Crispy Black Pepper Tofu – Connoisseurus Veg

8 de January de 2024

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This crispy black pepper tofu is smothered in spicy sauce stir-fried with candy bell peppers and crispy celery. Serve over rice for a flavor-packed meal that is completely doable on a weeknight.

Wooden surface set with a wok and plate of Black Pepper Tofu.

This black pepper tofu is the spicy vegan dinner you most likely did not know you wanted in your life! Black pepper is a type of elements so many people spicy meals lovers typically overlook, however that should change.

Black pepper is reasonable, available, and most of us have it hanging out in our pantries. However it packs a severe taste punch, particularly when utilized in heavy quantities like we’re doing on this recipe. You may discover that the warmth from black pepper hits otherwise from what you’d discover in dishes that use scorching pepper based mostly sauces, like my Szechuan tofu or gochujang tofu.

Along with being scrumptious, this recipe is fast and straightforward. Fry the tofu, stir-fry some veggies, add sauce, and voila: you have received a umami-packed meal able to take pleasure in.

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Components You may Want

Soy sauce. Should you’re not a fan of tremendous salty dishes or simply wish to scale back the sodium content material of this dish, be at liberty to make use of decreased sodium soy sauce.
Darkish soy sauce. That is totally different from common soy sauce, with a a lot saltier, extra savory style. I do not advocate leaving this out or substituting, because it provides a ton of taste to the dish. It is positively price selecting up a bottle on the Asian market (attempt it in my vegan pad see ew in case you want one other use for for it).
Brown sugar. Use natural sugar to maintain the recipe vegan. Standard brown sugar could also be processed utilizing animal bone char.
Sambal oelek. This may add some extra acquainted warmth to the dish. Be at liberty to go away it out if you would like to simply let the black pepper shine.
Black pepper. Use freshly floor black pepper. You may want to purchase complete black peppercorns, which can be found within the spice aisle of most supermarkets, and grind it your self utilizing a pepper mill or mortar and pestle.
Cornstarch.
Peanut oil. Be at liberty to substitute your favourite high-heat oil, similar to canola oil, vegetable oil, or coconut oil.
Tofu. The recipe requires super-firm tofu, which has an ideal texture and is best to work. Additional-firm tofu may be substituted, however it can have to be pressed earlier than utilizing.
Pink bell pepper. Favor a inexperienced, orange, or yellow bell pepper? Use it!
Celery.
Garlic.
Ginger.
Scallions. Also called inexperienced onions.

How It is Made

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

Hand stirring black pepper sauce ingredients together in a glass bowl.

Begin by doing all your prep work: chop the veggies and aromatics, cube the tofu, and blend the sauce elements, which embrace each soy sauces, brown sugar, sambal oelek, black pepper, and cornstarch.

Dredge the tofu cubes in cornstarch, then warmth some oil in a wok or skillet. Add the tofu cubes to the new oil and fry them for a couple of minutes on both sides, till they’re browned and crispy. Switch the tofu to a plate. Cook dinner the tofu in batches if it will not all slot in a pleasant even layer in your wok.

Tip: Frying the tofu means the dish will comprise a good quantity of oil. If you would like to chop again on that, attempt this methodology for pan-frying tofu as a substitute.

Red bell pepper and celery cooking in a wok.

Should you’ve received a ton of oil within the wok, rigorously wipe some out. Now flip up the warmth and add diced bell pepper and sliced celery to the wok. Stir-fry the veggies briefly, simply till they deepen in coloration.

Vegetables and aromatics cooking in a wok.

Now add minced garlic, freshly grated ginger, and finely chopped scallions (however simply the white components) to the wok. Combine them up with the veggies and stir-fry every part for about 30 seconds.

Hand pouring sauce into a wok filled with fried tofu and vegetables.

Return the fried tofu to the wok and pour the sauce over the tofu and veggies. Watch out to not pour the sauce immediately on the new cooking floor or it can sputter.

Proceed stir-frying every part for a few minute, till the sauce thickens a bit and coats the tofu and greens.

Black Pepper Tofu and vegetables in a wok.

Take away the wok from warmth and add the inexperienced components of your scallions.

Plate of Black Pepper Tofu with wok and bunch of scallions in the background.

Your black pepper tofu is able to take pleasure in! Pile it onto plates with rice and dig in straight away — the tofu will not keep crispy for lengthy.

Leftovers & Storage

Leftover black pepper tofu will hold in an hermetic container within the fridge for about 3 days. The tofu is not going to hold it is crispness, however the taste will nonetheless be nice. I’ve discovered that the simplest option to reheat this dish is within the microwave.

Extra Tofu Stir-Fries

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