01 -
Crumble the tofu onto a clean tea towel or paper towels and gently pat dry. Set aside.
02 -
Lightly crush the fennel seeds using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder until broken but not powdered. Combine with dried oregano, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried basil, ground sage, and freshly cracked black pepper in a bowl.
03 -
In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, ketchup, and apple cider vinegar. Set aside.
04 -
Preheat a large cast iron skillet or sauté pan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons (approximately 30 milliliters) of oil and heat until shimmering. Add the spice mixture and stir continuously for about 1 minute to toast the spices. If the pan appears dry or a richer flavor is desired, add an additional tablespoon of oil.
05 -
Add the crumbled tofu to the pan and stir thoroughly to coat with the toasted spices. Use a spoon to break up any large tofu pieces as needed. Drizzle the soy sauce mixture over the tofu and stir well to combine. Season with sea salt and optional cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tofu is browned and heated through, approximately 15 minutes.
06 -
Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve warm immediately or allow to cool completely before storing.