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Home » easy » Tofu Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce

Tofu Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce

Published: Sep 25, 2020 by Louisa Clements · This post may contain affiliate links

This post may contain affiliate links

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33 minutes 6 Comments

With a sweet and spicy homemade coconut milk peanut sauce, this rich and satisfying tofu stir fry with broccoli and bell peppers is a quick weeknight dinner.

Closeup of tofu stir fry on top of brown rice in a white bowl

Having a variety of vegetarian dishes in my back pocket is something that I’ve been working on for the last couple of years. So you’ll likely have noticed a few tofu recipes propping up here and there. (Convincing my boyfriend that tofu is delicious is also something else I’ve been working on).

I believe in balance, I eat everything. Of the last ten dinner recipes I’ve shared, six have been either vegetarian or vegan. I’d say that sounds pretty balanced, don’t you think?

If you’re looking for those recipes, you can find them in my vegetarian recipe archives.

Long shot of finished stir fry in a white bowl

The key for using tofu in a dish like this is about texture. I use extra firm tofu that I coat in curry powder and sear on each side. This process takes some time.

I’m talking about 12-15 minutes to get a golden crust on practically every surface of the tofu. This gives is it crunch and flavour.

How can you make tofu taste delicious

If you’re new to cooking with tofu the most important lesson I can teach you is to treat it like you would any other kind of protein. It absorbs flavour incredibly well.

Marinate the tofu for flavour before you cook it. Sear it the same way you would beef or chicken for a stew.

Tofu stir fry in a white bowl

What else can I use this coconut milk peanut sauce for?

I love the sauce that this dish makes. I think that it would be equally delicious stirred into noodles. Kind of like a vegetable-packed peanut noodle recipe.

I typically serve this over rice; I like the nuttiness of brown rice paired with this rich sauce.

If you think that all vegan and vegetarian dishes are light, you’re wrong. This is one of those stick-to-your-ribs, extra comforting dishes. Absolutely perfect for the winter, if you ask me.

Closeup of tofu stir fry on top of brown rice in a white bowl

Tofu Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce

Author: Louisa Clements
4.29 from 7 votes
With a sweet and spicy homemade coconut milk peanut sauce, this rich and satisfying tofu stir fry with broccoli and bell peppers is a quick weeknight dinner.
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Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 18 minutes
Total: 33 minutes
servings icon
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp canola oil, divided
  • 1 420g block firm tofu
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • ¾ tsp salt, divided
  • 1 400mL can coconut milk
  • ½ cup peanut butter
  • 1 lime, juice only
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp sriracha
  • 1 head broccoli, chopped into florets
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 tbsp minced cilantro

Instructions

  • Drain tofu and wrap in paper towel. Place something heavy on top (I use a cast iron skillet), and let sit for about 15 minutes. Once pressed, cut into 1" cubes.
  • Heat 1 tbsp of canola oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Toss tofu in curry powder and ¼ tsp of salt. Add to pan in a single later. Cook until golden brown on each side. About 2-3 minutes per side, 12-15 minutes total. Turn down the heat if the tofu is browning too quickly. Remove from pan and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk coconut milk with peanut butter, lime juice, garlic, soy sauce, and sriracha.
  • Add remaining canola oil, followed by broccoli, red pepper and remaining ½ tsp of salt. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Add coconut milk mixture, and cook another 2-3 minutes until vegetables are tender and sauce has thickened. Return tofu to pan. Serve over rice with cilantro.
Did you try this recipe?Leave a comment + rating and let me know what you think!
Filed Under: Dinner Recipes, easy, quick recipes, vegan, vegetarian
Nutrition Facts
Tofu Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 638 Calories from Fat 468
% Daily Value*
Fat 52g80%
Saturated Fat 26g163%
Sodium 876mg38%
Potassium 1015mg29%
Carbohydrates 28g9%
Fiber 10g42%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 25g50%
Vitamin A 1878IU38%
Vitamin C 181mg219%
Calcium 235mg24%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is an estimate and is provided for informational purposes only. If you have any specific dietary concerns, please consult with your healthcare practitioner.

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Comments

  1. Jacqueline

    April 28, 2022 at 6:25 am

    My first try of tofu, what a delicious recipe as an introduction, thanks for the recipe. In my list of favourites now.

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      May 08, 2022 at 8:12 pm

      So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Jacqueline! This is how I got my partner to enjoy tofu as well, it's a great "entry" recipe! Thanks for taking the time to let me know, much appreciated!
      Reply
  2. Becca

    August 31, 2021 at 12:45 pm

    I'll be saving this recipe to make again. It was delicious!! I served over brown rice noodles and that worked really well.

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      September 12, 2021 at 1:55 pm

      So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Becca! It's a favourite of mine as well. :)
      Reply
  3. David

    September 26, 2020 at 8:32 am

    I especially like tofu. It provides us vegan protein. Before I just fry tofu and dip into fish sauce. But this recipe is a good combination. Peanut sauce highlight the taste, broccoli, and bell peppers make this dish not very fat. I also like to use this with steamed rice.

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      November 11, 2020 at 11:33 am

      So glad you enjoyed this recipe, David! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, it is much appreciated! :)
      Reply

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Hi, I'm Louisa Clements & welcome to Living Lou. I've been creating simple, fresh & flavorful recipes for the modern kitchen for 12 years.
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