This vegan bang bang tofu is baked until crispy and tossed in a creamy, homemade spicy mayo based sauce. Served with crisp butter lettuce and sesame soba noodles, this tofu dish packs a flavorful, slightly spicy punch. No store-bought sweet chili sauce is required!
📝 Why You’ll Love This Bang Bang Tofu:
- Taste: Slightly spicy, salty, and sweet with tons of umami flavor.
- Texture: The tofu is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. The sauce is so creamy and the butter lettuce adds a refreshing crisp crunch!
- Difficulty: Easy!
- Time: Under 40 minutes… and most of this is passive baking time.
- Why We Love This Tofu: I’ve been on a bit of a tofu kick lately, so I thought it was about time to make a vegan version of bang bang shrimp from Bonefish Grill. This tofu is coated in a sweet yet spicy sauce that is so creamy and delicious! The sauce is rich, so I’ve found that it pairs perfectly with crisp lettuce cups. Definitely delicious on a warmer Spring or Summer evening for dinner.
Ingredients:
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Super Firm Tofu: For the best texture I recommend using super firm tofu. Extra-firm tofu will also work, but you’ll need to press more liquid out with a few layers of paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.
- Sambal Oelek & Sriracha: I use both Sambal Oelek and Sriracha Sauce here, however you can substitute one for the other. I prefer to buy the versions by Huy Fong for both of these- I’ve found they have the best taste and spice level.
- Garlic Powder: The dredge for the tofu is made of cornstarch, garlic powder and salt. If you don’t have garlic powder, you can sub in onion powder.
- Vegan Mayonnaise: I used Hellman’s Vegan Mayo but you can use any brand you prefer.
- Butter Lettuce: I love this dish served in crisp butter lettuce cups. You can use green leaf lettuce or even romaine hearts instead.
No Sweet Chili Sauce?
Bang Bang Sauce is often made with store bought sweet chili sauce.
This recipe doesn’t use premade sweet chili sauce, but instead uses a combination of Sambal Oelek (a garlic chili paste), vinegar, agave nectar and garlic to make a simple homemade version.
If you prefer, you can substitute the Sambal Oelek, agave, vinegar, and garlic for 2-3 tbsp of store-bought sweet chili sauce (I really like the one from Trader Joe’s!).
Helpful Equipment
Here are a few tools that will make creating this recipe extra easy:
- Kitchen Towel or Paper Towels: to lightly press the tofu
- Baking Tray: to bake the tofu
- Parchment Paper: to line the baking sheet for easy clean up
- Mixing Bowl: to coat the tofu with cornstarch and the vegan bang bang sauce
Step-by-Step Instructions
*Ingredient Quantities are in the Recipe Card Below!*
STEP 1: Drain the block of tofu and gently press the excess water out with a few layers of paper towels. Cut into ¼”-½” cubes and set aside.
STEP 2: Prepare the cornstarch mixture in a shallow bowl or a large mixing bowl. Add the tofu and gently mix to coat.
STEP 3: Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and spread into a single layer. Drizzle with 1-2 tbsp of neutral oil.
STEP 4: Bake for 25- 30 minutes until golden and crispy. Be sure to flip halfway!
📌 TIP: The smaller the tofu is cut, the faster it will bake and the crispier it will become.
STEP 5: Make the vegan bang bang sauce. Adjust to your spice preference by adding more sriracha sauce or sambal oelek.
STEP 6: Cook the soba noodles in boiling water for 4-5 minutes. Rinse them under cold running water and toss with a bit of sesame oil and vinegar.
STEP 7: Once baked, coat the tofu pieces with the spicy sauce!
📌 TIP: When hot, the vegan bang bang sauce will ‘melt’ a bit and thin out. As the tofu cools, the sauce will thicken.
Extra Cooking Tips:
⏲️ Want to make this in your air fryer? Here’s how:
- Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper. Preheat to 375F.
- Follow the steps above and air fry for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway until golden brown and crispy.
⏲️ Want to make this on the stove? Here’s how:
- Follow the same steps as above, except heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat with 1-2 tbsp of olive oil or cooking oil.
- Pan fry the tofu for 2-3 minutes each side until golden and crispy.
