This candy and spicy vegan kung pao tofu recipe options oven-baked crispy tofu, bell peppers and onions in a flavorful, spicy sauce.
You’ll want only a few easy elements to make this Chinese language-inspired vegetarian model of kung pao hen. This makes a yummy weeknight dinner and nice technique to incorporate tofu into your food plan.
Taste-packed and fast and simple to make, it is a easy however daring dish you’ll like to make many times!
Serve over rice, topped with crunchy peanuts or cashews for a scrumptious meal!
Desk of Contents
Recipe Highlights
- Vegan (no egg, meat or dairy).
- Could be gluten-free.
- Prepared in half-hour.
- Good for meal prep.
- Supply of plant-based protein.
Ingredient Notes
- Tofu: Additional agency tofu is really useful for this recipe although agency tofu can be utilized if that’s what you have got. I didn’t press the tofu however you may in the event you like!
- Soy Sauce: Low sodium soy sauce (mild soy sauce) is really useful. For a gluten-free recipe, you may substitute gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos.
- Coconut Sugar: You’ll be able to substitute brown sugar.
- Bell Peppers: I used one purple pepper and one inexperienced bell pepper however any selection works.
- Onion: I used purple onion however you may substitute white or yellow onion.
- Sesame Oil: You should use common or toasted sesame oil, toasted is most well-liked. This contributes taste to the dish so I don’t suggest substituting a distinct oil. For the tofu, you should utilize olive oil, avocado oil, and so forth.
- Rice Vinegar: I used unseasoned rice vinegar.
This checklist will not be full. Please see the recipe card on the finish of the publish for the entire ingredient checklist with measurements and detailed directions.
Variations
- For a extra conventional supply of warmth, omit the purple pepper flakes from the sauce and add 3-4 entire dried purple chilies while you add the garlic and ginger. Take away the chilies earlier than serving. Dried purple chilies might be present in a Latin American or Asian grocery retailer.
- The tofu might be baked, air fryed or pan-fried. See the Recipe FAQs and notes within the recipe card for how-to.
- You’ll be able to swap out the greens for broccoli, carrot, bok choy, cauliflower, zucchini, snow peas, child corn or eggplant. Cooking occasions will differ. You’ll want a bit longer to prepare dinner cauliflower, carrot and eggplant. It’s really useful to solely add a further 1 cup of greens.
- 2-4 tsp purple pepper flakes is really useful however you may cut back it to 1 tsp in the event you’re delicate to spice. When you don’t like warmth in any respect, I’d counsel a distinct recipe like my Orange Tofu or Vegan Candy and Bitter Tofu Recipe.
- This might be made as kung pao chickpeas for a fair easier and soy-free recipe (foys soy-free you’ll must swap the soy sauce for coconut aminos as effectively). Omit the tofu. Add 1 19 oz can rinsed chickpeas with the garlic and proceed with the remainder of the recipe.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Toss the tofu cubes with 1 tsp sesame oil and the soy sauce, cornstarch, pepper and garlic powder.
Step 2: Place the tofu cubes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes till golden brown.
Step 3: As soon as the tofu is within the oven, combine all the sauce elements in a small bowl or container.
Step 4: When the tofu has just below 10 minutes left, warmth the sesame in a big wok, forged iron skillet or non-stick skillet over medium warmth after which add the garlic and ginger. Cook dinner for 1-2 minutes, stirring regularly.
Step 5: Add the peppers and onions and stir fry for 4-5 minutes till tender however nonetheless crisp.
Step 6: Stir the stir fry sauce once more after which pour it into the pan prepare dinner for 1-2 minutes till it begins thickening. Add the baked tofu items and toss to coat within the sauce.
Serve your kung pao tofu over brown or white rice, topped with inexperienced onions, sesame seeds and peanuts or cashews.
Recipe FAQs
You retailer kung pao tofu in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Reheat leftovers over medium warmth in a skillet or within the microwave till heated by way of.
