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Buffalo Style Tofu Strips

45 min

Appetizer

Side

There are several stories circulating about the invention ofΒ 'buffalo sauce'. One story tells that this popular sauce was born in 1964 at a bar in Buffalo, New York, where the owner used this sauce to create tasty snacks for her son and his friends. Whether or not this is the real origin story of the buffalo sauce, we're thankful to its inventor, 'cuz the sauce is darn delicious!

tofu strips

Total

45 min

Prep

15 min

Cook

30 min

Contains

Soy symbol

soy

Swap out

Gluten symbol

gluten

Free from

Peanut symbol

peanut

Treenut symbol

tree nut

Sesame symbol

sesame

Ingredients

Tofu base

  • 16 oz (450 g)
    firm tofu, pressed
  • ¼ cup (32 g)
    cornstarch
  • ½ cup (120 mL)
    unsweetened soy milk
  • ½ cup (54 g)
    breadcrumbs
  • 1 tsp (2 g)
    paprika powder
  • ½ tsp
    ground cumin
  • ½ tsp
    garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp
    ground black pepper

Vegan ranch dip

  • ½ cup (120 mL)
  • 2 Tbsp (30 mL)
    unsweetened soy milk
  • ¼
    lemon , juiced
  • 1 tsp (1 g)
    dried parsley
  • ¼ tsp
    dried chives
  • ¼ tsp
    garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp
    onion powder
  • ⅛ tsp
    dried dill
  • ⅛ tsp
    salt
  • 1 pinch
    ground black pepper

Buffalo sauce

Directions

  1. Line a baking tray and preheat the oven to 430Β°F (220Β°C)*.
  2. Cut the tofu into 3 inch x Β½ inch (8 cm x 1 cm) sticks.
  3. Prepare 3 shallow bowls: the first with cornstarch;Β the second with milk;Β and the third with the mixture of bread crumbs, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, and pepper.
  4. Dip the tofu sticks in the cornstarch first to evenly coat in a thin layer. Brush off any excess clumps of cornstarch.
  5. Then dunk the strips into the milk, letting any excess liquid drip off, beforeΒ transferring the strips to theΒ breadcrumbΒ mixture. Roll to evenly coat.
  6. Transfer the coated strips to the baking tray. Bake on the centre rack of the oven for 25 - 30 minutes, or until the sticks are golden,Β flipping once halfway.
  7. Meanwhile, mix all the ranch dip ingredients in a jar.
  8. Add the buffalo sauce ingredients to a saucepan on medium-high heat. Cook until the butter has melted, then removeΒ from the heat.
  9. WhenΒ the tofu sticks have baked, remove them from the oven. When they are still warmΒ butΒ cool enough to handle, dip them into the buffalo sauce. Let any excess sauce drip off beforeΒ transferringΒ the sticksΒ to a serving plate.
  10. Serve the buffalo tofu sticks with the ranch, or serve in tortillas with your favourite fillings. Enjoy!

Notes

  • * We used top and bottom heating (not fan-assisted/convection).

Storage

Let us know what you think

Nutrition info

We believe that focusing on numbers can harm our relationship with food. Instead, our philosophy is to Nourish the Cells & the Soul. If you require specific nutrition information due to a medical condition, please consult with a dietitian or physician. The nutritional information provided is composed with the utmost care. However, we cannot guarantee the correctness of the displayed values, see also our disclaimer.

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Discussion & Rating

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Ashley - March 5, 2024, 3:44 a.m.

Amazing! Will definitely be making again!


Nazira - Feb. 25, 2024, 12:05 a.m.

A classic and so yummy!


Tina - Feb. 10, 2024, 10:31 p.m.

can you air fry the tofu strips and if yes, how long. Also how do you warm the strips up? I am new to tofu and
your recipes look awesome. Thank you

PUL Team - Feb. 11, 2024, 1 a.m.

Hi Tina, we've never personally made them in an air fryer before, but we heard one review from Marilynn who cooked them in the air-fryer for 15 minutes. Perhaps you could try 12-15 minutes at 375Β°F (190Β°C), flipping halfway through. To warm them up, simply reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes or in a preheated oven at 350Β°F (175Β°C) for about 5-7 minutes. Enjoy experimenting with tofu, and we're glad you're enjoying the PUL recipes! πŸ˜ƒ


Evelyn Miller - Jan. 4, 2024, 8:15 p.m.

Very good


Renee Bossert - Sept. 15, 2023, 9:24 p.m.

I made these and my picky teenager liked them!
I used seasoned vegan mayo instead of soymilk.

