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    Home » main course

    Sesame Crusted Tofu Bowls

    Published: Feb 5, 2023 by Richa 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe

    This Crispy Sesame crusted Tofu is Quick and super delicious! Tofu cubes are tossed in the peanut sauce then coated in sesame seeds and baked until crispy. Serve over greens dressed in peanut sauce, in a wrap or over noodles! Peanut-free  & soy-free version included.

    a salad bowl topped with sesame crusted tofu and drizzled with peanut sauce

    I’ve developed a full-blown obsession with these sesame-coated tofu bowls!

    I don’t know whether it’s the nutty, crunchy sesame-crusted baked tofu that does it for me or the totally addictive peanut sauce…it’s most likely the combination of both because I would not want to do without any of these additions.

    a salad bowl topped with sesame crusted tofu and drizzled with peanut sauce

    I love that the sesame-crusted tofu is baked in the oven and turns out super crispy without having to add any flour or breadcrumbs the to coating.

    Before coating the tofu in sesame, we toss the tofu cubes in some of our peanut sauce to allow the seeds to stick to them properly. This works way better than egg wash AND adds a bunch of flavor to our baked tofu.

    These bowls are perfect for meal prep and the spicy peanut dressing keeps in the fridge for a whole week.

    More bowl recipes:

    Berbere Chickpea Bowl

    Vietnamese Inspired Caramelized Pork Bowls with Lentils

    Vegan Pizza Bowl

    Spicy Maple Mustard Tofu Bowl with Sweet Potatoes

    Cajun Roasted Vegetable Bowl with Garlic Sauce

    26 Vegan Bowl Recipes

    Print Recipe
    5 from 8 votes

    Sesame Tofu Bowl with Peanut Sauce

    These Sesame Tofu Bowls with Peanut Sauce are a true lifesaver come dinner time! Tofu cubes are tossed in peanut sauce then coated in sesame seeds and baked until crispy. Serve over greens dressed in peanut sauce, in a wrap or over noodles! Options for Soyfree and peanut-free included
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Pressing tofu10 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: sesame crusted tofu, vegan tofu bowl
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 275kcal
    Author: Vegan Richa

    Ingredients

    For the peanut sauce:

    • 1/4 cup (64.5 g) smooth peanut butter
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce or use tamari for gluten-free
    • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
    • 1 tablespoon sambal oelek or other Asian chili sauce or use Gochujang
    • 2 teaspoons maple syrup
    • 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste or use minced ginger garlic plus 1/2 tsp lime juice
    • 1/4 cup (60 ml) hot water

    For the tofu:

    • 14 oz (396.89 g) firm or extra firm tofu, pressed for at least 15 minutes
    • 1/4 cup (59.15 g) of the peanut sauce from above
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch or tapioca starch
    • 1/4 cup white sesame seeds
    • 3 tablespoons black sesame seeds

    For the bowl:

    • Greens of choice or lettuce
    • 1 bell pepper thinly sliced
    • 1 cup Cucumber or carrots thinly sliced
    • Optional additions: Pickled radish or cucumber, Other crunchy veggies
    • Chopped peanuts optional

    Instructions

    • Make the peanut sauce; In a medium bowl add all the peanut sauce ingredients and mix really well until combined and set aside. Add more hot water a tbsp at a time if needed to make a drizzle-able sauce.  (You can also blend them in a small blender. If using a blender, you can add whole garlic clove and 1/4 inch ginger instead of mincing)
    • Make Sesame Tofu: Press the tofu if you haven’t already then cut it into rectangles or squares. In a small bowl add 1/4 cup of the prepared peanut sauce and the cornstarch and mix really well.
    • Add the tofu to the sauce and make sure all the sides are coated.
    • In another shallow bowl add the sesame seeds and transfer the coated tofu to the sesame seeds bowl to coat on all sides or just the top and sides. Repeat with all the tofu slices. You might need more sesame seeds depending on the size of the tofu slices.
    • Place the coated tofu on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Preheat your oven to 400ºF (205ºC). Bake the tofu in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Check at the 18-minute mark if the tofu is done otherwise bake for 2-4 more minutes.
    • Remove the tofu from the oven and set aside.
    • Prepare your bowl by adding the greens, sliced bell peppers, cucumber, peanuts, etc as you like. Place the baked tofu in the bowl. Drizzle with peanut sauce and serve.
    • To store: refrigerate the sesame tofu separately in a closed container for upto 4 days.

    Notes

    Calories do not include bowl bases 
    Make Wraps: ,  add some greens or lettuce to a tortilla wrap and add the tofu and other veggies of your choice and a good drizzle of the peanut sauce and serve.
    Peanut free: use sunflower seed butter.
    Soyfree: Omit the soy sauce and add 1/4 tsp salt. Use chickpea tofu or pumpkin seed tofu. You can see that half the tofu used in the pictures is greenish. It’s pumfu (pumpkin seed tofu) 

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Sesame Tofu Bowl with Peanut Sauce
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 275 Calories from Fat 162
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 18g28%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 8g
    Monounsaturated Fat 7g
    Sodium 289mg13%
    Potassium 261mg7%
    Carbohydrates 16g5%
    Fiber 4g17%
    Sugar 4g4%
    Protein 16g32%
    Vitamin A 958IU19%
    Vitamin C 39mg47%
    Calcium 265mg27%
    Iron 4mg22%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    vegan sesame crusted baked tofu bowls drizzled with homemade peanut sauce

