Sesame-Glazed Crispy Tofu Batons

1. Make the Sauce

In a small bowl, combine the Chinese sesame paste, soy sauce, vegetarian oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, and sugar. Stir these ingredients until smooth. This sauce will bring a rich, flavorful coating to the tofu.

2. Prepare the Spice Mixture

In another small bowl, combine the toasted sesame seeds, ground cumin, five-spice powder, and ground red chile or cayenne pepper.

3. Cut the Tofu

Cut the tofu into batons that are about ½ inch wide, ½ inch thick, and 3 inches long.

4. Fry the Tofu

Heat the vegetable oil in a wok over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, carefully add the tofu batons, frying them until they are golden brown. Once fried, transfer the tofu to a paper towel-lined plate to drain the excess oil.

5. Prepare the Garlic

Pour the oil from the wok into a heatproof container, reserving about 2 tablespoons of oil in the wok. Return the wok to the heat and add the minced garlic, stir-frying for about 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant but not darkened.

6. Add the Sauce and Tofu

Add the sauce mixture to the wok and stir until it comes to a boil. Add the fried tofu to the wok, tossing it with the sauce until each baton is evenly coated. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the tofu and continue to toss until the spices are well distributed.

7. Add Cilantro and Serve

Stir in the finely chopped cilantro. Arrange the tofu batons on a serving plate and serve immediately.