Here's the Best & Crispy Tofu Katsu recipe you will ever make, with deep-fried breaded tofu served with steamed rice, cabbage slices, and sweet and spicy sauce. It's a perfect recipe for a delicious and savory vegetarian lunch or dinner with the whole family!
Are you looking for more Asian-inspired dishes? Try my Filipino Vegan Bistek, Arroz a La Valenciana, or my Tofu Kilawin.
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What is Tofu Katsu?
This Tofu Katsu is an easy and delicious tofu recipe that is made of tofu pieces dipped in a milk-flour mixture, coated with panko breadcrumbs, deep-fried, and served with a sweet chili sauce and cabbage slices. In Japanese, katsu just means "cutlet".
It is a popular dish in Japan that can be served in different ways—using chicken, pork, beef, or tofu cutlets, deep-fried with panko breading, then served with Katsu curry sauce, sweet and sour sauce, and napa cabbage slices.
It's a vegetarian-friendly fried tofu dish that is perfect for a healthy and satisfying lunch or dinner meal. It can be served with steamed rice or tossed noodles or used as a crispy protein for sandwiches or burgers.
Try this easy tofu recipe at home and enjoy a delicious meal just like eating in a favorite Asian restaurant!
Health Benefits of Tofu
- It enhances renal function.
- It is an essential source of protein.
- It helps lower “bad” LDL cholesterol.
- It is an excellent source of
- It helps increase bone mineral density.
- It inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
- It alleviates menopausal symptoms.
Substitutions
- Tofu – Swap with tempeh or seitan if preferred.
- Milk – Use oat, soy, or almond milk for dairy-free.
- Egg – Replace with a flax egg (1 tbsp flaxseed + 3 tbsp water) or aquafaba.
- Cornstarch – Arrowroot powder or potato starch works, too.
- Chili-tamarind sauce – Use sriracha and a squeeze of lime as a quick sub.
- Honey – Use maple syrup or agave nectar for a vegan option.
- Panko breadcrumbs – Use crushed cornflakes or gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Canola oil – Try avocado or sunflower oil for a neutral, high-smoke-point option.
Variations
- Feel free to add Japanese curry to make a delicious tofu katsu curry.
- You may add Worcestershire sauce for the savory sauce of this recipe.
Storage
- Fridge – Store cooked tofu in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Freeze – Freeze uncooked, breaded tofu on a tray. Once solid, move to a bag and freeze for up to 1 month.
- Reheat – Use an air fryer or oven to bring back the crisp texture. Avoid microwave—it softens the coating.
Ingredients
Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:
- tomato ketchup
- soy sauce
- chili-tamarind sauce (or purchase tamarind sauce and mix a little chili oil)
- honey
- water
- milk
- egg
- all-purpose flour
- cornstarch
- chili powder
- salt
- ground black pepper
- block tofu
- panko breadcrumbs
- vegetable oil
Instructions
In a large saucepan, simmer tomato ketchup, soy sauce, chili-tamarind sauce, honey, and water for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour the simmered sauce into a ramekin and set it aside:
In a large bowl, combine milk, egg, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, chili powder, salt, and ground black pepper and mix well until fully incorporated:
Dip the tofu blocks in the milk-flour mixture, then dredge the tofu blocks into the panko breadcrumbs and shake off excess breadcrumbs:
Heat the oil in a medium-sized saucepan to 345 degrees F. Then, fry the tofu until golden brown:
Cool on a wire rack to prevent sogginess. Serve with steamed rice and garnish with cabbage slices.
Enjoy a healthy and flavorful meal with this crusty tofu katsu!
Top Tips
- Paprika powder, garlic powder, and soy milk can be used for the flour mixture.
- Make sure to remove as much liquid as possible from the tofu before breading. Use a tofu press to remove as much water as possible. This helps the tofu stay firm and fry up crispy with the best texture.
- Topping options: spring onion, sesame seed, sweet and sour sauce, and lime juice.
- You may serve this with sweet chili sauce, tonkatsu sauce, or any Japanese sauce of your choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best & Crispy Tofu Katsu
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup tomato ketchup
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons chili-tamarind sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup milk
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 8 oz block tofu cut in half
- 4 oz panko breadcrumbs
- 16 oz vegetable oil
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, simmer tomato ketchup, soy sauce, chili-tamarind sauce, honey, and water for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Pour the simmered sauce in a ramekin and set it aside.
- In a large bowl, combine milk, egg, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, chili powder, salt, and ground black pepper and mix well until fully incorporated.
- Dip the tofu blocks in the milk-flour mixture, then dredge the tofu blocks into the panko breadcrumbs and shake excess breadcrumbs.
- Heat the oil in a medium-sized saucepan to 345 degrees F
- Then fry the tofu until golden.
- Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel to drain excess oil.
- Serve the tofu katsu with a delicious sweet & spicy sauce.
restaurantthatdeliversnearme.website says
Thanks for the tofu katsu recipe.
http://www.fooddoz.com
Lainey says
Hello there,
You're welcome! Thank you for swinging by!
Julius says
Wow, love that you can use any sauce for this! I'd love a sweet and sour one.
zidane says
Crispy tofu feels versatile and practical, since it can be served as a snack, a side dish, or even as the main part of a meal.