Spicy Tofu Crispy Rice
Servings: 5
Equipment
- air fryer or shallow fry in a pan
- rice cooker
- 2 sheet trays quarter or half size
- parchment paper
- nonstick cooking spray
Ingredients
Crispy Rice
- 1 1/2 cups rice cooked, short grain white
- 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 2 tsp sugar organic cane
- 1/2-1 tsp salt more to taste
Spicy Tofu
- 6-8 oz extra firm tofu excess water drained off
- 2-3 tbsp vegan mayo more to taste
- 2 tsp tamari or soy sauce, more to taste
- 1 tbsp gochujang korean red pepper paste
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
Garnish
- 1 jalapeño thinly sliced
- black sesame seeds to taste
- scallions thinly sliced
Instructions
Prepare the crispy rice
- Gently heat the vinegar, sugar and salt in a small pot or in the microwave and stir until sugar is fully dissolved.
- Add freshly cooked rice to a bowl and pour in the seasoning mixture. Use a spatula or rice paddle to incorporate the mixture into the rice without breaking the rice grains.
- Line the baking sheet trays with parchment paper and then transfer the seasoned rice onto the tray and gently press down to flatten until the rice is about an inch in thickness. Place the second sheet tray on top and press down, then toss into the freezer for 10 minutes or refrigerator for about an hour.
- After chilling, remove the rice from the sheet trays and slice into nigiri sized rectangles. You can spray the knife with nonstick oil to make cutting easier.
- Generously spritz or coat with neutral oil then pop into the air fryer at 375F for about 10-12 minutes or until crispy. Season with salt after air frying and set aside.
Prepare the Tofu
- Start by finely dicing the tofu into cubes about a centimeter in width.
- In a mixing bowl, add tofu and all remaining sauce ingredients and use a spatula to mix. You can also use a fork to crush the tofu to get a finer texture. Toss until sauce is distributed throughout the tofu and set aside.
Assemble Spicy Tofu Crispy Rice
- To assemble, take one piece of crispy rice and top with a generous tablespoon or more of the tofu mixture.
- Top each piece with thinly sliced jalapeño, scallions and sesame seeds, to taste.