Spicy Tofu Stir Fry Recipe

Stir-fried Sweet chili tofu garnished with scallions

5 from 2 votes

Spicy Tofu Stir Fry Recipe

Irresistibly crispy and delicious, Stir-Fried Sweet Chilli Tofu Bites are all you would want to serve your family and friends to impress them. This recipe is a fusion of sweet and spicy flavors, and the sauce creates magical flavors that linger on taste buds for long and is perfect for captivating a gourmet’s heart!

Prep: 10

Cook: 30

Total: 40

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: SERVINGS

Calories: 217kcal

Author: Ruchi

Ingredients

TOFU PREPARATION

1 lb Extra Firm Tofu (600gms)
3 tablespoons Cornstarch
½ teaspoon Salt

SWEET CHILI SAUCE PREPARATION

1½ tablespoons Garlic minced
2 tablespoons Coconut Sugar
1½ tablespoons Maple syrup
2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
3½ tablespoons Soy sauce
1½ tablespoons Sesame Oil
¼ cup Cornstarch Slurry 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with ½ cup water

GARNISHES

- - Scallions
- - Sesame seeds

SERVING

- - Jasmine Rice steamed

Instructions

PREPARING TOFU

Remove tofu from its box. Wrap the block of tofu between layers of paper towels.
Press down on the tofu block with a heavyweight to extract excess moisture. This constant weight for about 30- 35 minutes extracts water entirely from the tofu, making it perfect for the recipe.
Slice the block of tofu into 1/2-inch cubes.
Transfer the tofu cubes to a large bowl or plate.
Sprinkle cornstarch and toss to combine.
Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil to prevent sticking. For easy circulation and crispiness, arrange the tofu cubes in a single layer inside the basket. Do not overcrowd the basket.
Cook tofu cubes at 375°F for 12-15 minutes or until crisp and slightly browned. Make sure to turn the tofu bites halfway during the cooking time so that all the sides are golden brown.

PREPARING THE SAUCE

While the tofu is baking, let's prepare the sauce. Combine coconut sugar and maple syrup in a mixing bowl. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Add cornstarch slurry to this sugar mixture.
Stir in soy sauce.
Finally, add sriracha.
Mix it well until all the ingredients are well blended.

ASSEMBLE TOFU

Heat oil in a skillet and add minced garlic to it.
Sauté garlic over medium-low heat for a few seconds.
Add the chili sauce mixture to the skillet and start heating over medium-low heat, stirring frequently.
After a few minutes, the sauce will start to thicken considerably.
Add the baked tofu bites to this simmering sauce.
Combine it with the sauce and toss to coat.
Garnish with scallions and serve warm. The succulent tofu pieces drenched in the sweet and spicy sauce create some purely ambrosial moments when you dig into this dish.

PAN-FRY TOFU CUBES

Combine tofu cubes and cornstarch in a bag. Seal the bag and gently massage the tofu cubes to coat in cornstarch.
Heat oil in a pan and add the cornstarch-coated tofu cubes to it. Cook over medium-low heat for 8-12 minutes, turning occasionally.
Pan-fry the tofu in vegetable oil until golden and crispy.
Transfer the cooked tofu cubes to a bowl and use as mentioned in the recipe.

Notes

Frequently Asked Questions

How to best serve this stir-fried sweet chili tofu bites recipe?

One of our favorite ways to serve and enjoy this recipe of stir-fried sweet chili tofu bites is with steamed Jasmine rice. Some other ways to relish this blissfully delicious recipe are:

Boiled rice noodles are another great side dish to appreciate along with this delicacy.
Create a bowl with rice, some steamed vegetables, and edamame, and devour an ecstatical meal.
Serve this recipe with brown rice and enjoy the blissful mealtime.
You can also serve these tofu bites in Banh-Mi Style sandwiches or wrap and delight your family.
Serve these stir-fried sweet chili tofu bites with Burritos and tacos for thorough Mexican vibes!

Why is it essential to press tofu?

It is preferable to press tofu and drain excess water from it as it will then hold better shape during cooking. Extracting water will also improve the texture and taste of tofu, and this will, in turn, make a more delicious recipe.

If the tofu has more water content, the sauces and the seasonings are less likely to stick to the pieces. Moreover, dry tofu becomes more crispy during air frying.

Can I pan-fry tofu instead of air-frying?

Yes, you can.

For pan-frying, the Sweet Chilli Tofu Bites pre-heat a heavy-bottomed skillet. Keeping it over medium heat, add 1 tbsp of oil.

Now, gently place the cleanly cut tofu cubes into the skillet and fry them gently in the oil. It should take about 5 -7 minutes to brown on each side. It will develop crisp outer edges yet remain succulent inside.

While frying the tofu pieces, let them crisp from one side without disturbing them frequently as they cook on each side. Flip carefully to prevent the breaking of the pieces.

Is this a make-ahead recipe?

It somewhat is!

You can make the glaze in advance and refrigerate it for later use. Also, cook the tofu cubes and refrigerate them separately. When required to serve, assemble them. Reheat the sauce, add the pre-fried tofu cubes and toss until well coated.

Your Stir-fried Sweet Chilli Tofu Bites are ready to be devoured and enjoyed!

How can I store my leftover Sweet Chilli Tofu Bites?

This delicious dish is best enjoyed when fresh. But, you can store the leftovers in the fridge.

Transfer the leftover Sweet Chili Tofu Bites to an air-tight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. When you need to serve, reheat in the microwave until heated through.

Can I freeze this recipe?

I would not recommend that. This recipe is not suitable for freezing. If you freeze it, it will turn soggy upon being thawed.

Nutrition