Sesame-Crusted Tofu

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Press the tofu block to remove excess moisture.

Meanwhile, prepare the marinade by combining the soy sauce, maple syrup, sesame oil, Sambal Oelek, grated ginger, and minced garlic in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cut the tofu into slices about 1 cm thick and let marinate for at least 20 minutes at room temperature.

Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, sesame seeds, and cornstarch. Season with salt and pepper.

Coat each marinated tofu piece in the sesame crust mixture. Add more coating as needed.

Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sear the sesame-crusted tofu pieces until golden, then continue cooking over medium-low heat to heat through.

Serve with green onions and additional soy sauce (or another dipping sauce), alongside sautéed vegetables and rice or vermicelli noodles, or place on a salad.