Here’s a tender yet jerky braised tofu recipe with a mildly sweet, tangy, and absolutely delicious Asian-inspired sauce.
It’s an easy 30-minute dinner idea with plenty of plant protein, veggies, and a wonderful combination of flavors.
![Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (1) Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (1)](https://i0.wp.com/theplantbasedschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/braised-tofu-1.jpg)
Table of Contents
- Ingredients
- Instructions
- Serving suggestions
- Storage
- More Asian-inspired recipes
- More tofu recipes
- Braised Tofu Recipe
Check out our best tofu recipe collection!
Our braised tofu is a Chinese-inspired recipe with a beautiful dark sauce to serve as the main dish on boiled or steamed rice.
It’s somewhat similar to our Kung Pao Tofu and Stir Fry Tofu; it’s incredibly easy to make with surprisingly simple ingredients, and it’s one of our family’s favorite tofu dishes.
Braising is a cooking method that combines dry heat and wet heat. First, we brown the food without sauce to create flavor, then simmer it with the flavoring liquid.
In this case, you’ll slice firm tofu into strips and sauté with oil, salt, and pepper on a non-stick skillet for a few minutes. This step allows the tofu to lose some of its water, brown, crisp up, and gain flavor.
Next, pan-fry your favorite veggies; you can use bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, and more.
Finally, you’ll add a tasty dark sauce that will beautifully coat the tofu and the veggies and load them with flavor.
You can serve the braised tofu next to a bowl of rice and greens such as chard, bok choi, broccoli, and more.
![Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (2) Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (2)](https://i0.wp.com/theplantbasedschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/braised-tofu-13.jpg)
Ingredients
![Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (3) Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (3)](https://i0.wp.com/theplantbasedschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/braised-tofu-1-2.jpg)
Tofu
Use firm or extra firm tofu to make braised tofu; soft tofu will disintegrate on the pan, and that’s no fun.
There’s no need to press the tofu; the excess moisture will be released as you cook the tofu on the pan.
You’ll need salt, pepper, and oil (olive oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil are best) to sauté the tofu.
Veggies
Mushrooms: white mushrooms or cremini mushrooms are perfectly fine for this recipe. To add more mushroom flavor, throw in some shiitake mushrooms or portobello mushrooms.
Bell peppers: pick a yellow bell pepper if you can. The color looks lovely in this dish. Red and green peppers work well too.
Scallions: or green onions are wonderful for adding a fresh tangy flavor to this dish. Use the white and light-green part to stir fry with the other veggies and the green part as a garnish.
However, you can use any veggies that sauté well on a pan, such as thinly sliced carrots, sliced broccoli, green peas, sliced zucchini, bok choi, and more.
Garlic, Ginger, Red Pepper Flakes
Try to use all; they infuse the dish with an irresistible aromatic flavor that is a must in Asian cooking.
Add more or less red pepper flakes based on your spice tolerance. You can substitute chili powder, gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), or Chinese whole-dried red chilies for red pepper flakes.
Sauce
To braise the tofu, you’ll need a sauce with the following:
- Soy sauce: we use reduced-sodium soy sauce. To make the sauce darker, you could add a tablespoon of dark soy sauce, although that’s only optional.
- Vinegar: rice vinegar is more traditional; white wine or apple cider vinegar works perfectly well. If you have it in your pantry, you can add a tablespoon of Shaoxing wine too.
- Sugar: white or brown sugar are both okay.
- Sesame oil: sesame oil adds a beautifully nutty flavor you’ll love. If you don’t have sesame oil replace it with olive oil or canola oil.
- Salt and black pepper
Cornstarch
To thicken the sauce, so it sticks to the tofu and veggies, you’ll mix cornstarch and water to make a cornstarch slurry.
Serve it with
Serve braised tofu with boiled rice (white, brown, basmati, jasmine). You can also add extra veggies on the side and sesame seeds on top.
For example, we recommend sautéed bok choi, sautéed chard, steamed broccoli, and steamed cauliflower.
![Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (4) Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (4)](https://i0.wp.com/theplantbasedschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/braised-tofu-14.jpg)
Instructions
Prep the ingredients
Cut the mushrooms in half or quarters and slice the bell pepper into long strips.
Finely slices the scallions and separate the green tops from the white and light green bottom.
![Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (5) Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (5)](https://i0.wp.com/theplantbasedschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/braised-tofu-3.jpg)
Take the tofu out of its package, drain it, and pat it dry with a paper towel.
Slice it into 1/4-inch strips (0.6 cm).
![Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (6) Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (6)](https://i0.wp.com/theplantbasedschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/braised-tofu-2.jpg)
In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and water to make the cornstarch slurry.
In a medium bowl, whisk soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, salt, and black pepper. That’s your braised tofu sauce.
![Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (7) Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (7)](https://i0.wp.com/theplantbasedschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/braised-tofu-4.jpg)
Pan-fry ingredients
Warm up the vegetable oil on a large non-stick pan. Add the tofu slices, season them with salt and black pepper, and cook on medium-low heat for about 8 minutes, flipping it once.
When the tofu is golden brown, transfer it onto a plate and set aside.
Note: the salt will draw out excess liquid making the tofu texture a little chewier without having to use a tofu press.
![Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (8) Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (8)](https://i0.wp.com/theplantbasedschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/braised-tofu-5.jpg)
On the same pan, add some more oil and pan-fry bell peppers and mushrooms on medium-high heat for 3 minutes.
Add the white and light-green parts of the scallions and pan-fry for 1 minute.
Now add grated ginger, grated garlic, and red pepper flakes, and fry for 1 minute.
![Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (9) Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (9)](https://i0.wp.com/theplantbasedschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/braised-tofu-8.jpg)
Add sauce
Add tofu slices to the pan, pour in the sauce, make sure it covers the tofu, and simmer on medium heat for 2 – 3 minutes.
Finally, add the cornstarch slurry (whisk it again before adding) and cook on low heat until the sauce thickens up a little, but not too much; it should not be overly sticky (about 1 minute).
![Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (10) Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (10)](https://i0.wp.com/theplantbasedschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/braised-tofu-10.jpg)
Transfer the tofu to a plate, pour the sauce over it, and sprinkle with the green part of the scallions and sesame seeds. Serve next to rice and steamed veggies.
![Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (11) Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (11)](https://i0.wp.com/theplantbasedschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/braised-tofu-11.jpg)
Serving suggestions
Serve braised tofu with boiled or steamed white rice, brown rice, or Asian noodles such as rice noodles, soba noodles, or soy noodles.
You can add steamed broccoli, cauliflower, bok choice, or chard.
![Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (12) Braised Tofu - The Plant Based School (12)](https://i0.wp.com/theplantbasedschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/braised-tofu-14.jpg)
Add a tasty side dish like:
- Roasted broccoli with lemon and garlic, a great side dish with rice and tofu.
- Crispy and baked asparagus: perfectly tender and vibrantly green side dish.
- Mango salad with avocado, mint, and lime juice.
- Sautéed sweet and sour eggplant with an Asian-inspired sweet and sour sauce.
- Roasted bell pepper with Italian herbs and a quick homemade marinade.
- Rainbow roasted vegetables: a family-favorite and great with tofu!
- Roasted Broccoli
- Baked Asparagus
- Roasted Peppers
- Roasted Vegetables
Storage
Refrigerator: store braised tofu in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave.
Freezer: we don’t recommend freezing this recipe.
More Asian-inspired recipes
If you love easy, tasty, and plant-based Asian-inspired recipes, take a peek at these easy meals:
- Orange tofu with sticky and sweet sauce
- Asian cucumber salad with pickled red onions
- 20-minute tofu soup with seasonal vegetables
- Easy vegan curry with coconut milk and tofu cubes
- Vegetarian Kung Pao with chewy slices of tofu and mushrooms
- Kung Pao Tofu
- Orange Tofu
- Tofu Curry
- Tofu Soup
More tofu recipes
New to tofu? Try these quick and easy tofu recipes that are guaranteed family favorites:
- Tofu mushroom cutlets: the perfect substitute for mushroom chicken!
