Sweet and Sour Pan-fried Tofu
Servings: 3 servings
Calories: 597kcal
Pan-fried tofu tossed with bell peppers, onion, pineapple, and a sweet and tangy sauce. An easy meatless dinner without deep-frying.
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Ingredients
- 450 g extra firm tofu
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tsp sugar
- 112 g cornstarch
Sauce:
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp ketchup
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
Veggies:
- 1 large bell pepper seeded and cut into about 1-inch pieces
- 1 large onion peeled and cut into quarters
- 2 cups pineapple chunks
For cooking:
- ¼ cup oil
For garnishes:
- Toasted white sesame seeds
- cilantro leaves
Instructions
Press the tofu:
- Wrap tofu blocks in a clean towel or absorbent paper towels. Place a heavy object on top (like a cast iron skillet).450 g extra firm tofu
- Let sit for at least 20–30 minutes or up to 1 hour if you have the time, to remove excess moisture. You will be surprised by how much moisture is soaked up by the towel
Marinate the tofu:
- Pat the tofu dry with absorbent paper towel and then cut into 1-inch cubes. Pat them dry again with absorbent paper towel. Add 1 Tbsp of soy sauce and 1/2 tsp sugar and gently toss to coat and then let them marinate for 15 minutes1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1/2 tsp sugar
When you are ready to cook:
- Preheat 1/4 cup of oil in a medium skillet or pan over a medium heat1/4 cup oil
- Combine the sauce ingredients and set aside3 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp ketchup, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- Toss the marinated tofu in cornstarch to make sure they are coated evenly112 g cornstarch
Pan fry the tofu:
- Place the coated tofu pieces in the pan and let them cook undisturbed for a minute. Do this in batches if necessary and try not to crowd the pan too much. Flip over to let the other sides cook until golden brown and have crisp edges. This may take about 5-8 minutes total (just an estimated time)
- Remove the tofu pieces to a serving platter. To the same pan, add the bell pepper pieces, onion, and pineapple chunks. Let them cook until slightly charred on some spots, about 5-7 minutes and then remove to the same serving platter1 large bell pepper, 2 cups pineapple chunks, 1 large onion
- Add the sauce ingredients to the pan and cook until it's bubbly and sort of "syrupy".
- Add the tofu pieces and vegetable pieces back into the sauce
- Continue to stir until the sauce coats everything evenly
To serve:
- Garnish with some toasted white sesame seeds and cilantro leaves if you choose to do so. Serve immediately with some rice or your favorite sides like noodles, pasta, or even crusty bread (not traditional, but tasty one)
Nutrition
Calories: 597kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 1413mg | Potassium: 687mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 1845IU | Vitamin C: 89mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 3mg
