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Recipes » Filipino Dishes » Filipino Crispy Tofu and Mushroom Adobo: A Crispy Tofu Recipe
by Liren Baker on August 03, 2020 updated | 16 Comments This post may contain affiliate links. Please see Affiliate Disclosure in my Terms of Service.
Filipino Crispy Tofu and Mushroom Adobo – a classic Filipino adobo sauce adds flavor to this crispy tofu recipe with mushrooms! Try this simple fried tofu recipe also known as adobong tokwa!
Filipino Crispy Tofu and Mushroom Adobo: A Crispy Tofu Recipe
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Filipino Crispy Tofu and Mushroom Adobo – a classic Filipino adobo sauce adds flavor to this crispy tofu recipe with mushrooms! Try this simple fried tofu recipe also known as Adobong Tokwa!
This post is brought to you by U.S. Soy.
Please join me in taking a pledge to show support for U.S. farmers and U.S. grown ingredients such as soy! Learn more about sourcing locally by visiting SupportUsFarmers.com.
Filipino Adobo
Mention the words “Filipino adobo,” and for many, Chicken Adobo often comes to mind. But did you know that in the Philippines, you can adobo so much more? You can adobo vegetables such as long beans (Adobong Sitaw) and seafood such as squid (Adobong Pusit).
And yes, you can even adobo tofu (Adobong Tokwa), in the most delicious crispy tofu recipe.
Benefits of Tofu Recipes
Tofu is a staple in my kitchen. I keep it on hand because it’s a flexible, plant-based protein that I can use in many dishes. This is perfect when I cook for the multiple eaters in my family. I can easily customize a dish for the ones who prefer a vegetarian version of a dish! (Like adobo!)
Supporting Local Farmers
When I shop for staples, my goal is to support our local farmers as much as possible, whether I’m at the local farmer’s market or the grocery store. When you’ve visited as many farms and food producers as I have over the years, you truly develop a deep appreciation for the hard work that goes into the growth of all of our food. I also appreciate the quality of the food when I make sustainable and local choices.
Cooking with tofu, made from U.S.-grown soybean, helps to support family-owned farms.
Soybean Crops
Did you know that soybeans are the second largest crop grown here in the United States, by farmers who are just as motivated as we are for a sustainable future? 97% of U.S. farms are family-owned, and our soybean farmers have been so hard at work to ensure that our shelves are stocked and that families are fed around the world.
Every time I eat a soy product, I think back to the time when I lived in the Midwest and often drove through acres and acres of soybeans. Whether you are making a crispy tofu recipe, eating edamame, or drinking soy milk, these heart-healthy foods are often grown here in the U.S.. Every time we eat U.S. grown foods, we are supporting our U.S. farmers, local economies, and our food system!
I am excited to partner with U.S. Soy today to share how easy it is to cook this crispy tofu recipe. You can enjoy this as a side dish or a meal unto itself!
Crispy Tofu Recipe
A traditional Filipino Adobo braises the protein in the adobo sauce until tender and flavorful. However, the beauty of tofu is that it cooks quickly and is like a sponge to flavor! So in this dish, we will deconstruct the adobo. You make the crispy tofu first, giving it just a little bit of time in the sauce before browning.
Crispy Tofu Tip #1
To make sure your tofu fries up nice and crispy, you need to make sure that you remove any excess moisture. The best way to do this is by wrapping the block of tofu in some paper towels, placing a heavy skillet or baking dish on top, and letting it rest for a few minutes.
Fried Tofu Tip #2
The other secret ingredient is coating the tofu with cornstarch to help give it a golden-brown coating when you fry it.
Cook the mushrooms in the adobo sauce, then drizzle the sauce over the top of the crispy tofu right before serving!
Like any good adobo, it is delicious with rice, but it can also make a great side dish to a bigger meal. Either way, enjoy this crispy tofu recipe!
More Tofu Recipes to Try
Sweet and Spicy Crispy Tofu with Zucchini Noodles
Taho: Filipino Silken Tofu with Sago Pearls and Syrup
Vegetarian Pad Thai (Instant Pot)
Cheat’s Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse
Skillet Eggplant Lasagna
Vegetarian Pancit Bihon (Filipino Rice Noodles with Veggies)
Disclosure: This crispy tofu recipe postwas created in partnership with U.S. Soy. Thank you for supporting brands that matter to me. Sponsored posts such as this help behind the scenes at Kitchen Confidante. All opinions in this post are, as always, my own.
