Name: Fried Tofu with Dipping Sauce
Ingredients: 1 pound soft tofu; neutral oil for frying; ½ cup peanut butter; 2 tablespoons tamari; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 2 tablespoons brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup; 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce ((optional)); 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice; 3 cloves garlic, pressed or grated; 1 tablespoon ginger root, grated; 2 tablespoons sesame oil; ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes; 3 tablespoons cornstarch; ½ teaspoon white ground pepper; ⅓ cup cornstarch; ¼ teaspoon baking powder; ¼ cup all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ¼ cup cold water; ¼ cup vodka

Fried Tofu with Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

1 pound soft tofu
neutral oil for frying

Dipping Sauce

½ cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons tamari
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup
2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce (optional)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
3 cloves garlic, pressed or grated
1 tablespoon ginger root, grated
2 tablespoons sesame oil
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Dry Batter

3 tablespoons cornstarch
½ teaspoon white ground pepper

Wet Batter

⅓ cup cornstarch
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ cup cold water
¼ cup vodka

Instructions

Prepare tofu

Cut tofu into ½-inch slices.
Place paper towels or hand towels on cutting board.
Place tofu slices on towels.
Cover with more towels.
Place second cutting board on top.
Place weights on top of second cutting board, such as a stack of heavy books.
Press 15-20 minutes.

Prepare dipping sauce

While tofu is being pressed, prepare dipping sauce by mixing together all ingredients.

Prepare dry batter

In a shallow bowl, combine 3 tablespoons cornstarch and ground white pepper.

Prepare wet batter

In small or medium bowl, combine dry ingredients: ⅓ cup cornstarch, baking powder, all-purpose flour, and kosher salt.
Add cold water and vodka.
Mix thoroughly until batter is smooth.

Cook tofu

Remove tofu from press.
Cut tofu into bite-sized pieces, about 1 inch square.
In heavy-bottomed pan, add about 1 ½ inches of oil.
Heat oil to 400-450° F.
One at a time, roll pieces of tofu in dry batter until all sides are evenly covered. Rolling one at a time keeps dry batter from becoming stickly. Covering with dry batter helps wet batter stick to tofu.
Dip tofu pieces into water batter and cover evenly.
Lift tofu pieces to remove excess batter.
Carefully place battered tofu into a oil, cooking a few pieces at a time.
Cook tofu pieces until crispy, 3-4 minutes.
Remove tofu pieces from oil and rest them on towel-lined wire rack to drain.
Serve with dipping sauce.