Tahu Sumedang Golden Crispy Indonesian (Printable)
Golden, crispy tofu with fluffy interior. Popular Indonesian street food ready in 35 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Tofu Preparation
01 - 14 oz firm tofu, preferably Sumedang-style or regular firm tofu
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - 2 cups water
→ Batter & Frying
04 - 2 tablespoons rice flour
05 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder, optional for color
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/2 cup cold water
11 - Vegetable oil for deep frying
→ Serving
12 - Fresh bird's eye chilies
13 - Sweet soy sauce (kecap manis)
# Directions:
01 - Cut the tofu into 1-inch cubes. Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in 2 cups water and soak tofu cubes for 10 minutes to season. Drain thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine rice flour, cornstarch, white pepper, garlic powder, turmeric powder if using, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup cold water until smooth and thin.
03 - Pour enough vegetable oil into a deep pan or wok to reach 2 inches depth. Heat to 340°F over medium-high heat.
04 - Dip each tofu cube into the batter, allowing excess to drip off. Carefully lower into hot oil and fry in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crisp, about 5-7 minutes per batch.
05 - Remove fried tofu with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately with fresh chilies and sweet soy sauce if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The batter creates this incredible crunch that somehow stays crisp even after the tofu cools down
- Its ridiculously affordable to make and feeds a crowd as finger food or a light meal
02 -
- Double frying is absolutely worth the extra effort, the first fry sets the structure and the second fry creates that incredible lasting crispiness
- Overcrowding the pan drops the oil temperature too fast, which makes the tofu absorb more oil and turn soggy instead of crisp
03 -
- After soaking the tofu, press it gently between paper towels to remove excess moisture, which helps the batter adhere better
- Add a pinch of baking powder to the batter for extra lightness and crunch