I don’t normally press extra-firm tofu as a result of it doesn’t have a excessive water content material however urgent it is going to assist take away any extra liquid it does have and assist enhance texture and taste absorption, when you have the time.
To press the tofu, place the block in a tofu press or between paper towels or a clear kitchen towel and place a heavy object on it for 15-20 minutes.
With a full tablespoon of purple pepper flakes, the kung pao sauce is sort of spicy. I don’t have a really excessive tolerance for spicy meals and I can eat it nevertheless it’s positively scorching.
When you’re delicate to spicy meals, cut back the purple pepper flakes to 1 tsp.
Sure. Toss the tofu with the corn starch, soy sauce, garlic powder and black pepper. Preheat the air fryer to 37 5 F. Place the tofu cubes in a single layer within the air fryer basket and air fry 15-20 minutes, flipping half means by way of till the items are golden and cirspy.
Chef’s Notes
- I choose baked tofu for the proper crispy texture however you may pan-fry the tofu if most well-liked. See recipe notes for how-to.
- When you choose the cashews or peanuts softened, add them to the stir fry while you add the sauce as an alternative of utilizing them as a topping.
- I imagine the recipe has the proper steadiness between the sauce, tofu, and greens; nonetheless, in the event you need an additional veggies, be at liberty to include as much as a further cup.
- This isn’t an genuine kung pao recipe however my model of the traditional Chinese language dish.
Did you do that recipe? I’d love to listen to about it! Scroll all the way down to the remark part to go away a star ranking and evaluate.
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Description
Get pleasure from a flavorful and satisfying Vegan Kung Pao Tofu Stir-Fry, that includes crispy cubes of tofu tossed, vibrant greens and crunchy cashews, all tossed in a candy and spicy do-it-yourself sauce.
For the Tofu
For the Stir Fry
For the Sauce
- Put together: Preheat the oven to 425 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Coat Tofu: Place the cubed tofu in a bowl with the oil, soy sauce, cornstarch, garlic powder and black pepper. Gently combine with a rubber spatula to coat.
- Bake Tofu: Place the tofu cubes on the baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes till browned and puffy. Observe: The tofu may also be pan-fried, see notes, although I choose the feel of baked.
- Combine Sauce: As soon as the tofu is within the oven, combine the sauce elements in any container or bowl.
- Begin Stir Fry: When the tofu has just below 10 minutes left, warmth the sesame oil in a big wok or non-stick skillet over medium warmth. Add the garlic and ginger and prepare dinner for 1-2 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the bell peppers and onions and prepare dinner for 4-5 minutes till tender however nonetheless crisp.
- Add Sauce and Tofu: Stir the sauce once more and pour it into the pan. Cook dinner whereas stirring for 1-3 minutes till it begins thickening. Add the baked tofu cubes and prepare dinner 1-2 minutes to coat within the sauce.
- Serve: Serve the kung pao tofu over rice or with lettuce cups. Prime with the crushed cashews and chopped inexperienced onions.
Notes
To pan-fry tofu, toss the tofu within the cornstarch, garlic powder, black pepper and soy sauce and pan-fry in 2-3 tsp oil. Cook dinner 6-7 minutes, flipping typically till golden brown on all sides. Add the garlic, ginger and peppers, prepare dinner 4-5 minutes till the veggies are tender. Add the sauce and stir till thickened. I choose the feel of baked tofu.
*Use 1-4 tsp chili flakes based mostly on spice desire. I don’t tolerate spicy meals that effectively and a couple of tsp is finest for me. When you’re delicate to spice, cut back to 1 tsp. When you love warmth, you may enhance to 4 tsp. That is meant to be a spicy recipe, so for a great quantity of warmth for those who take pleasure in spicy meals, 1 tbsp (3 tsp) is really useful. For a extra genuine supply of warmth, omit the purple pepper flakes from the sauce and add 3-4 entire dried purple chilies with the garlic and ginger. Take away earlier than serving.
Vitamin details don’t embrace cashews, inexperienced onion or rice.
Vitamin
- Serving Measurement: 1
- Energy: 238
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 959 mg
- Fats: 9 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
