Vegan Crispy Tofu Banh Mi (Print-Friendly)

Vibrant bowls featuring crispy tofu, pickled vegetables, fragrant jasmine rice, and zesty sriracha mayo.

# What You'll 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 - 3 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 with paper towels. In a large bowl, toss tofu with soy sauce, then sprinkle with cornstarch and toss until evenly coated.
03 - Heat sesame oil and vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu in a single layer and cook, turning occasionally, until golden and crispy on all sides, approximately 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
04 - Cook jasmine rice according to package instructions if not already prepared.
05 - In a small bowl, combine vegan mayonnaise, sriracha to taste, and lime juice. Mix until smooth.
06 - Divide cooked rice among serving bowls. Top with drained pickled vegetables, crispy tofu, and garnishes including cilantro, jalapeño, scallions, and sesame seeds. Drizzle with sriracha mayo and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The tofu gets genuinely crispy on the outside while staying tender inside—it's the textural moment that makes you keep eating.
  • Pickled vegetables are ready in minutes and taste like they've been sitting in your fridge for days, giving you that tangy brightness without the wait.
  • Everything comes together in under an hour, and you can prep components while the tofu cooks, so your hands stay busy in the best way.
  • It's a bowl you can customize completely—spice it up, load it with extra greens, swap grains—and it still tastes like itself.
02 -
  • Pressing tofu is non-negotiable if you want crispy results—I once skipped it thinking cornstarch would save me, and the tofu steamed itself instead of crisping, which taught me patience the hard way.
  • Don't drain the pickles until you're ready to serve, because sitting in the brine is what makes them taste alive; also, save some of that liquid and drizzle it over the bowl for extra tang.
03 -
  • If your tofu is sticking to the pan, that usually means the heat isn't quite hot enough or you're moving it too early—patience and medium-high heat are your friends.
  • Save the pickling liquid after you've eaten the vegetables because it's liquid gold for dressing salads, grain bowls, or anything that needs acid and brightness.
Return