to detect texture-wise when served on bread in case you’re not cautious. That’s why we created this crispy breaded tofu. To make a satisfying sandwich, you’ve acquired to have that contrasting texture of the protein.
Add to that veggies, crunchy pickles, and Russian dressing, which is that irresistibly tangy condiment that makes a Massive Mac so satiating. (I’m beginning to salivate simply excited about it!) Right here’s what you’ll want for this tofu sandwich recipe:
- Further agency tofu
- Soy sauce
- Panko (plain unseasoned)
- Cornstarch
- Onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper
- Olive oil
- Buns
- Shredded lettuce or greens
- Pickles
- Russian Dressing
Ideas for making breaded tofu
The star of the present on this sandwich is the panko breaded tofu, which provides it a stunning crisp exterior much like the vibe of a crispy fish sandwich. Panko is a Japanese-style breadcrumb combination that’s airier and lighter than conventional breadcrumbs. Right here you’ll press a mix of panko and seasoned cornstarch onto the surface of the tofu, then pan fry till it’s crispy. Listed below are just a few ideas for the method:
- There’s no must press the tofu! Many tofu recipes press out the liquid, which takes half-hour to 1 hour. However there’s no want for a wait time with this recipe! Merely pat it dry with a towel.
- Slice the tofu into rectangles. We prefer to slice the tofu into 8 skinny slabs lengthwise, then in half for 16 rectangles complete. You are able to do different shapes, however these are straightforward to work with. Crucial half is having the tofu comparatively skinny so it will get totally seasoned.
- Dip the tofu in soy sauce. Place the tofu slabs in a shallow bowl with 4 tablespoons soy sauce, dipping both sides in, then take away them to a plate. You gained’t use all this soy sauce, it simply must be a great quantity so you possibly can dip within the items. Discard the rest.
- Dip the tofu slabs into the panko breading combine, urgent it in along with your fingers to assist it adhere to every facet.
- Pan fry the tofu in batches. Warmth 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet (or sufficient to cowl the underside) and add half the tofu slabs. Cook dinner on medium excessive warmth for two to three minutes per facet till browned and crispy. Repeat with the second batch of tofu.
A word on the buns
It’s useful to have a sturdy bun with a texture like an artisan bread for this tofu sandwich, like a ciabatta roll. Many hamburger buns are tender and fluffy, which make for a much less satisfying sandwich for the reason that tofu has a tender texture. These work for proteins like hamburger and fish which have plenty of texture, nevertheless it’s not as scrumptious with tofu.
For vegan, ensure the bun has vegan elements. Most ciabatta rolls are vegan, as are artisan breads like sourdough or no knead bread.
Making the Russian dressing
You already know that creamy, savory sauce that makes you unable to cease inhaling a Reuben sandwich or a Massive Mac? Sure, that’s Russian dressing. It’s very straightforward to make at residence, and a slather of it makes any sandwich undeniably scrumptious. It’s made from mayonnaise, ketchup, and some different key tangy and savory elements that work collectively to make it altogether addicting.
Russian dressing takes this breaded tofu sandwich excessive, so ensure to incorporate it once you make the sandwich! When you eat totally vegan, ensure to make the sauce with vegan mayonnaise.
Sides to serve with this tofu sandwich
Tips on how to flip this tofu sandwich right into a meal? Add a facet of coleslaw, fries, or salad and also you’ve acquired a hearty dinner! Listed below are just a few methods we’d decorate it:
Is tofu wholesome?
There’s a lot of misinformation about tofu and soy merchandise swirling round. Usually we get the query: is tofu wholesome? Right here’s what to find out about consuming tofu and different soy merchandise like tempeh and edamame:
- Tofu sparsely is a part of a nutritious diet (a number of instances per week). Per to the Harvard College of Vitamin, soy is a nutrient-dense supply of protein that may safely be consumed a number of instances every week.
- Tofu is probably going to offer well being advantages, particularly once you eat it as a substitute for purple meat and processed meat. See Straight Discuss About Soy and Is Tofu Good for You? for extra.
Extra tofu recipes
There are such a lot of tasty methods to get pleasure from this vegan protein! Listed below are a few of our favourite tofu recipes:
This breaded tofu sandwich recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free; for vegan, use vegan buns and vegan mayonnaise.
Description
Welcome to the tofu sandwich of your desires! This unbelievable vegan sandwich stars crispy breaded tofu, tangy Russian dressing, and crunchy pickles that create a taste explosion everybody will love.
- 14 ounces further agency tofu
- Soy sauce, for dipping
- 1 cup plain panko
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Black pepper, to style
- Olive oil, for cooking
- 4 buns, for serving*
- Shredded lettuce or blended greens (or coleslaw combine)
- 1 handful pickles
- 1 recipe Russian Dressing (use vegan mayonnaise for vegan)
- Slice the tofu into 8 skinny slabs lengthwise, then in half for 16 rectangles complete. Pat them dry with a clear towel.
- Place the tofu slabs in a shallow bowl with 4 tablespoons soy sauce, dipping both sides in, then take away them to a plate. Discard the remaining soy sauce.
- In the meantime, make the breading station: combine the panko, cornstarch, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt in a small bowl, then pour it onto a plate in a single layer.
- Dip the tofu slabs into the breading combine, urgent it in along with your fingers to assist it adhere to every facet.
- Warmth 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet and add half the tofu slabs (or sufficient to cowl the underside). Cook dinner on medium excessive warmth for two to three minutes per facet till browned and crispy. Repeat with the second batch of tofu.
- Make the sandwich by layering the tofu on a bun with pickles, Russian dressing, and topping with chopped greens. Take pleasure in instantly. Leftover tofu lasts as much as 3 days; rewarm in a dry skillet earlier than serving.
Notes
*It’s useful to have a sturdy bun with a texture like an artisan bread (like a ciabatta roll). A tender and fluffy hamburger bun is much less satisfying for the reason that tofu has a tender texture. For vegan, ensure the bun has vegan elements.
- Class: Primary dish
- Technique: Stovetop
- Delicacies: Tofu
- Weight-reduction plan: Vegan