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Home » Recipes » Vegan Asian Recipes

Modified: Apr 15, 2025 · Published: Jul 4, 2024 by Jim Mee Sha · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

Vietnamese Tofu in Tomato Sauce

Jump to Recipe

This Vietnamese-inspired tofu in tomato sauce is saucy, vibrant, and packed with bold flavors, making it the perfect healthy weeknight dinner. Ready in just 40 minutes, this comforting dish pairs beautifully with both noodles and rice for a satisfying meal! 

Craving more Vietnamese-inspired dishes? Try my vegan pho, tofu rice paper rolls, or lemongrass tofu next! 

Serving tomato sauce tofu with rice with a spoon beside.

Known as Đậu Sốt Cà Chua in Vietnamese, this tofu with tomatoes is a rich and vibrant dish that is a crowd-pleaser. I love serving this tofu with tomatoes with either rice or noodles, especially my peanut sauce rice noodles or Thai vegetable fried rice. 

To complete the meal, I will usually serve it with a bowl of Chinese vegetable soup or napa cabbage soup!

Jump to:
  • 💚Why you will love this recipe 
  • 🍅What you will need 
  • ✨Ingredient substitutions and variations 
  • 🔪How to make
  • ✅Helpful tips 
  • ❔Commonly asked questions
  • 🍽More vegan tofu recipes
  • 📖 Recipe

💚Why you will love this recipe 

  • Rich, bright, and packed with flavors 
  • A satisfying plant-based meal that is high in protein 
  • Ready in 40 minutes and only requires simple ingredients!

🍅What you will need 

Ingredients needed like broth, tomatoes, onion, green onion, tofu, diced tomatoes, and seasonings.
  • Tofu – Use extra-firm or firm tofu that has been drained and pressed for the best texture. A tofu press works great, or simply stack something heavy on top.
  • Soy sauce – Swap in a gluten-free soy sauce or tamari if you need this recipe to be gluten-free.
  • Sugar – A touch of sugar helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

✨Ingredient substitutions and variations 

  • For a saucier tofu – Add more broth, ¼ cup at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
  • Using fresh tomatoes – Swap canned tomatoes for 3–4 medium fresh tomatoes, chopped.
  • For a smoother sauce – Use tomato purée or finely diced tomatoes instead.
  • Make it spicy – Add chopped chilies, a generous pinch of chili flakes, or 1–2 tablespoons of sambal oelek to your tofu in tomato sauce for extra heat!

🔪How to make

Coated tofu in a container with a tablespoon and a checkered teacloth beside.

Step 1: Add tofu cubes, cornstarch, and salt to a container. Cover and shake until evenly coated.

Fried tofu in a cast iron skillet.

Step 2: Heat oil in a non-stick pan. Pan-fry tofu for 2–3 minutes per side until golden, then set aside.

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

Step 3: Sauté onion until translucent, then add garlic and cook until fragrant.

Tomato sauce in a cast iron skillet on a white folded teacloth.

Step 4: Stir in tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and broth, then simmer for 15 minutes.

Adding fried tofu to a pan of tomato sauce.

Step 5: Add tofu and seasonings, stirring until well combined. Remove from heat and mix in green onion.

Adding chopped green onion into a pan of tomato sauce tofu.

Step 6: Serve tomato sauce tofu with rice, garnished with extra green onion and sesame seeds, if desired.

✅Helpful tips 

  • Other ways to cook tofu – Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 20–25 minutes, or air-fry for 8–10 minutes at the same temperature. For extra crispiness, deep-fry until golden brown.
  • Use a large pan – Arrange tofu in a single layer to ensure even browning. If using a smaller pan, cook in batches.
  • Avoid reactive pans – Cast iron and aluminum pans can react with tomatoes, causing a metallic taste. A non-stick pan works best for this recipe.
  • Storing leftovers – Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if the sauce thickens too much.

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

❔Commonly asked questions

Why is my tofu not crispy?

If your tofu isn’t crispy, it could be due to too much moisture. Make sure to press it well before cooking. Another common issue is not using a hot enough pan. Cooking over medium-high to high heat ensures a golden, crispy crust. 

Coating the tofu in cornstarch is another key to yielding crispy tofu, as it helps absorb moisture and creates that perfectly crisp exterior.

