This braised tofu recipe is easy to make, with a rich savory sauce that the crispy tofu absorbs. This is a dish that can be enjoyed by all.

Sometimes nothing more will satisfy my hunger and cravings than comforting braised tofu. Perfect served as a hearty main dish or side dish, you will want to remake this over and over!

Tofu recipes are some of our favorite to make, due to the versatile nature of tofu. This also pairs well with our delicious low carb Asian Noodle Salad.

This is the perfect addition to any vegan Chinese fakeaway you might be making!

What is Braised Tofu?

Braised tofu is a popular Asian dish, where the tofu is fried until crispy, creating a spongy exterior. It is then gently simmered in a rich, savory sauce, allowing the tofu to soak up the flavors. There are several Asian variations of the braised tofu recipe, from Chinese, Korean, Tawainese, Japanese and more.
This braised tofu recipe leans more towards to Chinese flavors.

Braised Tofu Recipe Ingredients

Extra firm tofu
Red pepper
Spring onions
Ginger
Garlic
Dark soya sauce
Cornstarch
Sesame oil
Oyster sauce (ensure it is a vegetarian/vegan one)
Brown sugar
Shaoxing wine
Chilli crisp
Water
Optional: Sesame seeds to garnish

How To Make This Braised Tofu Recipe

1) Firstly, press the blocks of tofu to remove excess liquid. Cut them into triangles

2) Place 1tbsp of sesame oil in a heated pan, then fry the tofu triangles until golden and crispy. This can take around 5 minutes, make sure to turn them so they are cooked evenly. Set them aside in a dish once cooked

3) Make the sauce, add all sauce ingredients to a bowl and whisk through, set to one side

4) Now chop the veg, cut the red bell pepper into thin strips, cut the greens off the spring onions, slice them thinly longways and put to one side, chop the whites for use now, crush the garlic and ginger. Use a smidge of oil in the pan and fry the veg

5) Now add the sauce to the veg, when a gentle bubble forms, lower the heat and add in the tofu. Stir through and ensure all is coated. Cook for approx. 5 more minutes

6) Stir through the thinly sliced spring onion greens.

7) Serve and enjoy. Optional toppings could be sesame seeds, cilantro, chives or more chilli crisp

Hint: Make sure to rinse the spring onions thoroughly as there can be remenants of dirt inside them. We recommend double rinsing (before cutting) and once you have sliced lengthways.

Substitutions

There are some alternative ingredients you can use for this braised tofu recipe, just in case you haven't got all of the ingredients in.

You can use light soya sauce instead of dark soya sauce, however double the amount
If you haven't got spring onions, a regular onion will work fine, make sure to slice it finely and to saute it well.
Super firm tofu would work well with this recipe also as it requires less pressing.
If you haven't got sesame oil, then olive oil would work to fry the tofu, however the flavor will be slightly changed.

Variations

You can make this braised tofu recipe kid friendly (or for those who do not tolerate spice, by omitting the chilli crisp
Alternatively, add extra chilli crisp if you love spice!
You can choose from an array of garnishes (sesame seeds, crispy onions, cilantro, cashew nuts)

Equipment

I strongly recommend using a non-stick Frying Pan for this braised tofu recipe This ensures the tofu will not stick to the pan during frying and enable it to cook through when becoming golden. Also the tofu is thinly sliced, so we don't want to be scraping it off the pan as it will break and lose shape.

Storage

Firstly, cool the braised tofu completely, then store in a glass, air tight container. This will stay fresh in the refrigerator for p to 4 days. I always suggest glass containers due to micro-plastics and scents that plastic storage containers absord.

How do i reheat the braised tofu?

To reheat the braised tofu, place in a medium heated pan and heat gently. You can add a teaspoon of water to unstick the mixture.

What can i serve with the braised tofu?

The great thing about this recipe is it can be a stand alone main or an accompaniment to a much larger meal. I love the idea of a vegan chinese "fakeaway", or a takeaway made at home! I usually serve this with rice, vegan prawn crackers or basil soya noodles with lots of vegetables.

Delicious Braised Tofu Recipe

Yield: 2

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

This braised tofu recipe is the epitome of comfort food. Delicious, hearty and lip smackingly delicious, it works great as a main or a side dish.

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Ingredients

Tofu

250g firm tofu
1 tablespoon sesame oil

Vegetables

4 spring onions
1 red bell pepper
1 tablespoon fresh ginger
3 cloves of garlic

Sauce:

2.5 tablespoon Oyster Sauce
1tbsp Shaoxing wine
1tbsp dark soya sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
½ cup cold water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon chilli crisp

Instructions

Firstly, press the blocks of tofu to remove excess liquid. Cut them into triangles
Place 1tbsp of sesame oil in a heated pan, then fry the tofu triangles until golden and crispy. This can take around 5 minutes, make sure to turn them so they are cooked evenly. Set them aside in a dish once cooked
Make the sauce, add all sauce ingredients to a bowl and whisk through, set to one side
Now chop the veg, cut the red bell pepper into thin strips, cut the greens off the spring onions, slice them thinly longways and put to one side, chop the whites for use now, crush the garlic and ginger. Use a smidge of oil in the pan and fry the veg
Now add the sauce to the veg, when a gentle bubble forms, lower the heat and add in the tofu. Stir through and ensure all is coated. Cook for approx. 5 more minutes
Stir through the thinly sliced spring onion greens.
Serve and enjoy.
Optional toppings could be sesame seeds, cilantro or more spring onion