NEVER ENOUGH GARLIC

By now, you must have noticed our love of crispy food. That crunchy texture is so amazing we can't resist. The spirit of this recipe came from just such a craving for crispiness - and also junk food. And so the idea for our crispy vegan "chicken" fingers were born!

These savoury "chicken" fingers are marinated in a blend of spices before being brushed with peanut butter for a delicious twist and coated in panko breadcrumbs for the ultimate crunch. And they're not even deep fried! So you don't have to feel quite as guilty when you consume an entire plate each like we did. 

Ingredients:

• 400 g (14 oz) firm tofu
  
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Olive oil 

Marinade:

• 2 tbsp. soy sauce
  
• 1 tbsp. tamari sauce
• 1 tsp. vegetable fond
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. smoked paprika
• 2 tsp. garlic powder 
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 0.5 tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. chilli powder (adjust according to chilli preferences)
  

Peanut Butter Paste:

• 1 tbsp. peanut butter
• 2 tbsp. olive oil

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F).
   
2. Remove the excess liquid from your tofu by pressing down on it with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
3. Slice your tofu into 2 cm (1 inch) wide pieces. 
   
4. Mix all the ingredients for the marinade together into a paste and brush onto all sides of the tofu sticks. To help the tofu absorb the marinade, gently poke holes across the surface of each stick with a fork. Keep flipping and brushing at least 2-3 more times (or until there is no marinade left).
   
5. Mix the peanut butter with the 2 tbsp. of olive oil to form a smooth paste.
   
6. Brush each stick with the peanut butter paste. Make sure to cover all sides as well as both the front and back.
7. Pour the panko breadcrumbs onto a flat plate. 
8. Place each stick on the panko plate and coat completely with breadcrumbs on all sides. 
   
9. Place the coated sticks on an oven tray lined with baking paper. Lightly spray the sticks with olive oil to make sure they get completey crispy.
10. Bake for 15 minutes, then flip the sticks over. Bake for 15 more mintues or until crispy and golden.