This stir-fried Tofu in ginger-garlic spicy soy sauce is one stir-fry recipes to pull out when I am rushed or not in the mood to cook much. I promise this tofu stir-fry is so much better than fast-food Asian take away! It is flavorful, comforting and you have a delicious protein-packed meal ready in no time! Making Asian food at home does not take hours and you can make most of these dishes healthier at home. Originally this dish is made using meats but I wanted to make it vegetarian and vegan friendly so I made this Vegan Tofu stir-fry. Say no to takeaways and make this basil tofu stir-fry in less than 20 minutes, and serve it with jasmine rice or noodles!
This Tofu Stir-Fry is:
Thai Basil Tofu Stir-Fry
The delicious blend of soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce gives it a spicy hot flavor. A touch of honey gives this curry a sweet and spicy flavor and mouthwatering taste. Ingredients Extra Firm Tofu : I used regular tofu which is good for frying or stir-frying. Fresh: Bell peppers, Thai Basil, Fresh Garlic, Ginger, Raw mango, honey. Spices and Seasonings to Make Stir-fry Sauce: Chilli paste, Soy sauce, Black pepper, Salt, sweet chili sauce, toasted peanuts, coriander. Oil: canola oil works best for this recipe.
Thai Basil Tofu Stir-fry - Step by Step Recipe
Here are few easy steps to make this. I have shared step by step pictures below.
Pan Frying Tofu
Cut the Tofu into strips and press it with kitchen towel to squeeze out extra water. This step is important if you want crispy tofu in your stir-fry. Heat oil in a pan and carefully add tofu in it. Pan-fry the tofu till it is crisp and golden brown from all sides. Once the tofu is crisp, take it out and keep aside
Making Stir-Fry Sauce
To make Spicy sweet sauce for the stir-fry.
In the same pan add garlic, ginger
Also add sliced red bell peppers and yellow bell peppers. Saute for a minute on high heat.
Next add soy sauce in the pan.
Then add sweet chilli sauce, red chilli paste, black pepper, and honey.
Add water in the pan and mix.
Add tofu in the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Add basil leaves and mix again. Cook the curry for 2 minutes and enjoy it hot with steamed rice, jasmine rice or sticky rice.
What type of Tofu is Best For Thai Curry?
When making Thai curry use extra firm or firm tofu. The texture makes it similar to ground meat and helps absorb more flavor. When you use soft tofu it absorbs too much water and has a completely different texture. For Thai basil tofu curry, firm tofu tastes best. For this stir-fry, I have chopped the tofu into small pieces, you can slice them too or crush it to make it resemble ground meat.
Recipe Notes and Tips
Basil gives flavor to the curry, so do not substitute Thai Basil with Sweet Basil. Thai basil gives a fresh flavor to the curry. Try and squeeze out as much water out of tofu as possible to make it crispy when you fry it. You can make Tofu extra crispy, by coating it in cornstarch and then pan-fry it. I wanted to keep it gluten-free so skipped this. To turn this stir-fry into vegan Thai Basil Tofu curry pour coconut milk in the sauce. And then cook it. You can add chickpeas too if you wish. Want to spice it up a little more? Add a couple of tablespoons of sriracha sauce to give it a spicy kick.
How to Serve Tofu Basil Stir-fry
You can serve this crispy pan-fried tofu tossed in a spicy curry with jasmine rice or rice noodles. To make it extra delicious you can top it with a crispy fried egg (If you are not a vegan or vegetarian). The yolk adds a richness to Thai curry and makes it extra creamy. It also holds the flavor of the curry together, making it a five-star dish.
How to Store Leftovers?
It is not a very time consuming dish so I suggest you to make fresh and enjoy it. But in case you have leftovers you can store Tofu stir-fry in the fridge for 2-3 days and reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes. I do not like the taste of frozen tofu so I do not freeze it.
More Such Recipes you can Try
Paneer Chilli Recipe Thai Red Curry Noodles Soup Thai Peanut noodles salad Tofu Satay in Peanut Sauce Chinese Eggplant Tofu recipe Vegetables in Hot Garlic Sauce Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup
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