This crispy tofu broccoli stir fry is ridiculously easy and perfect when you want dinner on the table really fast! I show you a simple way to make crispy tofu without deep frying it, and the broccoli adds a nice crunch to the recipe. If you are looking for more vegetarian options to add to your dinner menu, then this has a nice mix of protein and vegetables to keep you feeling full.
Imagine crunchy tofu and broccoli tossed in a five ingredient sauce that is sweet and spicy. The sauce just glazes over the tofu and broccoli, so that every bite is bursting with flavor. Throw in some noodles and you've got the dinner of my dreams.
Tofu can be really tricky to cook with. Because you have so many varieties available - silken tofu, soft tofu, hard tofu etc etc. And if your tofu is too soft then you have to press the water out and even then it can crumble all over. Which I don't enjoy because I want to bite into the tofu. I want the exterior to be crunchy, and I don't want it to become a tofu broccoli mash.
Making Crispy Tofu at home from scratch
To make crispy tofu at home, I recommend starting with extra firm tofu which will hold its shape. When you open the pack, and take the tofu out, there might still be liquid. Be gentle and carefully dab any extra liquid on the tofu with a kitchen towel. Cut into pieces and toss them lightly in cornflour, salt and pepper. The cornflour dusts the tofu, and helps it hold its shape, while making the outside crispy and keeping the inside moist. A little oil - about a tablespoon or so on a non stick pan is all you need to pan fry these a nice golden brown. It takes a few minutes to brown the tofu on all sides but what you are left with is crispy tofu that also makes an amazing snack.
This recipe is light on the stomach because its so full of broccoli. And thats how I like it! More broccoli than tofu, but you can easily change the mix. We are not going to blanch the broccoli or cook it before hand because we want it to stay crunchy, and just a slight simmer in the sauce will make sure its crisp to bite but cooked.
Prep in advance
The cook time for this tofu broccoli stir fry recipe is no longer than 15-20 minutes. Once you have made your tofu, the rest of the recipe barely takes 10 minutes, so you won't have time to chop broccoli or whisk the sauce while everything else is cooking. Its important that you prep all the ingredients beforehand so that when you are ready to cook, everything goes into the pan one by one and you are done. This is what keeps the broccoli and tofu crunchy!
I served this crispy tofu broccoli stir fry with noodles for dinner, but I really love this with brown rice and quinoa too when I want something healthier. Or try this with my Asian Cauliflower Rice - they work together like a charm!
More Asian Recipes:
- Sesame Tofu with Zucchini Noodles
- Chinese Hot and Sour Ramen Soup
- Cashew Chicken Noodles
- Schezwan Fried Rice
- Teriyaki Shrimp Broccoli Stir Fry
- Shrimp Chow Mein
- Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
Watch Crispy Tofu Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe Video
Crispy Tofu Broccoli Stir Fry
Ingredients
For the Crispy Tofu:
- 400 grams Tofu Extra Firm
- 2 tablespoons Cornflour
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper ground
- 1 ½ tablespoons Vegetable Oil
For the Sauce:
- ¼ cup Low Sodium Light Soy Sauce
- 2 teaspoons Hoisin Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Rice Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Toasted Sesame Oil
- 1 teaspoon Chilli Flakes
- 1 tablespoon Cornflour
- ¼ cup Water
For the Stir Fry:
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- 4 Garlic Cloves finely chopped
- 1 inch Ginger peeled and finely chopped
- 1 Whole head of Broccoli stems removed and cut into florets (approx 600 grams)
- Toasted Sesame Seeds and chopped Green Onions for topping
Instructions
- Dab the tofu with a kitchen towel or paper towel to get rid of any extra moisture. Cut into ½ inch cubes and toss them in a mixture of cornflour, salt and pepper.
- Whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce and set aside.
- Heat oil in a non stick pan and spread the tofu pieces out so that they are evenly layered on the pan. Cook each side till its a light golden brown and remove from the pan. Don't worry if the tofu pieces stick to each other a bit. You can easily pull them apart once they are cooked and crispy.
