Vegan Crispy Tofu Banh Mi (Printable)

Crispy tofu and pickled veggies served over jasmine rice with spicy vegan sriracha mayo and fresh garnishes.

# What you need:

→ Tofu

01 - 14 oz firm tofu, pressed and cut into ¾-inch cubes
02 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
05 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

→ Pickled Vegetables

06 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
07 - 1 small daikon radish, julienned
08 - ½ cucumber, thinly sliced
09 - ½ cup rice vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon sugar
11 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Rice

12 - 2 cups cooked jasmine rice

→ Sriracha Mayo

13 - ¼ cup vegan mayonnaise
14 - 1 to 2 tablespoons sriracha
15 - 1 teaspoon lime juice

→ Garnishes

16 - ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
17 - 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
18 - 1 small handful scallions, sliced
19 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
20 - Lime wedges

# How to make it:

01 - In a bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, sugar, and salt until dissolved. Add julienned carrot, daikon radish, and sliced cucumber. Toss to coat and set aside to pickle, stirring occasionally.
02 - Pat tofu cubes dry thoroughly. In a large bowl, toss tofu with soy sauce, then sprinkle with cornstarch and toss to coat evenly.
03 - Heat sesame oil and vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu in a single layer. Cook, turning occasionally, until golden and crispy on all sides, approximately 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat.
04 - Cook jasmine rice according to package instructions if not already prepared.
05 - Mix vegan mayonnaise, sriracha, and lime juice in a small bowl until well combined.
06 - Divide cooked jasmine rice among serving bowls. Top with drained pickled vegetables, crispy tofu, fresh cilantro, jalapeño slices, scallions, and toasted sesame seeds. Drizzle with sriracha mayo and serve with lime wedges.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • The tofu gets genuinely crispy and golden, not rubbery or bland, because of a cornstarch trick that changes everything.
  • Quick pickled vegetables add brightness and snap in under five minutes, no fancy equipment needed.
  • It's a complete meal that comes together in 45 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights or impressing guests on the weekend.
02 -
  • Do not skip pressing the tofu, and do not add it to the pan while the oil is still heating—it needs high heat right from the start or it will absorb oil instead of crisping.
  • The pickles will taste too vinegary the first minute, but give them time to balance; they're perfect by the 15-minute mark.
03 -
  • Make your sriracha mayo ahead and store it in the fridge; it gets even more flavorful as it sits overnight.
  • If your tofu isn't getting crispy, your oil isn't hot enough or you're crowding the pan—work in batches if needed.
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