Tofu is such a fun ingredient because it can take on any flavor! Whether it be lemon pepper tofu or General Tso’s tofu, it will taste like the delicious sauce it’s coated in. Or in this case, whatever sauce it’s cooked in. Braising is a method of cooking that involves cooking your ingredient – whether it be a vegetable, meat, or tofu – in a sauce slowly over low heat. It makes the end result so tender and packed with flavor!
Why you’ll love it
In 30 minutes you will have a delicious and flavor-packed dinner on the table. Restaurant quality flavors that are better than takeout are in this tofu dish. Pantry staple ingredients like brown sugar and tomato paste are all you need to make this.
Ingredients for braised tofu
Most of these ingredients are probably already in your pantry – here’s what you’ll need for braised tofu!
Tofu: Extra firm tofu works best for this since it’s pan-fried at such a high temperature. It’s important to drain it and dry it well with paper towels. The sauce: To add all the finger-licking goodness to the sauce, you’ll need garlic, ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, and tomato paste. Green onions are also used to both flavor the sauce and finish the dish. The basics: To fry the tofu, you need any kind of oil, and to bring the sauce together, you need water and cornstarch.
How to make this braised tofu recipe
Braised tofu might sound fancy and complicated but I promise it’s super easy! Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll do, but be sure to read the full recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full instructions.
Why this Recipe Works
Using the whole green onion: This adds so much flavor without adding another ingredient! Sure, you could use an onion and just the green part of an onion but using the white part to flavor the sauce adds a more delicate onion flavor. Double the batch: You can easily double or triple the batch to make enough to freeze for busy weeks down the road. It’s like having Chinese takeout ready in your freezer! Extra firm tofu: This prevents you from having to press the tofu thus saving time and energy.
what to serve with braised tofu
This sweet and sour sticky braised tofu is perfect served with rice or vegetables. Here’s what I’ve been enjoying it with:
Jicama Rice is a delicious and simple low-carb option to pair with braised tofu. Jasmine Rice is something every home cook needs to know how to make! Broccoli Rice is another great low-carb option that’s quick to make. Roasted Vegetable Medley can be cooked in the oven while you make the braised tofu.
