Sweet and spicy sticky tofu

Ingredients

• 1 block (approximately 300g/10½oz) firm tofu, drained and pressed for 10 minutes
• 6 tsp cornflour
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil, plus extra for shallow frying

For the sweet and sour sauce

• 2 tsp cornflour
• 2 tsp vegetable oil
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 tsp grated fresh root ginger, or more, to taste
• ½ tsp dried chilli flakes or 1 tsp sriracha chilli sauce, to taste
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 4 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar

To serve

• spring onions, chopped
• sesame seeds
• lime wedges
• cooked rice

Method

1. To make the sweet and sour sauce, mix the cornflour and 120ml/4fl oz water in a small bowl and set aside.

2. Heat the oil in a small saucepan over a medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger and chilli flakes and fry for a few seconds until fragrant. Then whisk in the remaining sauce ingredients and the cornflour mixture and bring to the boil. Cook for a minute until thickened, then remove from the heat and set aside.

3. Cut the tofu into 2cm/¾in cubes. Place the cornflour, soy sauce and oil in a bowl and mix well to create a batter. Add the tofu cubes and stir until coated in the batter.

4. Heat some oil in a frying pan over a medium–high heat. Add the tofu and cook for about 3 minutes on each side, until golden brown and crispy all over.

5. Add the sweet and sour sauce, stir to coat the tofu, and cook over a low–medium heat for about 1–2 minutes until hot.

6. Serve immediately, garnished with spring onions and sesame seeds, with lime wedges on the side, and rice.