Spicy Sizzling Tofu (Tofu Sisig) ala Max’s
“Sizzling tofu is an incredibly delicious dish combining creamy, spicy and savory flavor. Enjoy it with rice, as an appetizer, side dish or just by itself alongside your favorite drink.”
Sizzling sisig is a popular way of cooking and serving food in the Philippines. There a popular versions of sisig that varies depending on the meat/ protein used such as pork sisig, chicken sisig, beef sisig, and bangus sisig among others.
This sizzling tofu recipe is inspired by Max’s restaurant, a famous restaurant chain in the Philippines. They are known for their chicken as well as this tofu recipe.
It is full of flavor and can be consumed by vegetarians as it doesn’t contain any meat. It’s so simple to make and maybe the only hard part is frying the tofu. And it also requires few ingredients, such as firm tofu, bell peppers, garlic, onions, mayonnaise, and liquid seasoning, lemon or calamansi juice. And in this spicy version, I added some chilis to make this dish more on the spicy side just like other sisig versions. But you can omit it if you want a creamy and sweet flavor.
This sizzling tofu is a versatile dish as it can be served as a main dish or as an appetizer, side dish or just by itself. Your family and friends will surely like it.
Tips on how to prepare and cook tofu
Firm tofu,is the main star of this recipe. Usually tofu has liquid inside, so you have to drain excess water from the tofu. You can wrap it in a paper towel and slightly press it. Less water will give you firmer, crispier fried tofu.
You can also use cornstarch to absorb all the moisture and will give a crispier tofu. But just be aware that when you coat it there is a tendency that they will stick together. So it is better to put them one by one and with ample spaces, if you have the patience to do that.
Cut your tofu in uniform sizes for even cooking and for aesthetic purpose as well.
If you have a big batch to make and would like to fry the tofu cubes faster and easier, you can deep fry them. Or if you are cooking it for 2 persons, you can just fry them in a small pan with enough oil so you will not consume too much oil. Transfer the fried tofu into a plate lined with paper towel to remove excess oil.
Sizzling plate is recommended to use when serving the tofu but if you do not have one, you can use a cast iron skillet. It would also do the job perfectly.
Other ingredients and tips
Garlic and onion. Adds aroma, flavor and texture to the dish. You can add more onions as garnishing.
Red and green bell pepper. They adds sweetness, flavor and color to the recipe. You can use both or either one of these.
Red and green chili Peppers. To add a kick of spice into the dish. This is recommended for people that are fond of spicy foods. You can omit if you prefer not to put it.
Mayonnaise. Adds creaminess to the tofu. You can add it before or after putting the fried tofu cubes. I prefer to cook it for about 1-2 minutes then add the tofu to coat evenly. But do not overcook as it will get too greasy.
Liquid seasoning. It gives a distinct umami flavor to the dish. But you can substitute it with two tablespoons of soy sauce or oyster sauce if you like.
Lemon juice or calamansi juice. Balances the creaminess of the mayo and adds a hint of tangy flavor which is a distinctive flavor to sisig recipes.
Try this sizzling tofu as a good alternative dish to meat sisig, you’ll enjoy your meal even without any guilt.
If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and tell me how you liked it in the comments section below; I love hearing from you! Happy tummy!
Spicy Sizzling Tofu (Tofu Sisig) ala Max’s Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Skillet/ wok
- Sizzling plate
Ingredients
- 500 grams extra firm tofu, cut into cubes
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch — optional (to remove extra moisture & adds crispiness)
- canola oil for frying
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 and ½ tablespoons liquid seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or calamansi juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, minced
- ¼ cup (about ½ of small) green bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup (about ½ of small) red bell pepper, diced
- 2-3 pieces green chilies, chopped diagonally
- 2-3 pieces red chilies (siling labuyo), chopped diagonally
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce by combining mayonnaise, liquid seasoning, sugar, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Mix until well combine. Set aside.
- In a skillet or wok, heat oil. Combine cornstarch, if using, with tofu cubes. Deep fry tofu until light brown.
- Remove from the pan and drain excess oil using a colander or plate with paper towel.
- Using the same pan, keep around 1-2 tablespoons of oil. Saute garlic and onion until translucent.
- Add green and red bell pepper and cook for around 1-2 minutes.
- Pour the prepared sauce and cook for about a minute.
- Toss in fried tofu and stir until tofu are fully coated. Remove from heat.
- Heat a sizzling plate on the stovetop and melt butter. Transfer cooked tofu on the sizzling plate. Let it cook for about a minute.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately.
- Garnish with additional minced onions and chilies.
- Share and enjoy!
Video
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