Szechuan Tofu – Connoisseurus Veg

This spicy Szechuan tofu is simple to make and loaded with taste. Pair it up with rice for a delicious vegan dinner that is higher than takeout!

I like remaking a few of my favourite dishes from Chinese language eating places. Whether or not it is lo mein, chow mein, Common Tso’s tofu, or Kung Pao tofu, recreating these basic dishes is at all times a enjoyable problem, and I at all times find yourself with a scrumptious dinner on the finish of the method.

Szechuan tofu is a dish that I’ve ordered so many occasions and completely beloved, however by no means acquired round to tackling till now. Szechuan delicacies is thought for spicy, daring flavors, with beneficiant use of aromatics, so I used to be a bit intimidated on the prospect of making an attempt to seize that stage of deliciousness in a recipe of my very own.

I am completely happy to say that this turned out to be a critically delicious tofu stir-fry — each bit as scrumptious as these I’ve gotten in eating places. It is fairly straightforward to make too! The hot button is heavy use of pungent spices and flavors like garlic, ginger, Chinese language 5 spice, and Szechuan peppercorns.

Learn on to study precisely what you will want and how you can throw this flavor-packed meal collectively.

Elements You may Want

• Soy sauce. Tamari or liquid aminos may be substituted if wanted.
• Brown sugar. Use natural brown sugar to maintain the recipe vegan. Standard sugar is commonly processed utilizing animal bone char.
• Sambal oelek. It is a spicy purple chili paste that may be discovered within the worldwide aisle of most supermarkets. The recipe provides you some leeway as to how a lot you need to make use of, relying in your spice choice. In case you’re uncertain, begin with much less and add extra when the dish has completed cooking. Sriracha sauce may be substituted if samabal oelek is not obtainable.
• Toasted sesame oil. Search for this within the worldwide aisle of your grocery retailer.
• Garlic.
• Ginger.
• Cornstarch.
• Chinese language 5 spice. It is a mixture of cinnamon, cloves, star anise, fennel and Szechuan peppercorns. Most shops carry it within the spice aisle.
• Peanut oil. You need to use one other high-heat oil in the event you desire, comparable to vegetable oil, canola oil, or corn oil.
• Tremendous firm-tofu. Further-firm tofu can even work on this recipe, however it would should be pressed earlier than cooking.
• Pink bell pepper.
• Scallions. You may additionally know these as inexperienced onions.
• Szechuan peppercorns. Search for these within the worldwide part of the grocery retailer, or attempt an Asian market. (Another spelling of their title is Sichuan peppercorns.) Black peppercorns may be substituted in a pinch, however will give your stir-fry a barely totally different taste.
• Toasted sesame seeds.
• Cooked rice. Noodles are an excellent different in the event you’re not up for rice.

Tip: Dried purple chile peppers are one other ingredient that you will discover in genuine Szechuan tofu. I desire to make use of sambal oelek as a result of it provides me extra management over the warmth stage, however be happy to go together with dried chiles if you would like. Add them similtaneously the Szechuan peppercorns.

How It is Made

The next is an in depth photograph tutorial on how you can make this dish. Scroll all the best way down if you would like to skip proper to the recipe!

Stir your Szechuan sauce components collectively first: soy sauce, brown sugar, sambal oelek, toasted sesame oil, garlic, ginger, cornstarch, and Chinese language 5 spice.

Coat the underside of a wok or skillet with oil and add cubed tofu. Cook dinner the tofu items for a couple of minutes, turning them simply a few times, till the change into golden brown and crispy. Transfer the tofu to a plate.

Tip: Cook dinner your tofu in batches if you cannot match all of it in a single layer within the backside of your wok.

Add some extra oil to the wok, then add chopped bell pepper. Stir-fry the bell pepper, very briefly, simply till the items begin to change into brighter in colour. Add the white elements of your scallions (save the inexperienced for later), and floor Szechuan peppercorns. Stir-fry for a minute longer.