I’d make them again


Anne - Sept. 5, 2023, 6:06 p.m.

Ahhhh, this was SO good! I've been enjoying these Buffalo strips in salad all week for a quick lunch. Absolutely love this recipe and will be making again and again!

PUL Team - Sept. 7, 2023, 6 p.m.

We're so thrilled the buffalo tofu strips were enjoyed, Anne! Thank you πŸ€—


Mariann - Aug. 25, 2023, 3:09 a.m.

Love so many of your recipes! One question...how long will the ranch dip last in the fridge? Hubby and I were really impressed with the flavors. Thanks for another great recipe!

PUL Team - Aug. 26, 2023, 3:44 a.m.

Hey there, Mariann, aw we're so happy you're enjoying our recipes! The ranch dip can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days 😊


Jan - July 14, 2023, 1:41 p.m.

What do you mean "pressed" in your recipe?

PUL Team - July 14, 2023, 3:12 p.m.

Hey Jan, "pressed" means draining excess moisture from the tofu. One way to press tofu is that we can wrap it in a towel, place a heavy object on top, and let it sit. This process helps remove water, resulting in a firmer texture that absorbs flavours better. We've added a request for a how to press tofu guide in the future πŸ€—


Jamie R - June 16, 2023, 4:32 a.m.

This recipe is a staple in my home! I just remade it utilizing the app, and wow, seriously the best Buffalo tofu recipe there is! ✨ put it over salad and my meat eating boyfriend was even enamored. Seriously foolproof and so delicious!

PUL Team - June 16, 2023, 5:37 p.m.

What a compliment, thanks so much Jamie! So glad you both enjoyed it so much πŸ˜ƒ and you have our app too - yay!! thanks for your support with it πŸ€—


JD - June 11, 2023, 3:37 a.m.

So good. I love buffalo wings but have not found a good replacement, but this recipes is so good.


Mo - May 3, 2023, 6:40 a.m.

Can the breaded tofu strips be frozen and then baked later?

PUL Team - May 3, 2023, 8:58 p.m.

Hey, Mo! You can cut the tofu into strips and freeze those. It would probably work best to freeze the strips in a single layer and once frozen, transfer them to an air-tight container. Then when they are thawed, coat them in the batter and use them. I wouldn't recommend freezing the coated tofu as it can hold on to ice crystals with its porous structure, so when it thaws the strips will likely become soggy. Let us know if you experiment with it πŸ€—


bhavya - April 4, 2023, 6:43 p.m.

delicious recipe and easy to follow instructions! Thank you!


Janet K - March 30, 2023, 5:55 a.m.

This recipe is amazing! The tofu strips worked great in a wrap. I’m a little picky about tofu & I thought this recipe tasted fantastic. It will move into our regular rotation of meals, as my husband also loved it. Thank you.

PUL Team - March 30, 2023, 6:45 p.m.

So happy to hear, Janet, it means so much πŸ€—


Katie - March 14, 2023, 3:10 a.m.

I make a lot of Pick Up Limes recipes and they are all winners. This is no exception. I made these for the first time tonight and we are obsessed. We put it over a big bed of spinach with some roasted sweet potato on the side, but can imagine it would be amazing a number of ways.
Make a double batch, you won’t regret it!!!

PUL Team - March 16, 2023, 12:43 a.m.

Mmm sounds lovely, Katie , and we're so happy to hear! Thank you πŸ˜ƒ


Becca - March 7, 2023, 10:55 p.m.

This is my absolute favorite meal to make. I’d eat this every single day if I could. It’s relatively easy to make and tastes wonderful. I recommend it to literally everyone who asks for tofu recipes.

PUL Team - March 8, 2023, 6:23 p.m.

Such as big compliment, Becca, thank you πŸ€—


Everett - Nov. 2, 2022, 5 a.m.

So good! I accidentally used extra hot sauce but they still turned out amazing. My roommate said that this might be his new favorite thing and that if he became a millionaire he would hire me as a private chef, solely based off this recipe, thanks PUL!!!

PUL Team - Nov. 2, 2022, 6:21 a.m.

Aw so happy to hear, Everett, happy cooking πŸ˜ƒ


Dalia - Sept. 4, 2022, 2:59 p.m.

Tried this recipe, itβ€˜s delicious. My neon-vegan brother approved. Reminds of chicken a lot. Love it! 😍

PUL Team - Sept. 5, 2022, 3:36 a.m.

So thrilled it was enjoyed, Dalia, it means so much!


