Baked Tofu in Spicy Ginger Garlic Oil

Tofu, one of the most versatile ingredients we can use for our cooking.  It can be cooked as an appetizer, as an extender, as our main dish or even a side dish in our drinking session.  I love tofu.  May it be deep fried to crispiness or steamed and dipped in ginger oil.  I’m wondering why there are people who dislike it taste.

This afternoon, I have these few cubes of tofu sitting for a week in our fridge.  I thought of dip frying it but cooking oil is expensive these days to use for deep frying few cubes of tofu.  Also, I don’t like the mess of deep frying.  I saw our oven toaster sitting still in our kitchen so why not make baked tofu..

I grab those tofu in the fridge, placed it in our counter and waited for 30 minutes to cool it to room temperature.  Washed it to remove some of it sourness and sprinkle all its sides with salt, pepper and Spanish paprika and baked in the oven until golden brown.  I dip it in my homemade spicy ginger garlic oil and paired it with nice bowl of rice.  Afternoon hunger, solved!

Ingredients
3 cubes                                   Firm Tofu
Salt
Black Pepper
Spanish Paprika
Olive Oil

1/2 teaspoon                            Chili Flakes
Thumb sized                            Ginger, grated
1 clove                                    Garlic, grated
4 Tablespoons                          Olive Oil
a pinch or two                          Salt

Procedure

Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.  Sprinkle salt, pepper and Spanish paprika on all side of the tofu.  Placed on a parchment paper to avoid sticking and drizzle some of those gorgeous golden olive oil.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.  Baked tofu ready!

Served with Spicy Ginger Garlic Oil.

For the spicy ginger garlic oil, in a saucer or dipping bowl, combine chili flakes, ginger, garlic and salt.  Heat olive oil in a sauce pan until smoking hot.  Transfer the smoking hot oil into the saucer or dipping bowl.  Best done the day before to experience best flavor.  Enjoy baked tofu as your appetizer or pair it with rice like what I did.