Return the cooked tofu to the wok, then pour the sauce over the tofu. Be tremendous cautious to not pour the sauce straight on the recent floor, or it would sputter. Combine all the pieces up and stir-fry the combination for about 1 minute, simply till the sauce thickens and coats the tofu and pepper items.

Take the wok off of warmth and add toasted sesame seeds and the inexperienced elements of your scallions.

Your Szechuan tofu is learn to get pleasure from! Pile it onto plates with some rice and dig in.

Prep-Forward Ideas

• The sauce may be combined prematurely and saved in an hermetic container within the fridge.
• The bell pepper may be chopped prematurely and saved in an hermetic container within the fridge.

Leftovers & Storage

Leftover Szechuan tofu will preserve in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Extra Tofu Stir-Fries

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Szechuan Tofu

This spicy Szechuan tofu is simple to make and loaded with taste. Pair it up with rice for a delicious vegan dinner that is higher than takeout!

Elements

For the Sauce

• ⅓
  cup
  soy sauce
• 3
  tablespoons
  natural brown sugar
• 2
  teaspoons
  sambal oelek,
  or to style (Observe 1)
• 1
  teaspoon
  toasted sesame oil
• 3
  garlic cloves,
  minced
• 2
  teaspoons
  freshly grated ginger
• 2
  teaspoons
  cornstarch
• 1
  teaspoon
  Chinese language 5 spice

For the Stir-Fry

• 2
  tablespoons
  peanut oil,
  divided
• 1
  (16 ounce/454 gram) package deal
  super-firm tofu,
  died (about ½-inch)
• 1
  medium purple bell pepper,
  roughly chopped
• 2
  scallions,
  white and inexperienced elements separated and chopped
• 1
  teaspoon
  Szechuan peppercorns,
  floor with a mortar and pestle (Observe 2)
• 2
  teaspoons
  toasted sesame seeds
• Cooked rice,
  for serving

Directions

1. Stir the sauce components collectively in a small bowl or container. Put aside.

2. Coat the underside of the wok (or nonstick skillet) with half of the oil and place it over medium warmth.

3. As soon as the oil is sizzling, add the tofu cubes in an excellent layer (Observe 3). Cook dinner the tofu cubes for about 10 minutes, flipping the items a few times till they’re browned and crispy on a number of sides. Switch the tofu to a plate when completed.

4. Add the remaining oil to the wok and lift the warmth to medium-high.

5. Give the wok a minute to warmth up, then add the bell pepper. Stir-fry the pepper simply till it begins to deepen in colour, about 1 minute.

6. Add the white elements of the scallions and Szechuan peppercorns to the wok. Proceed to stir-fry the combination for about 1 minute extra, till the bell pepper turns into tender-crisp.

7. Return the tofu to the wok and thoroughly pour the sauce over the tofu. Proceed stir-frying the combination till the sauce thickens and coats the tofu and bell pepper, about 1 minute.

8. Take away the wok from warmth.

9. Prime the stir-fry with sesame seeds and the inexperienced elements of your scallions. Serve with rice.

Recipe Notes

1. Two teaspoons gives you a comparatively gentle dish, and is an effective place to start out in the event you’re uncertain of how a lot warmth you possibly can tolerate. When unsure, begin with much less and add extra when the dish has completed cooking.
2. You’ll be able to substitute black peppercorns if Szechuan peppercorns aren’t obtainable.
3. You’ll be able to prepare dinner the tofu in batches if it will not all match within the backside of your wok.
4. Diet data doesn’t embrace rice.

Diet Info

Szechuan Tofu

Quantity Per Serving

Energy 301
Energy from Fats 152

% Each day Worth*

Fats 16.9g26%

Saturated Fats 3.1g16%

Sodium 1251mg52%

Potassium 160mg5%

Carbohydrates 18.9g6%

Fiber 4.4g18%

Sugar 8.6g10%

Protein 20.2g40%

Calcium 362mg36%

Iron 3mg17%

* % Each day Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie weight loss plan.