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.
This Vietnamese-inspired dish - tomato sauce tofu, consists of crispy pan-fried tofu tossed in a rich, umami-packed tomato sauce. Although great on its own, I love pairing it with side dishes like rice paper rolls or stir-fried noodles (especially my bami goreng and stir-fry rice vermicelli noodles).
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💚Why you will love this recipe
- Rich, vibrant, and packed with flavours
- A high-protein, filling plant-based meal
- A simple yet delicious meal that is ready in 40 minutes
- Highly versatile and goes well with a variety of dishes!
🍅What you will need
📃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
Add tofu cubes, cornstarch, and salt to a container. Cover with the lid and toss until well incorporated.
Heat some oil in a non-stick pan. Add tofu cubes and pan-fry for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until most sides are golden. Set aside.
Add onion to the pan and saute for a few minutes until translucent. Stir in garlic and fry until fragrant.
Add tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add cooked tofu to the sauce along with soy sauce and sugar. Stir until everything is well mixed. Season with more salt if needed.
Remove from heat then stir in chopped green onions. your tomato sauce tofu is ready to be served.
✅Helpful tips
- Other ways to cook tofu - You can bake your tofu cubes at 200C/400F for 20-25 minutes. Do spray some cooking oil on the tofu before baking. Alternatively, you can also deep-fry your tofu.
- Use a large enough pan - Arrange the tofu cubes in a layer with gaps between them to ensure even cooking and prevent them from sticking together. Cook in batches if using a small pan.
- Make it spicy - Add some chopped chillies or a generous pinch of chilli flakes to your dish.
- Season to taste - I recommend tasting the tomato sauce tofu before serving and adding more salt or sugar if needed.
- Storing— Leftover tofu in tomato sauce can be refrigerated for 2-3 days. It might lose its crispiness, but it will still be delicious.
🍚How to serve
Here are some of my favourite ways to serve this tomato sauce tofu -
Rice - Any cooked rice or grains pairs well with this recipe! I also like serving it with fried rice like my vegetable fried rice or tofu fried rice.
Noodles - Especially stir-fried noodles like oyster sauce noodles or chow mei fun.
Toppings - Serve it with lime wedges, chopped green onion, or condiments like sriracha or hot sauce!
Appetizers - Some appetizers that serve great with this dish include air-fryer oyster mushrooms, tofu dumplings, and vegan rice paper rolls .
❔Commonly asked questions
I highly recommend pressing your tofu before pan-frying or baking to yield crispy tofu. Pressing tofu also gets rid of excess moisture, allowing it to better absorb flavours from the seasonings.
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 pan's non-stick coating to deteriorate. Adding a small amount of oil makes cooking and cleaning much easier.
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, your pan's non-stick coating might be damaged. You can add more oil to cook your tofu in a pinch, but it is time to change a new one.
🍽More vegan tofu recipes
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📖 Recipe
Vietnamese Tofu in Tomato Sauce
Equipment
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)
Instructions
- Place tofu cubes, cornstarch, and salt in a container. Place the lid on and shake until tofu cubes are well 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
- 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.
- Use a large enough pan - Arrange the tofu cubes in a layer with gaps between them to ensure even cooking and prevent them from sticking together. Cook in batches if using a small pan.
- Make it spicy - Add some chopped chillies or a generous pinch of chilli flakes to your dish.
- Season to taste - I recommend tasting the tomato sauce tofu before serving and adding more salt or sugar if needed.
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.
Nancy says
I tried this recipe, it was so good! I airfryed the tofu instead of frying it with oil in a pan.