A tofu stir fry is a delicious, quick, and healthy meal that comes together in one pan, making it the perfect dish for busy weeknights. With crispy tofu, a variety of fresh vegetables, and a savory stir-fry sauce, this dish is light but satisfying, offering a wonderful balance of flavors and textures.
The key to a perfect tofu stir fry is getting your tofu crispy. Start by pressing out the excess water from the tofu block, then cut it into cubes. Toss it with a bit of cornstarch, salt, and pepper, then pan-fry in a hot skillet with a bit of oil until each piece is golden and crispy. This crispy texture is the perfect contrast to the tender vegetables that will be added later.
For the vegetables, you can go with whatever you have on hand, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, snow peas, and mushrooms all make great additions. Stir-fry the veggies for just a few minutes until they’re tender-crisp, preserving their vibrant colors and natural crunch. Feel free to mix and match based on your preferences or what’s in season.
The real magic happens when you add the stir-fry sauce. A simple blend of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a dash of sesame oil gives the dish that classic Asian-inspired flavor. You can sweeten it up with a little honey or maple syrup, and a splash of rice vinegar adds just the right amount of tang. Stir everything together and let the sauce coat the crispy tofu and veggies.
Serve your tofu stir fry over steamed rice, quinoa, or noodles for a complete meal. For extra crunch, sprinkle sesame seeds on top or add a handful of chopped peanuts.
Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or just looking for a healthy and flavorful meal, this tofu stir fry is the perfect weeknight dinner. It’s quick, customizable, and full of fresh, vibrant flavors.
Ingredients
- 200 g tofu sliced into cubes
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper sliced
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- 1 carrot sliced
- 1 broccoli florets separated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp ginger minced
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 3 Green onions chopped
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together soy sauce, cornstarch, and sesame oil until well combined.
- Add tofu cubes to the bowl and toss to coat them in the sauce.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
- Add garlic and ginger to the skillet and cook for 1 minute.
- Add sliced bell peppers, carrot, and broccoli to the skillet and stir fry for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
- Push the vegetables to one side of the skillet and add the marinated tofu cubes to the other side.
- Cook the tofu for 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
- Season the stir fry with salt and black pepper, to taste.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds.
- Serve the tofu stir fry hot over steamed rice or noodles.
No idea what tofu be, never heard of it. Maybe I’ll try it someday.
Turned out way better than I expected—crispy tofu edges and the veggies stayed nice and crunchy. I used a bit more ginger too. Definitely making again!
Nice! “Tender-crisp” is the sweet spot—glad your tofu got those crispy edges. What kind of tofu did you use (firm/extra-firm)?
I keep making it soggy 😭. Do you think cooking the tofu on the sides longer (or using higher heat) would fix it? I wanna try again.
Not bad, but next time I’ll add more ginger. It needed a little kick!
Adding more ginger? I dunno… last time I tried that, it was too spicy for me. I guess it’s personal taste.
I think you’re spot on! A bit more ginger could really make it pop. I always love a good kick! 🌶️
This turned out way better than I expected—crispy tofu + crunchy veggies. I used a little extra garlic and it was perfect.
Love this! The garlic/ginger combo really makes it taste restaurant-level. I also did a quick extra toss at the end to keep everything crisp.
This is just meatless hippie food. Give me a steak any day!
wow, so colorful! I just did with whatever veggies I had at home.
This was amazing! I added some chili flakes for extra spice.
I love that you added chili flakes! Spice makes everything better. Can’t wait to try it myself!
I’m not sure if I did it right… my tofu just ended up soggy. Gonna try again though, maybe less sauce?
Don’t worry! Tofu can be tricky. Maybe try pressing it before cooking to remove excess moisture? It helps a lot! Good luck!
I dunno, maybe the tofu always soggy. Saw somewhere you gotta dry it with a towel first or something. Just don’t give up!
Pretty tasty, but mine got a little salty. Next time I’ll go lighter on soy sauce and add salt only at the end like you said. Still, the sesame oil flavor came through.
Mine was salty too the first time. I think 2 tbsp soy sauce + extra salt at the end is the culprit. I only do salt if it tastes like it needs it (usually it doesn’t).
Glad the sesame oil showed up for you! I agree—soy sauce can sneak up fast. Next time try using low-sodium soy or starting with like 1 tbsp and adjusting.
Simple and quick! I love how colorful it is! 😍
Followed the steps exactly. The cornstarch coating worked great, but next time I’ll press the tofu first so it browns even more.
Tofu stir fry?? I thought this was supposed to be a dessert?
Looks good. I made it for my vegan friend, haha, hope they like it! 🥢
Nah, this dish is just bland. Think I’ll stick to meat dishes.
I used to think tofu was bland too, but this stir fry changed my mind! The soy sauce and sesame oil really bring it to life. Give it another shot!
Honestly, tofu is just a vehicle for flavor. If you don’t season it enough, it’s gonna taste bland. Maybe try adding more spices next time?
This recipe is a lifesaver! Tofu stir fry has become my go-to dish. Easy to make and healthy! 🍽️
I tried it, but the tofu was mushy. Maybe I did something wrong?
I like the ingredient list—very straightforward. I used tamari instead of soy sauce and it still worked. Would recommend letting the tofu sit with the cornstarch mix a few minutes.
This is a comfort meal for me now. I serve it with rice and add extra green onions. Would be even better with mushrooms!
Love that comfort-meal vibe! 😄 Serving it with rice totally makes sense, and extra green onions is the right call. I’m with you on mushrooms too—would add a nice savory depth.
I think this needs more flavor. I added chili powder on myself and still blah!
What? This is a classic, you just gotta season it more! Maybe you should’ve let it marinate longer.
I totally agree! It was kinda bland for me too. Maybe try adding some soy sauce or hoisin sauce next time?
TOFU! Best thing I ever tasted. Never going back to meat.
Tofu is awesome! I was a meat lover too, but this stir fry changed my mind completely. I love how crispy it gets! 🤤
Idk man, tofu just ain’t for me. 1 star for trying!
This was easy to make, but I had to replace green bell pepper with zucchini. Still tasted gr8!
I skipped sesame seeds because I forgot, and honestly it still tasted great. Green onions made it feel restaurant-y.
Tofu doesn’t really brown for me… but I followed the ‘each side 3-4 minutes’ thing and it actually got golden. Big win.
2 thumbs up! So good I could eat it every day. 😂
The sesame oil + cornstarch combo is interesting… in a good way. I was worried it’d be too thick, but the veggies balanced it out. Tastes restaurant-y.
Can you use chicken instead of tofu? I think it would taste better with meat. Just sayin’!
I’m not sure about cooking tofu in cornstarch + soy sauce like that. Mine didn’t crisp much, more like soft stir-fry tofu. Still tasty, just not the texture I expected.
Delicious and healthy! I never thought I could enjoy tofu. Thanks for the recipe!
Easy and yummy! But I’m not sure what ‘stir fry’ means exactly. Is it when you fry it quick? Lol.