First, gather all your ingredients and prepare them in the right amounts. That makes it so much easier and more fun and you're less likely to forget anything.
Slice the smoked tofu into 3–5 mm thick pieces, the thinner, the better.
Heat a little vegetable oil in a pan. Add the tofu slices side by side and fry over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes.
In a small bowl, mix together maple syrup, soy sauce, and smoked paprika to make a marinade.
Flip the tofu slices individually. If some need more color, move them to the center of the pan. Fry for another 3 minutes on the other side until crispy. Brush the tofu with the marinade, using a pastry brush works best.
While the tofu is cooking, slice the tomato and cucumber and lightly season with salt.
Spread mayonnaise on your bread, then layer with lettuce, the fried tofu, and the tomato and cucumber slices. Season with salt and pepper, fold the sandwich, and enjoy!