Go Back
Kung Pao TOFU RECIPE

Kung Pao Tofu

Ayushi Gupta- Mehra | The Foodie Diaries
Packed with protein and veggies, this one-pan Kung Pao Tofu is brimming with a perfect balance of sweet, spicy and savoury flavours. Serve it over rice for a complete meal in itself!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Main Course
Cuisine Asian, Chinese
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 block of silken-firm tofu
  • sesame oil for cooking (alternatively use your cooking oil of choice)
  • corn flour for coating tofu
  • 2-3 tbsp cashews/ peanuts
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • ½ cup chopped bell peppers
  • ½ onion, finely chopped
  • knob of ginger, grated
  • 2-3 tsp sesame seeds (and more for garnish as required)
  • 2-3 tsp gochugaru (crushed red pepper flakes) or chilli flakes
  • scallions for garnish

For the sauce

  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp dark soy sauce (you can use more light soy sauce instead)
  • 1½ tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1-2 tbsp hot sauce of choice (e.g. Sriracha)
  • 2-3 tsp sugar
  • ½ tbsp corn flour, mixed with 3 tbsp water

Instructions
 

Make the sauce

  • Whisk together the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl, mixing well to combine. Set aside.
    Kung Pao tofu recipe

Prep & cook the tofu

  • Wrap a block of silken-firm tofu  between kitchen towels (placing a small saucepan on top). Let it sit for 30 minutes or so to drain out the excess water.
  • Pat the tofu dry with clean kitchen towels and slice it.
  • Optional: coat the tofu slices lightly in corn flour for a more crisp and golden texture. 
  • Gently heat 2 tbsp of oil in a small pan. Pan-fry tofu until golden brown on both sides (flipping half way). 
  • Remove the tofu & set aside.

Toast the nuts

  • Use the residual heat of the same pan to toast a handful of cashews/ peanuts. Set aside.

Stir-fry veggies and tofu

  • Add a tbsp more of sesame oil to the same pan.
  • Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, grated ginger and chopped veggies.
  • Season with sesame seeds and chilli flakes.
  • Stirring regularly, sauté for a few minutes until fragrant. Do not overcook the veggies as we would like them to retain their bite.
    Kung Pao tofu recipe
  • Add the prepared sauce. Let it simmer and thicken, before adding back the tofu. Gently stir to combine the tofu into the sauce, taking care to ensure you don’t break the tofu pieces.
  • Serve over rice/ grain of choice, garnished with the toasted nuts , sesame seeds & scallions (optional) 

Video

Keyword Easy Vegetarian Recipes, kung pao tofu, one-pan dinners, vegan asian recipes, vegan tofu recipes, weeknight one-pan meals