Place drained tofu block between sheets of paper towels. Press to release most of the liquid. Cut tofu into ¼ inch sticks (slice tofu crosswise into ¼ in thickness then slice again to resemble french fries). Lay sticks on layers of paper towels then add a couple more sheets on top and press to further release more liquid. Extra firm tofu has less liquid so use it if you can.
Combine salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder in a small bowl. Sprinkle half of the mixture evenly on the tofu. Gently flip the pieces and sprinkle the rest on the other side.
Heat about one inch of oil in a large frying pan, over medium to medium-high heat.
Place the cornstarch on a plate. Roll each tofu stick, being careful not to break it. Fry in hot oil until golden brown and crisp. Drain on a paper towel-lined strainer/rack. Draining the “fries” upright ensures its crispiness. Fry in batches to maintain the oil temperature.
Serve immediately with your choice of dipping sauce.
Notes
*Extra firm tofu is the best choice because it has the least amount of liquid. Firm tofu is what I sometimes use if I can’t find the former. Just follow the draining instructions above.
Keyword healthy snack, kid-friendly, meatless, quick and easy meals