Crispy Rice Bites with Sticky Tofu
These crispy rice bites with sticky tofu pack 20g protein per serve and feature the crispiest golden air fried rice bites paired with avocado and savory sticky tofu. This is a protein-packed appetizer or meal you can easily make at home whenever you have a sushi craving! Each bite of this Spicy Tofu Crispy Rice is a flavor explosion, blending sweet, tangy, and spicy notes. It’s made with whole foods and has the perfect balance of carbs, protein, and fats to keep to fueled and satiated!
Protein Packed Vegan Recipes
Why You’ll Love Crispy Rice Bites
Protein-Packed – Tofu steals the show in this crispy rice recipe as a star ingredient, delivering a hefty dose of plant-based protein that’s both satisfying and nutritious. And as if that wasn’t enough, the avocado topping makes it a double dose of nutritional powerhouse thanks to its high fiber, vitamin, and antioxidant content.
Oil-free – Unlike its pan fried or deep fried variation, this recipe adapts to a healthy air-frying approach using minimal to no oil.
Budget-Friendly – Forget about splurging at fancy restaurants – with this vegan crispy rice recipe, you can enjoy a signature Nobu appetizer utilizing simple, affordable ingredients without breaking the bank.
No-Waste Wonder – Got leftover sushi rice sitting in your fridge? This recipe transforms those remnants into a culinary masterpiece, breathing new life into every grain. Say goodbye to food waste and hello to culinary creativity.
Fiery Flavor Explosion – Craving a bit of heat? This Spicy Tofu Crispy Rice packs a punch with its scorching combination of chili flakes, jalapeno slices, and a sriracha drizzle. Each bite is an explosion of spicy goodness that’ll leave your taste buds tingling with delight.
How To Make Crispy Rice and Tofu Bites
Prepare Sushi Rice
Cook your sushi rice according to package directions or use leftover sushi rice. If cooking, let the rice cool. Line a container or small baking tray with parchment paper, then add rice.
Wet your hands so the rice doesn’t stick to your hands, and pat the rice down into the container. Take the rice out, then using a wet knife, slice the rice into your desired shape.
Air Fry Rice Rectangles
Place the rice into the air fryer and spray with oil, or omit the oil spray to make it oil free. Air fry at 400f for 12-15 minutes or until golden. If you don’t have an air fryer, you can pan-fry in olive oil until both sides are golden.
Make Tofu
While the rice cooks, make your tofu. Slice it into your desired shape, then sprinkle on salt, pepper, and cornstarch on both sides. Pan-fry your tofu in a spray of oil until both sides are crispy.
Prepare Sticky Tofu Sauce
In the meantime, make your sticky tofu sauce by adding all ingredients into a small bowl and mixing well to combine. Pour the sauce over the crispy tofu in a skillet and mix everything together. The sauce will thicken in a few minutes over the heat of the stove and become sticky. The sauce adds an umami flavor with hints of sweetness.
Assemble Crispy Rice Bites
Assemble your crispy rice bites. Place your rice at the bottom, followed by some sliced avocado, sticky tofu, jalapeno, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Add a drizzle of sriracha if you like spice, and enjoy!
Do I need sushi rice for these crispy rice bites?
Yes, Sushi rice is the best rice to use for this dish because of its sticky texture and ability to hold shape. Unlike other types of rice, sushi rice contains more starch, specifically amylopectin, which gives it a sticky and pliable texture once cooked. The sticky nature of sushi rice allows it to be easily shaped and molded to make crispy rice bites.
Moreover, when you’re forming the rice into rectangles or any shape you prefer, the stickiness ensures that the grains hold together firmly, creating a solid base for the tofu bites. Sushi rice retains its shape and texture even after being air-fried or pan-fried. This results in a delightful contrast between the crispy exterior and the soft, sticky interior, which is a key characteristic of these bites.
Recipe Tips for Crispy Rice Bites
Season the Rice: Jazz up your cooked sushi rice with your favorite seasonings after cooking. Seasoning adds a layer of extra flavor to the rice base, whether it’s a sprinkle of furikake, a dash of toasted sesame oil, or a pinch of garlic powder.
