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    Home > Vegan Entrees

    Sticky Teriyaki Tofu (Copycat Pei Wei)

    By Nandor Barta on 06/07/2024 - May contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure.

    Jump to Recipe Print Pin

    Do you want to make perfect, crispy, sticky teriyaki tofu just like they do in Pei Wei Restaurant? The secret is in the preparation of tofu. Serve it with rice and vegetables, and you will get a balance of sweet, salty, and savory flavors.

    White bowl from above with white rice topped with thin dark brown tofu slices with charred edges, green beans, chopped red bell pepper and sprinkled with white sesame seeds. Light brown chopsticks are placed on the side. Small white plate with shiny sauteed green beans

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    You might think it is not easy to enjoy tofu dishes but on the contrary. We have the most flavorful tofu marinade recipes here, and this is one of them. You will also love buffalo tofu, harissa tofu, chili miso tofu, or this tofu steak.

    Jump to:
    • What to expect from this recipe?
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Cooking tips
    • Variations
    • Serving ideas
    • Storing tips
    • FAQs
    • More vegan tofu recipes
    • Sticky Teriyaki Tofu (Copycat Pei Wei)

    What to expect from this recipe?

    Teriyaki tofu is a dish typically made with firm tofu that is marinated in a sweet and savory sauce, known as teriyaki sauce, made from a combination of soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and sometimes sake.

    When it comes to preparing tofu, many people cut it into cubes and call it a day. However, there are various ways to cut and prepare tofu, and one technique I have recently discovered is slicing it into thin strips. This method, which I first saw at Pei Wei, adds a new dimension to the dish and significantly affects the outcome.

    What are the advantages of this technique?

    • Thin slices can thoroughly soak up the teriyaki marinade, leaving no raw parts.
    • Any moisture will evaporate quicker during frying, so the tofu is not cooked, but really fried.
    • It mimics teriyaki chicken slices better than cubes ever would.
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    White bowl with white rice topped with thin dark brown tofu slices with charred edges, green beans, chopped red bell pepper and sprinkled with white sesame seeds.

    Ingredients

    It is one of the easiest tofu marinades you can choose from. I mean, it has only 4 ingredients. And you still end up with a flavorful tofu dish.

    • Tofu → Choose a firm or extra firm tofu. Smoky flavors go perfectly with teriyaki, so you can also try smoked tofu.
    • Teriyaki sauce → It usually consists of soy sauce, sugar, and mirin. Store-bought brands can be thinner, while homemade teriyaki sauce is closer to a glaze. We use Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce since it is tamari-based, it is also gluten-free.
    • Maple syrup → You can use other liquid sweeteners. Honey is not vegan, but there are other honey substitutes.
    • Vegetable oil or sesame oil.

    🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    Instructions

    Pressing tofu

    Use firm tofu and press it. I used my trusted TofuBud*, but you can choose any DIY method or tofu press. For more information, tips, and steps, read my complete guide on how to press tofu and my honest review of TofuBud.

    Pressing tofu

    Use firm tofu and press it. I used my trusted TofuBud*, but you can choose any DIY method or tofu press. For more information, tips, and steps, read my complete guide on how to press tofu and my honest review of TofuBud.

    Marinating tofu

    1. After you press the tofu, put it dry with paper towels. Cut them into thin slices. Cut it horizontally in half if you use a 12-oz block (approx. 360 g), then make thin slices. In the end, the slices will be 1 inch wide and 3 inches long.
    2. Take an oven-safe shallow glass bowl and arrange the tofu slices in a single layer if possible.
    3. Pour teriyaki sauce over the slices and gently mix them.
    4. Leave it for at least 15 minutes. You can see from the below picture that the tofu soaked up all the sauce nicely.
    A glass bowl with think 1-inch wide and 3-inch long light brown tofu slices.

    Frying teriyaki tofu

    1. Heat the frying pan or wok over medium-high heat and add a bit of oil. Place the tofu slices on it, leaving a small space between them.
    2. Brush them with half of the teriyaki sauce left after marinating and half the maple syrup amount.
    A white frying pan with light brown tofu slices and a spoon with dark brown sauce.
    1. Fry the slices for approx. 2-3 minutes.
    2. Flip and brush the slices with the remaining teriyaki sauce and maple syrup.
    3. Fry until crispy and sticky, for another 2-3 minutes.
    A white frying pan with crispy dark brown tofu slices.

