In this Chili Tofu recipe, crispy tofu and chillies are tossed in a garlic chilli sauce. The recipe is a plant-based twist to my Indo-chinese chilli paneer recipe.
Chili tofu is everything you'd want from a dish - hot, sweet, sticky and crunchy all rolled into one! It is vegan, gluten-free and flavourful.
To make it, coat pressed tofu and pan fry it until it is super crispy and toss that with ginger, garlic, peppers and chillies. For the spicy sauce, I like to use a mix of soy sauce and chilli sauce.
Serve chilli tofu with sticky rice or chili oil noodles or enjoy it as it is topped with plenty of spring onions.
Arrange an Indo-Chinese buffet with vegetable spring rolls, vegetable manchurian, vegetarian chow mein and schezwan baby potatoes.
Chili Tofu Ingredients
Tofu - you need extra firm tofu for this recipe. Drain the tofu and use a tofu press or a heavy weight object with paper towels.
Chillies - use chillies of your choice and adjust the amount according to your liking. I like to cook with the green chillies and garnish with finely sliced red chillies.
Green capsicum - bell peppers add bulk and crunch.
Garlic and ginger - crush the garlic and ginger to add bright flavours.
Spring onions - aka green onions, use both the green and white part.
Soy sauce - use light or dark. Alternatively, use coconut aminos or tamari to make it gluten-free.
Chilli sauce - sweet chili sauce or a spicy chilli sauce both work depending on your taste.
Corn starch - the cornstarch helps to make the tofu super crispy. Alternatively use tapioca starch.
Sesame oil - sesame oil has a nutty flavour that is so good with soy sauce however you can use unflavoured oil also.
Salt and black pepper
Storage
Store leftover tofu chili in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. The tofu may loose some of the crispiness as you reheat it. Reheat it in the microwave or stovetop.
I do not recommend freezing as the texture of the tofu and vegetables will change.
Other tofu recipes
As always if you make this recipe, be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me on Instagram @jcookingodyssey or #jcookingodyssey. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!
Don’t forget to follow me on social media using the buttons below – I can't wait to see you all there!
📖 Recipe
Chili Tofu
Ingredients
- 800 gram firm tofu 2 blocks
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon ginger minced
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 capsicum chopped
- 3 chillies sliced, red and green
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce light or dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon chilli sauce
- 3 spring onion finely sliced
- 3 tablespoon sesame oil
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Drain the tofu thoroughly then cut into cubes.
- Coat with cornstarch and mix well.
- Add half of the oil to a large skillet and pan fry the tofu until crunchy on all sides and golden brown.
- Remove from the pan and add the remaining oil.
- Add the minced ginger and garlic and sauté for a minute.
- Tip in the capsicum and green chillies and cook for a further minute on medium-high heat.
- Pour in the soy sauce and chilli sauce, salt and pepper and mix well.
- Toss in the crispy tofu and stir fry for a further 1-2 minutes.
- Garnish with spring onions and optionally extra chopped chillies.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Share on Facebook Pin This Recipe
Moop Brown says
This tofu looks really tasty and full of flavor. I could see this pairing really well with some rice or noodles.
Molly Kumar says
This looks so delicious and super easy to make too. Loving the addition of fresh veggies to make it crunchy and healthy.
Ashley says
Such a delicious way to use tofu! I love your twist on the paneer version. Great recipe!
Tracy says
This is the kind of vegan recipe that packs so much flavor that even my meat loving husband loved! So much flavor!
Kathryn says
The spice on this tofu was incredible! Loved how easy it was to make and I served this over rice and it was perfect.
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says
Thank you so much for this! We have vegan friends and I was looking for a different recipe to highlight tofu for them. This was so good and had such a great balance of flavors.
Leslie says
Love this meatless meal option! This is such a great recipe with tons of flavor!
Bernice says
This dish is not for the faint of heart but those who love a good spice kick! Made it for my daughter (who is vegan) and she couldn't get enough.
Gloria says
I am always on the lookout for some great vegan recipes for friends who come over for dinner. This sounds delicious. I am sure they will enjoy it the next time we have them over.
Hayley says
Thank you Gloria! I am sure your guests and family will enjoy this dish.