Get Creative with Toppings: Let your creativity shine by experimenting with various toppings to give your dish a unique twist. Add tangy pickled cucumbers, zesty salsa, or even a dollop of creamy guacamole for an explosion of flavors and textures.
Adjust the Spice Level: Adjust the amount of chili flakes in the sticky tofu sauce according to your taste buds’ tolerance levels.
Chill the Rice: To ensure sushi rice maintains its shape and texture during frying, let the rice cool entirely before shaping and cooking.
Maximize Tofu Crispiness: Use a tofu press or wrap the tofu block in paper towels. Place a weighted object on top to expel excess moisture, allowing the tofu to crisp up beautifully when pan-fried.
Maki it Gluten-Free: For those following a gluten-free diet, swap out traditional soy sauce for tamari or gluten-free soy sauce for the sticky tofu sauce.
Swap Tempeh for Tofu: Substitute tofu for tempeh to try another recipe variation.
Sriracha for Heat: Drizzle your finished dish with a generous swirl of Sriracha sauce if your taste buds crave something fiery and bold.
Make it oil free: To make this recipe oil free simply omit the oil spray. The rice will still become sticky it will just not be as golden.
Make it soy free: swap the tofu for your favourite soy free protein or just pile on your favourite veggies instead! Swap soy sauce for coconut aminos.
More Vegan Recipes You’ll Love
THE FLUFFIEST VEGAN PRETZEL BITES
WANT MORE FREE PLANT BASED RECIPES?!
Make sure to follow me on all my social platforms:
✨Instagram @That.VeganBabe
🍍TikTok @That.VeganBabe
💜Facebook @ThatVeganBabe
🍉Pinterest @ThatVeganBabe
🙌YouTube @ThatVeganBabe
Crispy Rice Bites with Sticky Tofu
Ingredients
For Sushi Rice
- 3 cups cooked sushi rice
For Tofu Bites
- 300 g extra firm tofu
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- Salt and Pepper
For Sticky Tofu Sauce
- 2.5 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp water
- 1.5 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Sesame Oil
- ¼ tsp chili flakes
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ inch cube grated ginger
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Toppings
- 1 avocado
- 1 Jalapeno
- 1 tsp Sesame Seeds
- Sriracha for Drizzling
Instructions
- Cook your sushi rice according to package directions or use leftover sushi rice. If cooking, let the rice cool.
- Line a container or small baking tray with parchment paper, then add rice. Wet your hands so the rice doesn’t stick to your hands, and pat the rice down into the container.
- Take it out, then, using a wet knife, slice the rice into your desired shape. I cut mine into rectangles, slightly larger than the tofu rectangles.
- Place the rice into the air fryer and spray with oil (omit spray for oil free). Air fry at 400f for 12-15 minutes or until golden.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, pan-fry in olive oil until both sides are golden.
- While the rice cooks, make your tofu.
- Slice it into your desired shape, then sprinkle on salt, pepper, and cornstarch on both sides.
- Pan-fry your tofu in a spray of oil until both sides are crispy.
- In the meantime, make your sticky tofu sauce by adding all ingredients into a small bowl and mixing well to combine.
- Pour the sauce over the crispy tofu and mix everything. The sauce will thicken in a few minutes over the stove’s heat and become sticky.
- Assemble your crispy rice bites. Place your rice at the bottom, followed by some sliced avocado, your sticky tofu, a slice of jalapeno, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Add a drizzle of sriracha if you like spice, and enjoy!
This looks great, I’m certain I’d love it, but my husband hates tofu, think it would work with soy curls? I can slide those by him every once in while.
Hey Lara, For sure I don’t see why not! They just might fall off the rice a little but I’m sure they’d be delicious! 🙂
Making this TODAY! Do I need to press the tofu first? 🌱🖤🌱
yaaaay! Hope you enjoy! Pressing tofu really depends on the brand of tofu. Some are more wet than others and need to be pressed in order to become crispy while some are more firm with less liquid and it is not necessary. You can always just press to be sure but experiment with the brand that you use 🙂
This looks delicious! Do you think it could be served at room temperature as an appetizer?
Hey Annette! Yes I think they would taste delish at room temp for an appy!
Can I use brown rice or does it need to be sushi?
You can use brown sushi rice however it does need to be sushi or ‘sticky’ rice otherwise it will not stick together.