Vietnamese Tofu Balls

Serves 1
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Directions

  1. 1Pre-boil the whole tofu block in salted water for 5 minutes.
  2. 2Let the tofu cool down a bit.
  3. 3Finely chop the onion, spring onion, and lemongrass.
  4. 4Mash the tofu in a bowl.
  5. 5Mix in all the aromatics, seasonings, and sauces.
  6. 6Add oat flour one tablespoon at a time until you can easily form balls that hold their shape.
  7. 7Pan-fry the balls until golden on the outside.
  8. 8Transfer to an air fryer and crisp up at 200°C for 10 minutes until evenly golden.
  9. 9Serve hot with a dip or in your bún chả or bánh mì.

Ingredients

  • 1 block tofu
  • 1 small white onion
  • 1 stalk green onion
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemongrass
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp sriracha
  • 2 tsp vegan fish sauce
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp white pepper
  • 4 tbsp oat flour

Equipment

potknifecutting boardbowlpanair fryerwooden plate

Tips

  • Pre-boiling tofu in salted water gives it a tender, bouncy bite and helps season it from the inside, making it absorb flavor better.
  • Pan-searing brings out the aromatics by sizzling them directly into the tofu, which cannot be achieved by only baking/air-frying.
  • Air-frying locks in a golden, crispy shell without deep frying, keeping the outside crunchy and the inside juicy and tender.