Inspired by Southern Vietnamese flavors, this Sweet and Sour Tofu dish features crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside tofu in a flavorful & full of umami sauce and crunchy veggies.
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Sweet and Sour Tofu
This recipe is inspired by Sweet and Sour pork that I grew up eating, veganized using tofu. I have previously made this recipe using tempeh, check out Sweet and Sour Tempeh.
In Southern Vietnam, sweet & sour dishes are popular and reflect the tropical, summery taste of the country. I love to use fried firm tofu for this recipe because it has a tender texture that goes well with the sauce and a crispy exterior for some crunch. You can also use medium or soft tofu for an even more tender texture that just melts in your mouth. But if you use soft tofu, be careful as the texture may break apart!
Ingredients & substitutions
To make vegan Sweet & Sour Tofu, you'll need:
First, press the tofu to remove the excess water, if you're lazy like me, then you can pat dry the tofu with a paper towel. After that, coat with salt and cornstarch then shallow fry in oil until both sides turn golden and crispy. Set aside.
The sauce elevates the tempeh and makes it a flavorful dish, using only 6 ingredients:
- Rice vinegar: add tanginess to the recipe, you can also use apple cider vinegar.
- Tomato paste: adds a depth of tomato flavors. If you don't have this, you can use ketchup instead.
- Sugar: adds a hint of sweetness, swap with maple or agave syrup.
- Soy sauce: add the depth savory flavors, you can use tamari for a gluten-free option
- Garlic powder, ginger powder: can substitute with fresh minced garlic and ginger
- Corn starch: to thicken the sauce
Instructions
First, slice your tofu into cubes.
Slice your veggies: bell peppers and pineapple into bite-sized pieces.
Coat your tofu with cornstarch, then fry until golden brown.
Remove the tofu to a plate. In the remaining oil, add in the onion and stir fry until transparent (1-2 minutes). Add the diced bell peppers and pineapples to the pan and mix well. Stir fry for another 3-5 minutes until softened.
Combine the sauce ingredients to make the Sweet and Sour sauce.
Pour the sauce into the pan and simmer until thickened. Then add the fried tofu cubes and mix well. Lastly, add the chopped scallions and stir for another minute.
Serve with a bowl of warm rice or noodles.
Why you'll love this Sweet and Sour Tofu recipe
This recipe is:
- Perfect for weeknight dinners or lunches, because it's easy and quick to whip up together!
- Full of flavors from the umami sauce and a combination of sweet, tangy flavors
- It's the best way to sneak some veggies into your meals as the sauce goes well with anything
- Versatile: pair this with a bowl of rice or noodles.
If you have tried my recipe, please let me know what you think by leaving me a review on this page or tagging me on Instagram @veggieanh. I would love to see your creations!
Print📖 Recipe
Sweet and Sour Tofu
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Inspired by Southern Vietnamese flavors, this Sweet and Sour Tofu dish features crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside tofu in a flavorful & full of umami sauce and crunchy veggies.
Ingredients
- 400 g firm tofu
- 1 tbsp corn starch
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 bell pepper (I use 2 halves from different colors)
- 1 can (250g) pineapple (or ½ a fresh pineapple)
- 1 tbsp oil
Sauce Ingredients
- 4 tbsp rice vinegar
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp corn starch (to make the tofu more crunchy)
- 2 tbsp ketchup or tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 1 tsp minced ginger (optional)
Optional Toppings
- roasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Squeeze all excess water out of the tofu, chop the tofu into bite-size pieces then coat with corn starch.
- Meanwhile, chop the yellow onion, bell peppers and pineapples into chunks.
- Add some oil to the pan, and fry the tofu until all sides are golden. Move to a plate then set aside.
- Combine all the sauce ingredients and mix well.
- Back to the pan, add the diced yellow onions and stir fry for 1-2 minutes until transparent. Add in the diced bell peppers and pineapple chunks. Stir fry for 5 minutes until the veggies become tender but still crunchy.
- Add in the sauce and simmer until thickened. Add back in the fried tofu cubes, and mix everything together.
- Add scallions and stir fry for another 5 minutes until everything is well incorporated.
- Garnish the dish with roasted sesame seeds and enjoy with a bowl of warm rice or noodles.
Notes
Serve the tofu with rice or soba noodles and enjoy!
The leftover of this can be saved in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Vietnamese, Chinese
Keywords: sweet and sour tofu, vegan sweet and sour, sweet and sour stir fry, saucy tofu, 30-minute meal, weeknight friendly, meal prep
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