Filipino Crispy Tofu and Mushroom Adobo
Filipino Crispy Tofu and Mushroom Adobo – a classic Filipino adobo sauce adds flavor to this crispy tofu recipe with mushrooms! Try this simple fried tofu recipe also known as adobong tokwa!
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5 from 3 votes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Filipino, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
Draining/Resting Time 20 minutes minutes
Total Time 40 minutes minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 66kcal
Author Liren Baker
Ingredients
- 1 11.5 oz box firm tofu cut into 1-inch slices or cubes
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic mashed or finely minced
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 1/2 cups mushrooms sliced (see notes)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sliced green onions for garnish, optional
Instructions
Wrap the tofu block in paper towels and set on a plate. Place a heavy object on top of the tofu to press it down (for example, a large skillet with a few cans or books on top). Let the tofu sit for 15-20 minutes so the excess water can drain. Unwrap the paper towels and cut the tofu into 1-inch slices or cubes.
Unwrap the paper towels and cut the tofu into 1-inch slices or cubes.
In a glass or non-reactive bowl, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, garlic and pepper. Gently add the tofu and coat on all sides.
Transfer the tofu cubes to another bowl. Add the cornstarch and gently toss to coat the tofu. It will get pasty, and that is okay. Set aside and let it rest for about 5-10 minutes.
While the tofu rests, marinate the mushrooms in the sauce.
In a large non-stick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches so you don't crowd the pan, add the tofu and cook for 3 minutes on each side, until browned and crispy. Transfer the cooked tofu to a plate or bowl. If you need to add more oil in between batches, you can.
Add the sauce and the mushrooms to the pan, along with the bay leaf. Bring to a bubble then lower heat to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the mushrooms are fork tender.
Drizzle the sauce and mushrooms over the crispy tofu and serve hot over rice. Garnish with green onions, if you wish.
Notes
Note on mushrooms: I prefer to use trumpet mushrooms in this dish for their meaty quality and mild flavor. You may also find them labeled as king oyster mushrooms. However, feel free to experiment with your favorite variety; white button mushrooms and porcini mushroom can also work well in this recipe.
Nutrition
Calories: 66kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1083mg | Potassium: 179mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see! Tag @kitchconfidante on Instagram and hashtag it #kitchenconfidante
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Sherley
Thank you for this healthy version of the Philippine adobo. I loved how crispy the tofu turned out. I did add a tbsp of sugar to the gravy like I usually do with regular adobo. I used shiitake mushrooms. It’s a great recipe.Liren Baker You’re so very welcome, Sherley! I’m happy that you liked the recipe!
Nancy
This was outstanding! The umami flavour was so satisfying. And it was really simple to prepare. Definitely making again. Thank you!Liren Baker Thank you so much, Nancy! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!!
Rebecca What kind of mushrooms did you use? Also what is the green vegetable sprinkled over the final dish? Thanks!
Liren Baker Hi Rebecca, I used trumpet mushrooms, for their meaty texture, and sprinkled green onions (scallions) over the final dish. I’ll be sure to add those notes to the recipe card!
Dana Hello!
I have recently took up cooking over the last month. I was so excited to dig in to this dish, it looked and smelled great! But when I took a bite I realized it was super salty! Almost like straight soy sauce. The only thing I can think of that messed up was I was a tiny bit short on apple cider vinegar (probably half a cm below the 1/3 mark. Would that have done it? Looking for feedback from any experienced cooks. Thanks! :)Liren Baker Hi Dana, the vinegar really does cut into the saltiness of the soy sauce so it helps when they are evenly proportioned. Another possibility is that the sauce reduced too much during simmering, which can make the sauce much saltier! I hope that helps!
Julia You could top it up with another type of vinegar or lemon juice :)
sarah
this was delicious!Liren Baker Thank you, Sarah! I’m so glad you liked it!
Sandra Wong Looks good
Liren Baker Thanks, Sandra!
Neil Yes
Nikki This looks amazing. I love the tofu substitution. Saving & look forward to trying!!
Keep it coming ,
NikkiLiren Baker Thanks, Nikki! Hope you enjoy it!
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