    Cooking tips

    • How to cut tofu? – When it comes to cutting tofu, you have a few options. You can cut it into cubes (like in our buffalo tofu recipe), triangles (like in our harissa tofu recipe), or leave them whole (like a tofu steak), depending on the recipe and desired outcome. We do think that thin marinades like this teriyaki sauce work best with thin tofu slices.
    • Baking vs pan-frying – Both methods work, but pan-frying results in a stickier and more caramelized tofu. Experiment with different cutting and cooking techniques to find the perfect combination for your recipe. Preheat the oven to 400 Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) if you want to bake these teriyaki tofu slices. Bake them for approx. 10 minutes, turning them in at half-time.

    Variations

    Many ingredients can be added to make this teriyaki tofu recipe more exciting. These are just a few options, you can always get creative and add other ingredients that you enjoy, making the dish tailored to your taste.

    • More spices: Adding ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes can give teriyaki tofu a depth of flavor and a little heat to the dish. Don’t add too much, ½ teaspoon from each should be plenty enough.
    • Herbs: Fresh cilantro, basil, or scallions pair well with teriyaki sauce and can add a fresh and bright flavor to the dish. We recommend adding ½ teaspoon at most.
    • Sesame oil: If you want to add a bit of nutty aroma, grab sesame oil. It goes perfectly together with any soy sauce-based marinades. Drizzle one tablespoon over the tofu slices during frying.

    Serving ideas

    We served our teriyaki tofu with a side of white rice, and quickly sautéed green beans and red bell peppers with garlic. To finish it off, we sprinkled it with white sesame seeds. The dish was absolutely delicious, with a crispy and sticky texture.

    White bowl with white rice topped with thin dark brown tofu slices with charred edges, green beans, chopped red bell pepper and sprinkled with white sesame seeds. Small white plate with shiny sauteed green beans.

    However, there are many options when it comes to serving teriyaki tofu. We recommend mixing and matching with different side dishes and toppings to find the perfect combination for your taste.

    • Stir-fried or sautéed vegetables: eggplant, roasted asparagus, sauteed mushrooms, sauteed julienne carrots, broccoli, roasted cauliflower, cabbage, onion, snow peas, snap peas, or even kimchi.
    • Grains: steamed, cooked, or fried white rice, brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, or their combination.
    • Riced veggies: cauliflower rice or sweet potato “rice“
    • Noodles: soba noodles
    • Toppings: edamame beans, sesame seeds, sliced green onion or scallions, peanuts or other chopped nuts, or bean sprouts.

    Storing tips

    • Fridge: To make teriyaki tofu in advance, marinate the tofu overnight and fry it the following day. Once fried, it can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
    • Reheating: For best results, we recommend reheating the tofu in a frying pan, instead of using a microwave.
    • Freezing: If you prefer a more meat-like texture in your tofu, it’s best to freeze it before using it in this recipe. However, it is not recommended to freeze fried or baked tofu.

    FAQs

    How to make teriyaki tofu extra crispy?

    We recommend freezing raw tofu overnight if you prefer a chicken-like texture with a crispy crust. Thaw it, press it, cut it, roll the slices in cornstarch and fry them in a bit of oil. Only after than add the teriyaki tofu marinade to the frying pan. Toss and turn to cover all slices.

    White bowl from above with white rice topped with thin dark brown tofu slices with charred edges, green beans, chopped red bell pepper and sprinkled with white sesame seeds. Light brown chopsticks are placed on the side.

    More vegan tofu recipes

    Looking for more tofu marinade recipes or any other ways to enjoy tofu?