    Ingredients:

    • For the tofu, I recommend you use firm or extra firm tofu and we will need to press it for at least 15 minutes
    • for the sauce, we mix smooth peanut butter with soy sauce, sesame oil, sambal oelek, ginger garlic paste, and hot water for thinning it out
    • some of the peanut sauce is thickened with cornstarch or tapioca starch to make the coating for the tofu
    • the breading is gluten-free, made with a mix of black and white sesame seeds
    • For the bowl, use your favorite greens, then bell pepper, cucumber or carrots, quinoa, and any other crunchy veggies

    Tips:

    • You can also use the tofu to make wraps,  add some greens or lettuce to a tortilla wrap and add the tofu and other veggies of your choice and a good drizzle of the peanut sauce and serve.
    • To make it peanut free use sunflower seed butter.
    • To make Soyfree: Omit the soy sauce and add 1/4 tsp salt. Use chickpea tofu or pumpkin seed tofu. You can see in the ingredient picture below that half the tofu used is greenish because it is pumpkin seed tofu (pumfu brand)

    ingredients needed for making sesame crusted tofu bowls on a concrete countertop

    How to make Sesame Tofu Bowls:

    peanut coating for tofu being mixed in a bowl

    Make the peanut sauce; In a medium bowl add all the peanut sauce ingredients and mix really well until combined and set aside. Add more hot water a tbsp at a time if needed to make a drizzle-able sauce.  (You can also blend them in a small blender.  You can add whole garlic clove and 1/4 inch ginger instead of mincing)
    a small food processor with peanut sauce ingredients

    peanut sauce ingredients in a small glass bowl

    peanut sauce in a glass bowl with a metal whisk


    a bowl with vegan peanut sauce and a plate with sesame seeds on. a concrete countertop

    Press the tofu if you haven’t already then cut it into rectangles or squares. In a small bowl add 1/4 cup of the prepared peanut sauce and the cornstarch and mix really well.

    a piece of tofu being tossed in peanut sauce

    Add the tofu to the sauce and make sure all the sides are coated really well.

    In another shallow bowl add the sesame seeds and transfer the coated tofu to the sesame seeds bowl to coat on all sides. Repeat with all the tofu slices. You might need more sesame seeds depending on the size of the tofu slices.

    peanut sauce coated chunk of tofu being turned in plate with sesame seeds to make sesame crusted tofu

    tofu cubes coated with peanut butter and sesame seeds

    Place the coated tofu on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Preheat your oven to 400ºF (205ºC).

    Bake the tofu in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Check at the 18-minute mark if the tofu is done otherwise bake for 2-4 more minutes.

    blocks of tofu coated with peanut butter and sesame on a baking sheet

    sesame crusted tofu on a baking sheet

    Remove the tofu from the oven and set aside.

    Prepare your bowl by adding the greens, sliced bell peppers, cucumber, peanuts, etc.

    greens and sliced bell peppers in a shallow bowl

    Pace the cooked tofu on top of the bowl. Drizzle with peanut sauce.

    a shallow bowl with greens topped with sesame crusted tofu

    Storage

    Refrigerate the sesame tofu and dressing and bowl ingredients separately. Reheat the tofu in the oven or microwave. Let the cold dressing come to room temperature to use. Or add some hot water to the dressing, mix and use

    sesame crusted baked tofu on a bowl with greens and veggies drizzled with peanut sauce

     

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    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you Love the Recipe, Please consider rating it using stars in comments! It helps readers and helps more people find the recipe online! I love hearing from you all! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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    1. Alexandria Phillips

      March 18, 2023 at 9:43 am

      5 stars
      Home run!! I tweaked the sauce a bit but generally followed it. Served it with rice and a salad with pickled onions. Every kid raved about it and 3 went back for seconds. We just had the leftovers for lunch and they all raved about it again.

      Reply
      • Vegan Richa Support

        March 20, 2023 at 9:12 pm

        love it when the kiddos also enjoy. yay!

        Reply
    2. Jackie

      February 14, 2023 at 4:05 pm

      5 stars
      Made this tonight. So yummy! And lovely with greens, carrots, red pepper and avocado. Thanks for another great recipe!

      Reply
      • Vegan Richa Support

        February 15, 2023 at 1:15 pm

        Avocado is always a great idea! So glad you enjoy the recipe.

        Reply
    3. Suriya

      February 06, 2023 at 9:20 pm

      Nice blog! Thanks for sharing useful information about SESAME CRUSTED TOFU BOWLS blog

      Reply
    4. Rina

      February 06, 2023 at 3:36 pm

      5 stars
      I just made it exactly as written. It was amazing I sautéed onions, carrots, red bell peppers and shredded brussels sprouts added rice, noodles, and sauce with the tofu on top. It turned out extremely delicious.

      Reply
      • Richa

        February 06, 2023 at 10:48 pm

        Yay

        Reply
    5. Karen

      February 05, 2023 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      Really like this recipe. Dipping tofu into the peanut sauce then into sesame seeds works great. Very tasty
      Indeed. I will make this dish again for sure. Thank you for this recipe.

      Reply
      • Vegan Richa Support

        February 06, 2023 at 12:06 pm

        So glad to hear!

        Reply

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