- Italian tofu cacciatore with authentic Italian flavor.
- Marinated tofu cubes with rice.
- Tofu salad: the best of crispy tofu mixed with greens and fresh veggies.
- Tofu Salad
- Marinated Tofu
- Tofu Mushroom Recipe
- Tofu Cacciatore
For many more tofu ideas, check out our tofu category page.
Braised Tofu
By: Nico Pallotta
5 from 5 votes
Here's atenderyetjerkybraised tofu recipe with amildly sweet,tangy,and absolutely deliciousAsian-inspired sauce.
It's an easy30-minute dinner ideawith plenty ofplant protein, veggies,and a wonderful combination of flavors.
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner, Main
Cuisine: Asian-American
Pin Print
Ingredients
- 14 – 16 ounces tofu firm or extra-firm
- 2½ tablespoons vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon salt + 2 twists black pepper
- 1 yellow bell pepper
- 6 mushrooms white or cremini
- 4 scallions
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 inch ginger
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Sauce
- ⅓ cup soy sauce reduced sodium
- 2 tablespoons vinegar rice, white wine, or apple cider
- 1½ tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch + ½ cup water for slurry
Instructions
PREP THE INGREDIENTS
Cut mushroomsin quarters.Slice the bell pepperinto strips.
Finely slice scallionsand separate the green tops from the white and light green bottom.
Pat tofu dry with a paper towel then slice it into ¼-inch strips(0.6 cm).
In a small bowl, whiskcornstarchandwaterto make the cornstarch slurry.
In a medium bowl, whisksoysauce,vinegar,sugar,
sesameoil,salt, andblackpepper.
PAN-FRY INGREDIENTS
Warm up 1½ tablespoons ofvegetable oilon alarge non-stick pan.
Addtofu slices, season withsaltandblack pepper, and cook on medium-low heat for about8 minutes, flipping it once.
When tofu isgolden brown on both sides, transfer it onto a plate and set aside.
On the same pan, add 1 tablespoon of oiland pan-frybell peppersandmushroomson medium-high heat for3 minutes.
Add thewhite and light-greenparts of thescallionsand pan-fry for 1 minute.
Now lower the heat, addgratedginger,gratedgarlic, andred pepper flakes, and fry for 1 minute.
ADD SAUCE
Addtofuslicesto the pan,pour in the sauce, make sure it covers the tofu, and simmer on medium heat for 2 – 3 minutes.
Finally, add thecornstarch slurry(whisk it again before adding) and cook on low heat until the sauce thickens up a little, but not too much;it should not beoverly sticky (about 1 minute).
Transfer thetofu to a plate,pour the sauce over it, and sprinkle with thegreen part of the scallionsandsesame seeds.
Serve next to rice and steamed veggies.
Video
Asian Braised Tofu (better than Take-away!)
Notes
Nutrition information is an estimate for 1 portion of braised tofu out of 4, without rice.
For substitutions, scroll up to our “ingredients” chapter.
Nutrition
Calories: 244kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: -6mg, Potassium: 225mg, Dietary Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 165IU, Vitamin B6: 0.1mg, Vitamin C: 4mg, Vitamin E: 1mg, Vitamin K: 41µg, Calcium: 146mg, Folate: 23µg, Iron: 2mg, Manganese: 0.2mg, Magnesium: 22mg, Zinc: 0.4mg
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If you liked this braised tofu recipe, you might also like the following:
- 45 Easy Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
- 45 Best Salad Recipes
- 30 Easy Tofu Recipes
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”b0qDwQhu” upload-date=”2023-01-29T15:38:36.000Z” name=”Braised Tofu.mov” description=”Here’s a tender yet jerky braised tofu recipe with a mildly sweet, tangy, and absolutely delicious Asian-inspired sauce.
It’s an easy 30-minute dinner idea with plenty of plant protein, veggies, and a wonderful combination of flavors.” player-type=”default” override-embed=”default”]
Categorized as:
30-Min Meals, Mains, Recipes, Tofu
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Hi! We are Nico & Louise
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