With warm slices of tofu, creamy Hoisin sauce, and cold / crisp cucumbers. these sandwiches got great reviews for their layers of texture and flavor when this meal was last featured in March 2020.
Tofu, extra-firm
- 16 oz
, sliced into 1/4" / .7 cm slices
(vacuum-packed preferable)
Garlic
- 6 cloves
, crushed
Pineapple juice (6 oz / 175 mL)
- 1 can
Soy sauce, low-sodium
- 1/4 cup
Oil, cooking
- 1/4 cup
Chinese five spice
- 1 tsp
Foil
- for roasting
Hoisin sauce
- 1/3 cup
Char Siu Tofu Sandwiches:
Mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup
Hoisin sauce
- 1 Tbsp
Chili garlic sauce (opt)
- 1/2 tsp
Cucumbers
- 8 oz
, thinly sliced
Green onions
- 2 stalks
, finely chopped, white and green parts combined
Hamburger buns or hoagie rolls
- 4
Sesame Broccolini:
Broccolini
- 1 lb
, trimmed
Oil, cooking
- 1 Tbsp
Oil, toasted sesame
- 1/2 tsp
Sesame seeds, white (opt)
- 1 tsp
Lime juice
- 1 tsp
Prep
Tofu - If tofu is packaged in water, press out liquid first, like in this video. Then slice into 1/4” / .7 cm thick slices. (Keep in mind that you’ll be putting these on sandwiches, so make the slices the right size to fit between buns.) (Can be done 1 day ahead)
Make marinade - Crush garlic cloves with the palm of your hand. Discard peels. Combine garlic cloves, pineapple juice, soy sauce, oil (portion for Char Siu), and Chinese five spice. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Marinate tofu - Place tofu in a baking dish (the slices can be overlapping slightly). Pour marinade over top, turning tofu to coat on both sides. Marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 days. (Can be done 2 days ahead)
Make Hoisin mayonnaise - Combine mayonnaise, Hoisin sauce (portion for sandwiches), and chili garlic sauce. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Broccolini - Trim broccolini. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Heat oven to 375F / 190C. Line a sheet pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray or brush with some oil. (Note: If the tofu and broccolini won’t easily fit in a single layer on one pan, use two sheet pans.)
Remove tofu from marinade and place in a single layer on one side of prepared sheet pan. Toss broccolini with cooking oil (portion for broccolini), toasted sesame oil, sesame seeds, and some salt. Place broccolini on the second side of sheet pan.
Roast tofu and broccolini for 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and flip tofu and broccolini with a spatula. Spoon Hoisin sauce (portion for tofu) over top of tofu.
Return pan to oven and continue cooking until tofu is golden brown and broccolini is tender with crisp, golden edges, ~10 minutes more.
Squeeze lime juice over broccolini.
Toast buns.
Assemble sandwiches by filling buns with Hoisin mayonnaise, green onions, tofu slices, and cucumbers. Serve with broccolini on the side.