Tofu kara-age

Kara-age is Japanese interpretation to "fried food".

most often chicken, but also other meat and fish—are fried in this way.

There are also so many vegan Kara-age recipe online.

But this recipe is created to demonstrate in an event where I have only 30 minutes.

So this recipe is really easy.

The only important matter is to freeze tofu and defrost them properly to achieve a spongy texture.

At the event I make 16 pieces for a group of people but I usually make 8 pieces because they are fried food.

So this is the recipe for 8 pieces.

1 package of bio tofu (Rewe) 200g

1tbsp spelt flour for dusting

+60ml peanut oil for frying in a very small frying pan.

Coating 1

1/2 cup spelt flour

Coating 2 (just mix well)

1/2 cup spelt flour

1/2 cup cold water

1/2 tsp salt

Marinade (enough for 400g tofu)

2tbsp light soy sauce

2tbsp white wine

1tsp sugar (because i don't use mirin here)

1tbsp of finely chopped garlic& ginger mixture

A pinch of black pepper

Preparation

(Day1)

Freeze tofu with package in the freezer.

They look browner when they are frozen but just temporally.

(Day2)

Slowly defrost tofu in the fridge.

If they are still frozen in the next day ,keep the tofu in room temperature for

2 hours before cooking them.

Don't keep them in room temperature too long. They will go bad quickly.

STEP 1

How to press tofu effortlessly.

Cut only two-sides of the vacuum sealed tofu package with scissors.

(Don't try cutting it with knife it's insecure）

Press the package by hand to drain water well.

STEP 2

Tear one 200g block of tofu into 8 equal pieces.

The rough surface allows the batter to stick better, so I don't use a knife.

STEP 3

Mix the ingredients for a marinade in a container with a lid.

Place tofu cubes in there, close it with the lid.

Shake the container to coat tofu with marinade.

Sprinkle about 1tbsp of spelt flour at the end so it helps the next coating steps.

STEP 4

Prepare Panierstrasse(= a coating streets)

One bowl is just 1/2 cup of spelt flour.

The other bowl is a mix of 1/2 cup of spelt flour,1/2 cup of cold water,

and 1/2 tsp salt. Don't mix too long 👇this is enough.

STEP 5

Start heating oil because tofu will be ready in 2 minutes.

The oil should be 170℃ when you add tofu cubes.

I like to use a very small frying pan so you can shallow fry with less oil.

STEP 6

Coat tofu with batter, and then the flour.

STEP 7

Once the tofu got the coating , fry immediately until golden and crispy.

Actually they don't absorb a lot of oil and get crispy in about 6 minutes.

STEP 8

Remove the excess oil with kitchen paper before serving.

Serve tofu kara-age with a lemon wedge or a sauce of your choice.

This is very crispy at the moment.

But the crispy crust will not last very long because I used only wheat(spelt flour) .

The crust will be softer later.

Serve as soon as possible.