- Heat oil in the same pan and once its hot, add garlic and ginger. Saute for a minute and add the broccoli florets. Cook them for a minute and pour the sauce into the pan. Stir fry for a minute or two on high heat to let the sauce thicken and then add the tofu. Quickly toss everything together and turn off the flame. Top with sesame seeds and green onions and serve.
Video
Notes
- If you'd like more sauce, increase the water by ¼ cup.
- If you can't find extra firm tofu, remove the tofu from the packaging and place it on a chopping board. Place a flat, heavy object on top and let this sit for 15-20 minutes. Or you can get one of these fancy tofu presses which essentially does the same job of removing extra liquid from the tofu.
- You can also use other vegetables in the recipe including snow peas, carrots, beans and mushrooms.
- This dish can easily be made with readily available stir fry sauces as well. Directly use the packaged stir fry sauce in place of the sauce ingredients mentioned here along with chilli flakes.
Nutrition
Juanita says
Really very good recipe. I baked the tofu rather than frying it because i find it less messy. Also added some thinly sliced carrots and red peppers and a tablespoon of brown sugar to the sauce. Thank you for developing and posting this recipe.
Richa Gupta says
Hey Juanita! Baked tofu sounds great! We're glad you liked this stir fry recipe 🙂
Jan says
I think this is the first Chinese recipe I've made where the result really turns out like something I'd buy from a Chinese restaurant/takeaway - simple but so delicious - thank you for sharing! 🙂
Richa Gupta says
Thanks Jan, glad you liked the stir fry recipe!
Goyum says
My whole family liked it and make it at least once a month. Such an easy to go delicious meal.
Richa Gupta says
So good to hear that, Goyum! Thanks for writing to us!
Nyamat says
This dish has become a staple in my household. I often have this for lunch and call it a good day. Comes together so quickly and tastes amazing!
Richa says
Thank you so much for leaving a comment Nyamat! Glad you liked the recipe
Sophie says
What is the serving size because the calories for this recipe is very high? Looks and sounds healthy but maybe not?
Richa Gupta says
Hey Sophie! This recipe serves 4. So you can totally count this tofu broccoli stir fry as healthy and wholesome food 🙂
Ruth says
I almost never comment on recipes but this one was way off! The chili flakes made it so hot you could not taste anything else! I like spicy food but this was not spicy it was just boring as all the flavors were overwhelmed by the chili flakes. Perhaps 1/2 tsp or just serve the flakes at the table.
Richa says
Heat in a dish is really a personal preference. We love our food spicy. And its really easy to reduce the heat to your taste. I suggest you keep this in mind the next time you try a recipe.
Nancy says
Is there no honey or sugar in the sauce?
Richa says
No there isn't Nancy. The hoisin adds a mild sweetness, but you can add a teaspoon of sugar or honey if you like
Ronni says
I do think you mean ounces, not pounds, in reference to the tofu?
Janet Martin says
Tried this recipe and it was yummm! And so convenient for a working person. Infact I added a few more veggies which I had extra. Also, this dish can be has as it - like a stir fried salad.
Richa says
Sounds perfect! Thanks for sharing Janet
Mini says
Simple yet delicious. Great recipe for the quick dinner:)
Richa says
Thanks Mini!
Shreeja Health Care | Oil Maker Machine says
For long life oil is most impotent part in food making so eat healthy and natural oil buy shreeja Oil Maker Machine for home use.
Pam says
Hi, What is cornflour? Is it corn starch, or ground corn meal?
Thanks.
Richa says
Cornflour is the same as corn starch
Mike says
Delicious. Added green beans to the broccoli and seved it with whole wheat noodles. My wife said: “save this recipe.”
Richa says
Thanks! So glad you liked it!
Cat London says
This was delicious, especially considering how little work was involved -- super easy and quick. I didn't have long so I threw some jasmine rice into my instant pot while I put it together. I added a splash of mirin (rice wine) to the sauce and served with crushed peanuts and Sriracha as well as sesame seeds and green onions. Will definitely make again.
Richa says
Jasmine rice would go so well with this! So glad you enjoyed it!
Ravi Sharma says
Very Great Recipe