    • White frying pan with a darkbrown red sauce tofu cubes, sliced bell peppers, sliced green chilies, mint leaves, sliced spring onion, mushrooms slices.
      Thai Red Curry Tofu
    • 2 black bowls with yellow rice, red tomato slices, pineapple chunks, green peas and chopped green onion.
      Vegan Pineapple Fried Rice with Tofu
    • Large white frying pan with red pesto spaghetti topped with green-yellow tofu cubes, shredded cheese and basil leaves.
      Red Pesto Tofu Pasta
    • White rectangular plate full of large purple eggplant chunks, puffy brown glazed tofu and red peppers. Blue chopsticks are taking one tofu piece and holding it up in the air.
      Eggplant Tofu (Copycat Panda Express)
    • Sticky brown breaded tofu cubes are served on top of rice in a white bowl. It is sprinkled with chopped chives and sesame seeds. A hand is holding chopsticks to take one.
      Orange Tofu
    • A white plate with a slice of lasagna where you can see the layers of red sauce, pasta sheets and a white ricotto and chopped spinach leaves.
      Vegan Spinach Lasagna (Tofu Ricotta)

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    White bowl with white rice topped with thin dark brown tofu slices with charred edges, green beans, chopped red bell pepper and sprinkled with white sesame seeds.

    Sticky Teriyaki Tofu (Copycat Pei Wei)

    Nandor Barta
    Do you want to make perfect, crispy, sticky teriyaki tofu just like they do in Pei Wei Restaurant? The secret is in the preparation of tofu. Serve it with rice and vegetables, and you will get a balance of flavors that are sweet, salty, and savory.
    4.8 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Marinating time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 154kcal

    Equipment

    • TofuBud (pressing tofu in 15 minutes)
    • Non-stick frying pan (10.5 inch / 26 cm)
    • Wok

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 12 oz Firm tofu
    • 6 Tbsp Teriyaki sauce
    • 6 tsp Maple syrup
    • 1 Tbsp Vegetable oil
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    Instructions
     

    Marinating tofu

    • Press tofu.
    • Cut them into thin slices. Cut it horizontally in half if you use a 12-oz block (approx. 360 g), then make thin slices. In the end, the slices will be 1 inch wide and 3 inches long.
    • Take an oven-safe shallow glass bowl and layer the tofu slices in one layer if possible.
    • Pour teriyaki sauce over the slices and gently mix them.
    • Leave it for at least 15 minutes. You can see from the below picture that the tofu soaked up all the sauce nicely.

    Frying teriyaki tofu

    • Heat the frying pan or wok over medium heat and add a bit of oil. Place the tofu slices on it, leaving a small space in between them.
    • Brush them with half of the teriyaki sauce left after marinating and half the maple syrup amount.
    • Fry the slices for approx. 2-3 minutes.
    • Flip and brush the slices with the remaining teriyaki sauce and maple syrup.
    • Fry until crispy and sticky, for another 2-3 minutes.
    Tried this recipe? Can we see it?Please share a picture with us by uploading an image to Pinterest below ours.

    Video

    [adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”VbCi0HQw” upload-date=”2021-08-13T09:25:00.000Z” name=”Crispy Sticky Teriyaki Tofu” description=”To get perfect crispy Teriyaki Tofu sometimes it is not about the ingredients, but the method of preparing them. In this case, to get it crispy we used a technique of slicing and frying we saw in Pei Wei Restaurant. The end result is a crispy, sticky fried tofu which you can serve with rice or various stir-fried veggies.” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”true”]

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Sticky Teriyaki Tofu (Copycat Pei Wei)
    Amount Per Serving (1 serving (without sides))
    Calories 154 Calories from Fat 63
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 7g11%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
    Monounsaturated Fat 1g
    Sodium 1039mg45%
    Potassium 84mg2%
    Carbohydrates 13g4%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 10g11%
    Protein 9g18%
    Calcium 125mg13%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    Hi, we are Emese Maczkó and Nándor Barta, the founders and recipe creators behind My Pure Plants. We are sharing our knowledge and expertise in vegan recipes and encourage you to try home-cooked meals using locally-sourced, organic, whole foods.

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    Hi, we are Emese Maczkó and Nándor Barta, the founders and recipe creators behind My Pure Plants. We are sharing our knowledge and expertise in vegan recipes and encourage you to try home-cooked meals using locally-sourced, organic, whole foods.

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