Vietnamese Tofu in Tomato Sauce

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This Vietnamese tofu in tomato sauce is bold, vibrant, and packed with flavors! An easy recipe that calls for simple ingredients and is ready in 40 minutes. Serve it over rice or noodles to make it a meal.

Serving tomato sauce tofu with rice with a spoon beside.

If you are looking for a new way to cook tofu, give this recipe a go! Feature crispy tofu cubes cooked in a rich tomato sauce, it will leave you craving more!

I love serving it over rice or noodles and a simple side of stir-fried vegetables like my cabbage carrot stir-fry.

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💚Why you will love this recipe
🍅What you will need
📃Ingredient notes and substitutions
🔪How to make
✅Helpful tips
🍚How to serve
❔Commonly asked questions
🍽More vegan tofu recipes
📖 Recipe

💚Why you will love this recipe

Comforting, saucy, and satisfying to have
A good source of plant-based protein
Versatile and pairs well with any Asian mains or sides
A quick and easy recipe that is simple to prepare

🍅What you will need

Ingredients needed like broth, tomatoes, onion, green onion, tofu, diced tomatoes, and seasonings.

📃Ingredient notes and substitutions

Tofu - Use extra-firm or firm tofu that has been drained and pressed beforehand. You can press tofu using a tofu press or by stacking something heavy on top.
Chopped tomatoes - Opt for canned tomato puree or finely diced tomatoes if you prefer a smoother sauce.
Coconut sugar - Can be substituted with other sweeteners like brown sugar, cane sugar, or maple syrup.
Soy sauce - Tamari or shoyu can be used in place. Use a certified gluten-free brand if needed.

🔪How to make

Coat the tofu - Place tofu cubes, cornstarch, and salt in a container. Place the lid on and shake until tofu cubes are well coated. (You can also toss the tofu in a bowl, but use a silicon or wooden spoon to prevent tofu from breaking.)

Cooking tofu - Heat some oil in a non-stick pan over medium-high. Place tofu in one layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until most sides are golden. Set aside.

Tofu coated in cornstarch in a container with a tablespoon and teacloth beside.

Pan fried tofu in a cast iron pan on a grey background.

Making the sauce - Heat another ½ tablespoon of oil in the same/different pan. Add onion, and saute until translucent. Stir in garlic and fry for a minute.

Cooked onion in a cast iron pan with minced garlic beside.

Cooked garlic and onion in a cast iron pan on a white teacloth.

Add tomato slices, diced tomatoes, and broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, and let it cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Cooked tomato sauce in a cast iron pan on a white teacloth.

Putting everything together - Add pan-fried tofu to the pan along with soy sauce and sugar. Stir until everything is well combined. Give it a taste, adding salt if needed.

Lastly, remove from heat and stir in green onions. Serve and enjoy your tomato sauce tofu while warm.

Adding pan fried tofu to a pan of tomato sauce in a cast iron pan.

Adding chopped green onion to a pan of tomato tofu with an empty sauce dish beside.

✅Helpful tips

Other ways to cook tofu
- In the oven: Spray on some cooking oil, then bake them at 200C/400F for 25-30 minutes. Flip them over halfway through baking.
- Air fryer: Cook it in the air fryer for 10-15 minutes at 180C/350F. Spray on some cooking oil before cooking, and toss the tofu cubes halfway through.
Use a good non-stick pan - Although a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet will also work, you might need to use more oil while pan-frying tofu. This is to prevent them from sticking to the pan.
Thickening the sauce - If you like your sauce to be thicker, make a cornstarch slurry by combining 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water. Gradually pour it in until desired thickness is achieved.
Storing - Leftover tofu in tomato sauce can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.

🍚How to serve

Here are some of my favorite ways to serve this tomato sauce tofu -

Rice - Jasmine rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice, and other grains like cooked quinoa

Noodles - Soba, udon, ramen, rice noodles, stir-fry vermicelli

Toppings - more chopped green onion, chili slices, lime wedges, chili flakes

Appetizers - air-fryer oyster mushrooms, tofu dumplings, vegan rice paper rolls

Holding a plate of rice served with tomato tofu with 2 cups of tea in the background.

❔Commonly asked questions

Do I have to press the tofu before frying?

I highly recommend pressing your tofu before pan-frying or baking to yield crispy tofu. Pressing tofu also gets rid of excess moisture; hence your tofu can better absorb flavors from the seasonings.

Can I pan-fry tofu without oil?

Technically, it is possible to pan-fry tofu cubes without oil, as long as a good non-stick pan is used. However, this might cause the non-stick coating of your pan to deteriorate faster. Adding a small amount of oil makes cooking and cleaning much easier.

Why does my tofu stick to the pan?

You might be using the wrong pan. Tofu tends to stick to the pan easily. Use a good non-stick pan to prevent them from sticking to the bottom.

Or, the non-stick coating of your non-stick pan might be damaged. Add more oil to cook your tofu in a pinch, but it is time to change to a new pan.

🍽More vegan tofu recipes

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