Breana - Aug. 16, 2022, 6:06 p.m.

Is there are reason why you only use firm tofu? I am just used to purchasing extra firm or super firm (for other recipes) and just wondered if there is a difference when using these.

PUL Team - Aug. 17, 2022, 2:33 a.m.

Hey Breana, firm tofu tends to be more accessible here in the Netherlands compared to firmer varieties of tofu often found in North American grocery stores. You can certainly use extra-firm or super-firm tofu instead of firm tofu if desired πŸ˜ƒ

Breana - Aug. 17, 2022, 2:51 p.m.

Good to know. Thank you!


Maria - July 30, 2022, 3:06 p.m.

This might be one of my favorite tofu recipes - it is so delicious and goes together with just about everything! I like to add the tofu strips to salads and sandwiches, but they are also great at spicing up leftovers:) Thanks a bunch for the recipe!

PUL Team - July 31, 2022, 1:33 a.m.

Such a big compliment, Maria, thank you for the glowing review πŸ™‚


C&W - July 1, 2022, 12:03 a.m.

Made a great dinner tonight with the Buffalo Tofu strips. We had some leftover brown rice and lentils with caramelized onions, so we added the tofu strips, some avocado, a touch of ranch and wrapped it all up in tortillas. It was excellent, so flavorful!

PUL Team - July 1, 2022, 8:22 p.m.

Mmm thank sounds delicious, C&W! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with it 😍


Erica - June 9, 2022, 7:54 p.m.

YEEESSS! Oh my goodness the buffalo sauce is so good. Thanks for another amazing tofu recipe!!

PUL Team - June 10, 2022, 9:33 p.m.

Our heart is so full hearing the reviews, Erica, thank YOU!


Joseph - June 9, 2022, 7:22 p.m.

These are amazing. I've made them a half a dozen times with my kids (they like to help with this one). It's so tasty and fun. Works so well with non-vegan friends because they can't even tell it's tofu. Just pure deliciousness.

PUL Team - June 10, 2022, 11:07 p.m.

So beyond happy the tofu strips are being enjoyed by everyone! Thank you, Joseph πŸ€—


Sebastian and Luise - June 8, 2022, 6:36 p.m.

I completely agree with Anony Mousse on this recipe. Currently this might be my favorite vegan dish. It is the perfect comfort food after a less than stellar day at work or after a really long hike.

PUL Team - June 9, 2022, 6:02 p.m.

Wow such a massive compliment, Sebastian and Luise, thank you πŸ₯°


diana - May 19, 2022, 5:40 a.m.

i love the fact you can change the portion! it makes it way quicker and i dont have to ask google for every change in measurements lol
recipe was decent!

PUL Team - May 20, 2022, 1:11 a.m.

So glad the website features are being enjoyed, Diana! Do let us know if you have any other feedback to help us improve 😊


ANONY MOUSSE - Feb. 21, 2022, 4:21 p.m.

I WISH I could give 100 stars to rate this recipe!!! OMGGGG Honestly one of the best dishes I've ever had! Anyone scared of tofu MUST TRY THIS!!!
And anyone that says vegans are deprived of delicious food...well they probably never found Pick Up Limes;)

Thanks for all your hard work, content, & beautifully done videos!!!

PUL Team - Feb. 22, 2022, 4:34 a.m.

Oh we're smiling from ear to ear! Thank you for the glowing review - it means so much, anony mousse 😜✨


Lotus - Jan. 25, 2022, 8:13 p.m.

I really like these. We didn't have any hot sauce so I used spicy banana ketchup and it's very good, I just want to make them every week.

PUL Team - Jan. 27, 2022, 2:44 a.m.

Ooo thanks a bunch for the idea, Lotus! So glad the strips are being enjoyed 😊


Neha - Jan. 11, 2022, 8 p.m.

Yummy way to make tofu! I didn’t have cornstarch and used all purpose flour instead and they still held up great!! Thank you for this delicious recipe!

PUL Team - Jan. 12, 2022, 4:47 a.m.

A lovely substitute, Neha, we're so glad it was enjoyed!


Mika - Oct. 5, 2021, 10:24 p.m.

Been watching you for years!!! I would love to try this recipe today. Curious though, if you dip the tofu in the milk after coating the cornstarch, won't the cornstarch just wash away in the milk?

PUL Team - Oct. 6, 2021, 4:01 a.m.

Hiya, Mika! When the tofu with cornstarch is dipped into the plant-milk it actually tends to clump up and get sticky rather than washing off. This is because of some cool science stuff related to thickening πŸ€“ We hope you enjoy the recipe if you're able to give it a try 😊


Lorena - Sept. 30, 2021, 2:55 p.m.

