This amazing hoisin tofu stir-fry is saucy, savory, and jam-packed with flavors! It is a versatile dish that can be served over rice or noodles. An easy recipe that is ready in 30 minutes.
Featuring pan-fried tofu and colorful veggies blanketed in a homemade hoisin stir-fry sauce, this dish is a must-try! It is hearty and filling without being overly heavy. I love serving it with tofu dumplings and stir-fry vermicelli for a Chinese-themed dinner.
If hoisin tofu is not your jam, I recommend trying other tofu recipes like my gochujang tofu or claypot tofu.
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💚Why you will love this recipe
- Hearty, filling, and bursting with flavors
- An easy weeknight dinner that is ready in 30 minutes
- Versatile and highly customizable to suit your taste
- A delicious way to get in your daily dose of vegetables
🥕What you will need
📃Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Tofu - Make sure to use extra-firm tofu. Drain and press tofu beforehand, either using a tofu press or by stacking something heavy on top.
- Hoisin sauce - The star ingredient of this dish. You can find it in most grocery chains or your local Asian market. Most hoisin sauces are naturally vegan.
🔪How to make
Make the stir-fry sauce - Combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and cornstarch in a small bowl. Mix well.
Pan-fry tofu - Place tofu cubes along with cornstarch and salt in a container. Place the lid on and toss until tofu cubes are well coated. Heat a non-stick wok and pan-fry tofu for 2-3 minutes on each side or until most sides are golden.
Stir-fry vegetables - Add garlic, and fry for a minute. Next, add carrots and cook for 2-3 minutes, followed by broccoli and red pepper. Fry for another 2-3 minutes. Lastly, stir in baby corn.
Mix in tofu and sauce - Add pan-fried tofu back to the wok, and pour in hoisin stir-fry sauce. Stir until everything is well mixed. Serve your hoisin tofu stir-fry over noodles or rice.
✅Helpful tips
- Use a large wok or skillet - This is to ensure all ingredients cook equally and adequately.
- Cut veggies into uniform pieces - Make sure all your vegetables are cut to equal sizes so they can be cooked simultaneously.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time - Stir-frying is a relatively quick process and requires constant stirring.
- Storing leftovers - Leftover hoisin tofu stir-fry can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.
✨Variations and add-ins
As mentioned above, this recipe can be customized to your preference.
Veggies - Feel free to use any vegetables you have on hand. Some veggies that work particularly well in stir-fries include asparagus, cauliflower, zucchini, and button mushrooms.
Make it spicy - Add a generous drizzle of sriracha to the stir-fry sauce. Or sprinkle some red pepper flakes on the finished dish.
Lower sodium - Slightly reduce the amount of hoisin sauce, and use a low sodium soy sauce instead of the regular ones.
Toppings - Some great ones include toasted sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, and chopped green onion.
🍚How to serve
- Rice - Serve this hoisin tofu stir-fry with brown, jasmine, or cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option. I also love pairing it with sambal fried rice or Chinese fried rice.
- Noodles - Cooked or fresh noodles like soba, udon, ramen, or rice noodles are some great choices.
- Other Chinese dishes - If you plan a Chinese-inspired dinner, I recommend making vegan orange chicken or tofu in black bean sauce alongside this stir-fry.
- Sides and appetizers - I usually opt for Chinese-inspired recipes like vegan egg rolls and tofu dumplings.
❔Commonly asked questions
Most store-bought hoisin sauces are accidentally vegan and free from animal products. Hoisin sauce is usually made from soybeans, cornstarch, water, sugar, and other seasonings.
In this recipe, you can substitute hoisin sauce with a tablespoon of soy sauce and a teaspoon of sugar.
Extra-firm and firm tofu are the best for stir-frying as they absorb flavors well! Due to their lower water content, they will also turn crispy upon pan-frying. On the other hand, soft and silken tofu are super delicate and break easily upon tossing, hence does not work well in stir-fry dishes.
🍽More vegan Asian recipes
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📖 Recipe
Hoisin Tofu Stir-fry
Equipment
Ingredients
For stir-fry sauce
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari/shoyu
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
For tofu
- 1 block extra-firm tofu drained, pressed, and cubed (14oz/400g)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
For stir-fry
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium carrot sliced
- 1 medium red bell pepper sliced
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 4 oz baby corn halved
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients needed to make the stir-fry sauce and mix well.2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, 2 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- Place tofu into a container along with cornstarch and salt. Place the lid on and toss until the tofu cubes are well coated.1 block extra-firm tofu, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon salt
- Heat ½ tablespoon of oil in a non-stick wok/skillet over medium-high heat. Place tofu cubes in 1 layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until most sides are browned. Remove and set aside for later.
- Heat another ½ tablespoon of oil to the wok, and add garlic. Fry for a minute.3 cloves garlic
- Add carrot, and cook for 2-3 minutes.1 medium carrot
- Then, add broccoli and bell pepper. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.1 medium red bell pepper, 2 cups broccoli florets
- Stir in baby corn and fry until all veggies are soft.4 oz baby corn
- Mix in tofu along with stir-fry sauce. Toss until everything is well incorporated. Serve your hoisin tofu stir-fry over rice or noodles.
Notes
- Use a large enough wok or skillet to ensure all ingredients cook equally and adequately.
- Make sure all your vegetables are cut to equal sizes so they can be cooked simultaneously.
- Prep ingredients beforehand. Stir-frying is a relatively quick process and requires constant stirring.
- Leftover hoisin tofu stir-fry can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
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