Serving Ideas
Once the tofu is tossed in the bang bang sauce, it’s ready to serve!
Spoon the cubes into lettuce cups with cooked soba noodles. Don’t forget to sprinkle the tofu with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
You can serve the tofu with a few lime wedges on the side. The extra acidity really helps cut the richness of the creamy sauce.
If you’re not a fan of lettuce cups, this tofu can be made into a stir fry with red peppers and green snap peas. I’ve served this stir fry over soba noodles like in the recipe card below.
If you’re omitting the lettuce cups, I recommend doubling the amount of soba noodles.
Storage
The tofu can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. The tofu will lose some of it’s crispiness when stored, so for the best texture I recommend enjoying immediately.
The lettuce cups should be stored separately to prevent them from going soggy.
Helpful Tips For The BEST Bang Bang Tofu
❶ Use Super Firm Tofu: Like with many of my tofu recipes, I highly recommend using super firm tofu if you can find it. It cuts down on prep time since you don’t need to press the extra liquid from it.
❷ Drizzle The Tofu With Oil Before Baking: To get a crispy texture, I do recommend using about a tablespoon of oil. Drizzle it on the tofu and make sure each cube is evenly coated for the best texture.
❸ Adjust the Vegan Bang Bang Sauce To Taste: Everyone prefers different spice levels, so add more sriracha or sambal oelek to taste. You can also add more agave nectar if you prefer a sweeter sauce.
More Delicious Tofu Recipes:
- Vegan Egg Rolls
- Hot ‘Honey’ Tofu
- Basil Balsamic Tofu
- Garlic Lime Tofu
- Vegan Egg Roll in a Bowl
- ‘Pulled’ BBQ Tofu
Did you make this Bang Bang Tofu Recipe?
⭐️ I’d love to know! Leave a star rating and comment below! ⭐️
Vegan Bang Bang Tofu
Ingredients
Tofu:
- 16 oz super firm or extra firm tofu
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil - for cooking
Vegan Bang Bang Sauce:
- ½ cup vegan mayo - like Hellman’s Vegan Mayo
- 1 ½ tbsp agave nectar
- 1 tbsp Sambal Oelek - adjust to taste
- 1-3 tsp Sriracha - adjust to taste
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp minced garlic
Soba Noodles:
- 4 oz soba noodles
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1-2 tsp rice vinegar
Serving:
- 1-2 green onions - sliced
- 1 tbsp toasted white sesame seeds
- 1 head butter lettuce - washed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Drain the block of tofu and lightly press with paper towels. Dice into ¼”-½” cubes. Set aside.16 oz super firm or extra firm tofu
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cornstarch, salt and garlic powder. Add the tofu and gently mix to coat. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and spread into a single layer.⅓ cup cornstarch, ¾ tsp salt, 1 tsp garlic powder
- Drizzle with neutral oil. Bake for 25- 30 minutes until golden and crispy, flipping halfway.1 tbsp vegetable oil
- While the tofu bakes, make the vegan bang bang sauce. Add all the ingredients for the sauce to a medium mixing bowl. Mix to combine, then taste. Adjust to your spice preference by adding more sriracha sauce or sambal oelek.½ cup vegan mayo, 1 ½ tbsp agave nectar, 1 tbsp Sambal Oelek, 1-3 tsp Sriracha, 1 tsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp minced garlic
- Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add the soba noodles and cook for 4-5 minutes (or per your package instructions). Drain and rinse with cold water. Transfer to a bowl and toss with sesame oil and rice vinegar.4 oz soba noodles, 1 tsp toasted sesame oil, 1-2 tsp rice vinegar
- Once the tofu is baked, toss with the bang bang sauce. As the tofu cools, the sauce will thicken slightly.
- Spoon into butter lettuce leaves with cooked soba noodles. Sprinkle with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!1-2 green onions, 1 tbsp toasted white sesame seeds, 1 head butter lettuce
Notes
- If you prefer, you can substitute the Sambal Oelek, agave, vinegar, and garlic for 2-3 tbsp of store-bought sweet chili sauce (I really like the one from Trader Joe’s!).
Nutrition
Want to Save this Recipe for Later? Pin it to Pinterest!
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this post might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my blog so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!
Chris says
Delicious!