I don't like ranch so I made the tofu sticks for tortillas and it is amazing! Love that extra pinch of spicy and crunchy tofu mixed with vegetables! It also easy to make and you made a video that's easy to follow!

PUL Team - Oct. 1, 2021, 6:39 p.m.

So happy the tofu sticks were enjoyed, Lorena! Feel free to let us know if you have any feedback for the ranch. It's always appreciated to help us improve ✨

Lorena Loje - Oct. 1, 2021, 10:51 p.m.

I'm sure it's great, I generally don't eat ranch πŸ˜… I'm sorry, didn't mean to make it sound like a bad recepie!

PUL Team - Oct. 2, 2021, 10:44 p.m.

No problem at all, Lorena! We all have some personal food preferences 😊


Cath - Sept. 14, 2021, 6:46 p.m.

We've made it once with my boyfriend, definitely need to make it again. It's delicious on its own, and with the ranch sauce, too!

PUL Team - Sept. 15, 2021, 1:41 a.m.

Aw we appreciate this so much, Cath, thank you πŸ™‚


Linda - Sept. 9, 2021, 2:56 a.m.

I love this recipe! I keep this recipe for weekend fun meals, very delicious and fun to make.


Colleen - July 24, 2021, 7:17 p.m.

This is our favorite recipe! Would highly recommend with the vegan ranch!


Khush - July 16, 2021, 1:24 p.m.

Tried this recipe and it worked great - one of my favourites! Thank you Sadia & Team PUL.


Kim - July 10, 2021, 9:21 p.m.

I LOVE this recipe!! My boyfriend (a meat eater) also thinks these are amazing and I make them often when we're craving a bit of something a bit more "junk foodie" but don't want to go out.

PUL Team - July 16, 2021, 4:03 a.m.

We're so glad you and your boyfriend are enjoying the recipe, Kim, thank you! πŸ€—


Elisha - July 9, 2021, 2:48 p.m.

One of my go to tofu recipes! So delicious and the process of making these is also fun! Thanks Sadia :)


Marilynn - July 9, 2021, 1:57 a.m.

Just made the Buffalo strips for dinner. Yum! I put them in our air fryer tor 15 mins. The outside was crisp and the inside tender. Is that the way it’s supposed to taste?

Love this recipe. I’m not a vegan but I’m trying to eat healthier and love your recipes. ❀️

PUL Team - July 12, 2021, 7:11 a.m.

Hi Marilynn, thank you for sharing! We've never personally made them in an air fryer before, but find the inside isn't usually overly tender. Perhaps cutting smaller strips or using a lower temperature may be two ideas to try to get the inside more crunchy if desired πŸ˜ƒ


Jamie R - July 8, 2021, 11:08 p.m.

A go-to recipe of mine since the first time I made it! Never disappoints, always get compliments - and I personally think its best form is in a salad with avocado + tomato with some of the vegan ranch drizzled over 😍

PUL Team - July 11, 2021, 3 p.m.

So incredible to hear, Jamie, thank you for sharing! Lovely idea to add it to a salad 😍


Alice - July 8, 2021, 10:25 p.m.

In my opinion the perfect substitute for any fast food meal! And the ranch dip is an absolute must, it just completes the recipe perfectly (<- coming from a person who normally does not enjoy dips). Thank you, PUL team :-)

PUL Team - July 11, 2021, 8:26 a.m.

Oh, Alice, we appreciate this review so much! Thank YOU for taking the time to share πŸ€—


Lesley - July 8, 2021, 9:48 p.m.

So delicious! I've made these a few times and they never disappoint!! :)


Miriam - June 29, 2021, 4:15 p.m.

Made these for game night for some friends and they got devoured in seconds. Incredible with the ranch dip too, which we also served with potatoes. Wouldn't skip the ranch dip with these ones. Everyone was asking for the recipe - thanks PUL!

PUL Team - June 30, 2021, 3:48 a.m.

We're so happy to hear the buffalo strips and dip were enjoyed! Thank you, Miriam✨


Cris S - June 5, 2021, 5:27 p.m.

I made this in a less-spicy version and I find they were better without the ranch-dip, which seemed a little too fat, probably because of the store-brought mayo...

PUL Team - June 5, 2021, 11:55 p.m.

Thank you for the honest review, Cris! It's helpful to help us learn and grow 🌻 Feel free to enjoy the buffalo strips on their own or with a homemade sauce if desired next time :D