Should I fry tofu before adding it to curry?

In this brief guide, we will answer the question “Should I fry tofu before adding it to curry?”, and tell you what kind of tofu goes best with curry. We will also share tips on how to bake or fry tofu before adding it to curry.

Should I fry tofu before adding it to curry?

It is not necessary to fry tofu before adding it to curry. You can simply use it straight out of its packaging. However, you can cook tofu before adding it to curry in order to reduce the moisture content and for making it crispy.

Tofu is a great option for making Thai curries for vegan people. Even non-vegetarians can use tofu to replace chicken in their curries as tofu is highly nutritious with high protein and low fat content.  

What kind of tofu should I use in curry?

You should use the firm or extra-firm variety of tofu for curries as these are easy to use and do not crumble when picked up. It is also easy to cut these into slices. They are also a good choice for when you want to stir fry or air fry tofu before adding it to the curry. 

Firm tofu also tends to soak up the sauces and flavors so it can be a good option for making flavorful curry.

You can also use the regular tofu for making curries as it is soft but more firm than silken tofu. It soaks up the flavors so it goes very well with curry and stews. However, it may crumble so do not try to fry it. Just stir it in the curry before serving it.

How to fry or bake tofu before adding it to curry?

You can either fry tofu or bake it for some crispiness and reduced moisture. Before you do any of that, you need to drain the tofu and press it so that the water leaves. 

You can use a tofu press for this or if you do not have one, you can press it in the following way.

  • Take a sheet pan or a long tray and place a few layers of paper towels on it.
  • Open the tofu packaging and drain all the water.
  • Slice it or dice it in small cubes while it is still in the packaging.
  • Put all the diced cubes of tofu onto the sheet pan lined with paper towels.
  • Place more kitchen paper towels on top of these tofu cubes.
  • Cover all of them with a couple of layers of paper towels.
  • Place another tray or sheet pan on top of this.
  • Use other jars of food or cans to press down the sheet pan.
  • Make sure the sheet pan is properly weighed down.
  • Let it sit for at least 30 minutes.

Note that this is only applicable for firm and extra firm tofu. Do not use this method for other softer types of tofu such as silken tofu as it may crumble. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that, if you are going to press the tofu for more than 30 minutes, then it is better to put it in the refrigerator.

Frying the tofu

  • Cut up the tofu in cubes or slices.
  • Drain excess water using paper towels and using the method explained above.
  • Add some oil in a pan over medium heat and let it get heated up.
  • Place the tofu in a single layer, and do not add a lot of it at one time.
  • Let it fry until golden brown. Do not move it before that.
  • Flip and fry all sides until desired crispiness is achieved.

Baking the tofu

  • Cut up the tofu in cubes or slices.
  • Drain excess water using paper towels and using the method explained above.
  • Cover all the tofu with cornstarch.
  • Line a sheet pan or baking tray with baking paper.
  • Place the tofu in a single layer on top of the baking tray.
  • Drive with some oil preferably olive oil.
  • Place the tray in a preheated oven and let it bake until golden brown and crispy.

You can add curry sauce to tofu during the cooking process or simply stir in the cooked tofu in curry after it’s done getting cooked.

You can also marinate the tofu before cooking it or simply add salt and pepper before cooking for some flavor.

Learn how to make scrambled tofu here.

Other FAQs about Tofu that you may be interested in.

Can you Eat Raw Tofu?

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “Should I fry tofu before adding it to curry?”, and told you what kind of tofu goes best with curry. We also shared tips on how to bake or fry tofu before adding it to curry.

Citations

https://theinfinitekitchen.com/recipe/faq-how-to-cook-tofu-for-curry/

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