Easy Vegan Crispy Tofu Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce

Go meatless with easy vegan crispy tofu lettuce wraps recipe with peanut sauce and enjoy every fresh bite. It is a light meal but full of nutrients, especially protein. The peanut sauce is its perfect pair.

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Lettuce wraps have been around for such a long time and while it has originated from China, it has also become popular in southeast asia and since then adapted in most restaurants around the globe.

If you are looking for an easy meal, healthy, high in protein, budget-friendly, plant-based, and vegan, as well as gluten-free you can never go wrong with these crispy tofu lettuce wraps.

Meatless Mondays

If you are looking for meat alternatives aside from mock meats or want to try more whole foods, tofu, jackfruit, tempeh, and mushrooms should be on your grocery list aside from beans and lentils.

Meatless Recipes To Try

• Red Lentils Burger Patties Recipe
• Mushroom Stroganoff

Aside from meatless mondays, crispy tofu can also be used for your taco tuesdays recipe as filling together with other vegetables.

Which Tofu To Use

Firm or extra firm tofu should be used in this recipe, the key to make it crispy is to make sure you squeeze excess water from the tofu and do not overcrowd it when frying them.

Cook in low-medium fire and it takes time and patience. Your pan should also be hot enough so the tofu will not stick in the pan.

You can cut your tofu into bigger cubes if you prefer that way, while for this recipe I prefer minced tofu so I chopped it into smaller pieces.

For tips pressing tofu check my Easy Sizzling Tofu Recipe

Gluten-Free Substitution

Your crispy tofu lettuce wraps can be made gluten-free with the right gluten-free ingredients. Always check the labels to be sure and to avoid allergies. From soy sauce, peanut butter, tofu, maple syrup, and rice vinegar. 

Although most of these ingredients are gluten-free, the manufacturing area must not have cross-contamination with gluten products.

Crispy Tofu Lettuce Wraps

Main Ingredients

Lettuce – rich in vitamin K that strengthens the bones, is low in calories and is a good source of fiber, vitamin C, and iron. You can use iceberg lettuce or butterhead lettuce.

Firm/Extra Firm Tofu – your main ingredient for this recipe. Source of protein and nutrients such as phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium.

Peanut Butter – choose natural unsalted peanut butter. It is a good source of protein and other nutrients such as vitamin B6, E, manganese, and niacin. Use about a half cup of peanut butter for the sauce.

Carrot – adds crispness to every bite and is known to be an antioxidant. You will need 1 small size carrot and slice into match-sticks.

Mushroom-based Oyster sauce – this is what I use to add flavor while frying the tofu and therefore I skip the salt. 

Garlic, Onion, Chili powder, Ground Black Pepper –  I added 3 cloves of garlic, 1 medium onion both chopped, and some pepper and chili powder for more flavor.

Peanut Sauce Ingredients

Unsalted Natural Peanut Butter – use about a half cup of peanut butter of your choice. I use Adams unsalted peanut butter

Rice vinegar – about 3 tablespoons. Start with adding 1 tablespoon first and gradually add according to your preference.

Gluten-free Soy sauce – I use Kikkoman gluten-free soy sauce and about two tablespoons of it. 

Maple syrup –  add a little sweetness with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup you can also substitute with sugar but you may have to dissolve it with soy sauce or water first.

Water – this is to thin out the sauce mixture I use about four tablespoons, you can start adding two first and adjust to your preference.

Fresh Garlic and Ginger – adds a little spice and tanginess with the taste of the sauce you can chop 1 clove of garlic and about 1 tsp of chopped ginger.

Instructions

1. Heat pan with oil, add chopped onion and garlic and cook until a little brown or about 2-3 minutes.
2. Add Tofu and cook until crispy and golden brown under medium heat only to avoid burning.
3. Add some chopped carrots and mix.
4. Add mushroom oyster sauce, pepper and chili powder to taste.
5. Set aside after cooking.
6. Prepare lettuce leaves, wash and pat dry and put in the plate.
7. Add the crispy tofu and prepare the peanut butter sauce.

Peanut Butter Sauce

1. In a small bowl add half cup of peanut butter.
2. Add 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp soy sauce, maple syrup, 2 tbsp water. Mix.
3. Add chopped ginger and garlic and mix again.
4. Add more soy sauce to adjust the taste and water to thin out the mixture.
5. If you want it spicy you can add chili powder or flakes.
6. Transfer in a clean glass jar and it’s ready.

Plating: On your plate, add the crispy tofu on top of the lettuce and garnish with more carrots or spring onions, add the peanut sauce and enjoy every bite.

This crispy tofu lettuce wrap is your vegan choice to enjoy the usual lettuce wraps. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to flavoring your peanut sauce. You can add more chili flakes or tabasco for extra spice.

Recipe Notes

You can flavor your tofu as per your preference. Add spices and panko bread to make it a little crispy.

Instead of frying you can also bake them or use your air fryer. Use the settings you have when using the oven or air fryer

Leftovers are to be put in an airtight container and kept in the fridge to preserve freshness. Avoid combining or putting the sauce in the crispy tofu then put it in the fridge.

Nutrition

These crispy tofu lettuce wraps can yield up to 8 servings with 119 calories per serving. Total Fat 8.5g | Saturated Fat 0.8g | Cholesterol 0mg | Sodium 70mg | Total Carbohydrate 5g | Dietary Fiber 0.9g | Total Sugars 2.4g | Protein 6.2g | Vitamin D 0mcg | Calcium 38 mg | Iron 1 mg | Potassium 205mg

The peanut sauce has 92 calories per serving. Total Fat 6.5g | Saturated Fat 1.3g | Cholesterol 0mg | Sodium 183mg | Total Carbohydrate 5.7g | Dietary Fiber 0.8g | Total Sugars 3.6g | Protein 3.5g | Vitamin D 0mcg | Calcium 10 mg | Iron 0 mg | Potassium 103 mg

Nutrition calculation is based on using an online calculator (verywellfit) and for reference use only.

Other Recipes To Try

• Vegetable Spring Rolls
• Sweet and Sour Tofu Recipe
• Chickpea Salad

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