Can you fry tofu without pressing it?

You can skip pressing if you're using extra-firm tofu, as it has less moisture. However, if you're using firm tofu, skipping this step may result in less crispy tofu since the excess water prevents it from crisping up properly.

How to pan-fry tofu without sticking?

Tofu can be prone to sticking, but a few simple tricks help prevent this. Use a good-quality non-stick pan and coat it with a thin layer of oil before cooking. Also, let tofu cubes cook undisturbed for a few minutes. Once it develops a golden crust, it will release easily and be much easier to flip.

🍽More vegan tofu recipes

  • Vegan Tofu Adobo
  • A plate containing rice, gochujang tofu, and broccoli with chopsticks, sesame seeds, and green onion beside.
    Spicy Korean Gochujang Tofu
  • Spooning out some braised tofu from a claypot with rice and green onion beside.
    Chinese Braised Claypot Tofu
  • A pan of bok choy tofu with chopsticks, water, and sesame seeds beside.
    Chinese Bok Choy Tofu Stir-fry

If you made this recipe, leave a rating and comment below. We would love to hear from you! Subscribe to My Plantiful Cooking to get new recipes delivered straight to your inbox! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to get the latest updates. 😉

📖 Recipe

A plate of rice and tomato sauce tofu served with a spoon with 2 cups of tea beside.

Vietnamese Tofu in Tomato Sauce

Meesha
This Vietnamese-inspired tofu in tomato sauce is saucy, vibrant, and packed with bold flavors, making it the perfect healthy weeknight dinner. Ready in just 40 minutes, this comforting dish pairs beautifully with both noodles and rice for a satisfying meal!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Vietnamese
Servings 3 servings
Calories 131 kcal

Equipment

  • non-stick pan

Ingredients
  

For tofu

  • 1 block tofu drained, pressed, and cubed (around 14oz/400g)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Rest of the ingredients

  • 1 medium red onion sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 medium tomatoes cut into eighths lengthwise
  • 1 14oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1-2 teaspoons sugar
  • salt to taste
  • 1 stalk green onion chopped (to garnish)
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions
 

  • Add tofu cubes, cornstarch, and salt to a container. Cover and shake until evenly coated.
    1 block tofu, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon salt
  • Heat ½ tablespoon of oil in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Once heated, place tofu in one layer. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until most sides are golden. Set aside.
  • Heat another ½ tablespoon of oil in the pan. Add onion, and saute until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
    1 medium red onion
  • Add garlic next and fry for a minute until fragrant.
    3 cloves garlic
  • Add tomato slices, diced tomatoes, and broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, and let it cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    2 medium tomatoes, 1 cup vegetable broth, 1 14oz can diced tomatoes
  • 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.
    1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1-2 teaspoons sugar
  • Remove from heat and stir in green onions. Serve your tofu over rice.

Notes

Helpful tips
  • Other ways to cook tofu - You can bake your tofu cubes at 200C/400F for 20-25 minutes. Spray some cooking oil on the tofu before baking. Alternatively, you can deep-fry your tofu.
  • Make it spicy - Add some chopped chillies or a generous pinch of chilli flakes to your dish.
  • For a smoother sauce – Use tomato purée or finely diced tomatoes instead.
  • Storing—Leftover tomato sauce tofu can be refrigerated for 2-3 days. It might lose its crispiness, but it will still be delicious! When ready to serve, reheat in the microwave or on the stove. 

Save this recipe!

Email yourself a link to this page and come back later.

Also get a FREE high-protein vegan recipe eBook + weekly new recipes! Unsubscribe anytime.

Nutrition

Calories: 131kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 12gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0.4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.5gSodium: 1514mgPotassium: 488mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 891IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 2mg

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.

Did you make this recipe ?Tag @myplantifulcooking on Instagram !

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Comments

    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Nancy says

    July 09, 2024 at 6:24 pm

    5 stars
    I tried this recipe, it was so good! I airfryed the tofu instead of frying it with oil in a pan.

    Reply
A headshot of Mee Sha leaning on a handrail.

Hi, nice to meet you! I am Mee Sha, a final-year dietetic student passionate about nutrition, cooking, and food. This blog was created to share my favorite plant-powered recipe!

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