Last Updated on January 31, 2025 by PorchLightReading
Tofu stir fry recipe with red peppers and green beans. Perfect quick and easy dinner idea that is both sweet and spicy.
For an entire year our family gave up meat. It was my fault. I went into a deep dive of meat this and dairy that and by the time I was done, I was done!
It’s been a few years now and meat and dairy has made its way back into our refrigerator with a new respect for vegan and vegetarian foods. The experience of trying new things was eye opening! And I’m happy to say that tofu stir fry is a great start to trying new things.
With this easy recipe, along with a few cooking tips, you might just make tofu dinner night a weekly staple.
Follow us on…
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
- Table of Contents: Tofu Stir Fry Recipe with Red Peppers and Green Beans
- Why you’ll love this recipe
- Ingredients
- Step by step cooking directions
- Cooking tips
- How to get crispy tofu
- Variations
- Storage directions
- Jump to recipe
This recipe is simple to make and quick to come together, making it a win in this household. And let’s not ignore the fact that tofu is inexpensive compared to traditional meat, saving us a bit of extra money at the grocery store. See, this meal just keeps getting better and better.
Sweet and Spicy Tofu Stir Fry with Red Peppers and Green Beans
Vibrant green beans, crispy tofu, crunchy red peppers, and sweet carrots all coated in a simple sweet and spicy sauce. Whether you’re a tofu beginner or a seasoned vegetarian, this dish is easy to prepare and incredibly delicious.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- Simple ingredients- With fresh vegetables, a package of tofu, and a few pantry ingredients and you have an entire meal that is budget friendly.
- Quick and easy- Ready in less than 30 minutes makes this meal weeknight friendly!
- Customizable- Swap in a few of your favorite veggies or adjust the spice to your liking.
- Leftover friendly- Leftovers are part of our meal criteria in this house, perfect for taking to work or school the next day.
Ingredients for Sweet and Spicy Tofu Stir Fry
- Stir fry
- 1 block (14 oz) firm tofu
- 1 TBS corn starch
- 2 TBS cooking oil
- 1 cup green beans
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 cup carrots
- 3 cups cooked rice
- Season tofu with salt and pepper
- Sesame seeds (optional)
- Sweet and spicy sauce
- 3 TBS soy sauce
- 1 TBS honey
- 1 TBS sriracha
- 1 tsp. rice vinegar
- 1 tsp. sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp. fresh grated ginger
- 1 tsp. cornstarch mixed with 2 TBS water (slurry for thickening)
Cooking Directions
Prepare the tofu- Wrap and press tofu in paper towel to remove excess water. Cut tofu into bite-sized cubes and toss with 1 TBS cornstarch to create a light coating. This helps creative a crispy texture while cooking. Season tofu with a pinch of salt and pepper.
How to cook tofu- Heat 1 TBS cooking oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add tofu and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden and crispy. Remove from pan and set aside.
Sauté the vegetables- In the same skillet, add a bit more cooking oil. Toss in cut green beans, diced red peppers, and chopped carrots. Sauté 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until veggies are tender but crisp.
Make the sauce- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sriracha, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Stir in corn starch and water to thicken the sauce.
Combine- Lower heat to medium. Add tofu back to skillet with vegetables. Pour the sauce over the mixture and stir to coat evenly. Cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing sauce to thicken and favors to combine.
Serve- Spoon the stir fry over bowls of warm rice and garnish with sesame seeds or chopped green onions. Enjoy!
Related Posts:
Cooking Tips
- Prep everything first- Stir frying is quick! Have your ingredients chopped and ready to go before you start cooking.
- The pan matters- Use a non stick pan, heated properly, to help prevent the tofu from sticking.
- Adjust the spice- For a milder sauce, reduce the sriracha or add a bit more honey.
Tips for Crispy Tofu
- Choose the right tofu-
- Choose an extra firm tofu, soft tofu will fall apart while frying.
- Press out extra moisture. Use a paper towel and press the extra moisture from the tofu before crisping.
- Cut evenly and coat for crispiness-
- Cut tofu into uniform pieces to help cook evenly.
- Toss with cornstarch to help create a crispy outer texture.
- Use the right pan and oil-
- Use a non stick or cast iron pan to help prevent sticking. Be sure to have it properly heated before adding the tofu.
- Use a high heat oil such as avocado oil or sesame oil.
- Fry without overcrowding-
- Don’t overcrowd the pan. Cook tofu in batches, if needed, to ensure that each piece has enough space to crisp up.
- Let it sit before flipping. Crisping tofu takes a bit longer than you might expect. Be patient and allow to crisp 4-5 minutes on each side before flipping.
- Add sauce at the right time-
- Crisp first, sauce later. If you add the sauce too soon, the tofu will absorb the moisture and lose its crunch. Instead, cook the tofu until crispy, remove it form the pan, stir fry the vegetables, then add the tofu back into the pan with the sauce.
Variations
This recipe is easily customizable making it pantry friendly and simple to use what you already have in your refrigerator. Swap in broccoli, snap peas, or even mushrooms in place of the green beans and carrots. Skip the tofu and replace with chicken or shrimp. Instead of rice, try serving over quinoa or noodles.
Storage Directions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm in skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until heated through.
Tofu can get a bit of a bad wrap if you’re new to this plant based protein. But every once in a while it’s nice to try something new and to give yourself a meat free meal. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned vegetarian, I hope you enjoy this tofu stir fry recipe that is perfectly sweet and spicy.
Recipe Card
Tofu Stir Fry Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 14oz firm tofu
- 1 TBS corn starch
- 2 TBS cooking oil
- 1 cup green beans
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 cup carrots
- 3 cups cooked rice
- salt and pepper
Sweet and Spicy Sauce
- 3 TBS soy sauce
- 1 TBS honey
- 1 tsp. rice vinegar
- 1 tsp. sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp. fresh grated ginger
- 1 tsp. corn starch
- 2 TBS water
Instructions
- Wrap and press tofu in paper towel to remove excess water.
- Cut tofu into bite-sized cubes and toss with 1 TBS cornstarch to create a light coating. This helps creative a crispy texture while cooking. Season tofu with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 TBS cooking oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add tofu and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden and crispy. Remove from pan and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add a bit more cooking oil. Toss in cut green beans, diced red peppers, and chopped carrots. Sauté 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until veggies are tender but crisp.
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sriracha, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Stir in corn starch and water to thicken the sauce.
- Lower heat to medium. Add tofu back to skillet with vegetables. Pour the sauce over the mixture and stir to coat evenly. Cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing sauce to thicken and favors to combine.
- Spoon the stir fry over bowls of warm rice and garnish with sesame seeds or chopped green onions. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE
Back to Recipe Page
Like this recipe idea? Save this post to Pinterest for later by clicking the Pin below!
