The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

JUMP TO RECIPE

This vegan broccoli tofu stir fry recipe uses just one pan. Flavorful takeout style recipe made with homemade stir fry sauce, green onions, and fresh garlic and ginger.

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (1)

This broccoli tofu stir fry is made in just one big pan and tastes like takeout. If you have ever wondered how to cook tofu that tastes delicious, this is it!

I took one bite of the broccoli and realized it tasted just like the broccoli with garlic sauce that I order from a local Chinese restaurant.

Stir fry recipes are one of our favorite dinners, and we are often making recipes like teriyaki vegetables, egg roll in a bowl, cabbage stir fry, teriyaki mushrooms, and tofu stir fry noodles.

Ingredients needed to make broccoli tofu stir fry

  • cubed tofu
  • cornstarch
  • 3 ingredient stir fry sauce
  • white rice
  • fresh ginger
  • garlic
  • green onions
  • broccoli florets
  • oil
The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (2)

How To Make Broccoli tofu stir fry

First, you will drain the tofu, and pat it dry. I love buying pre packaged diced tofu, like I use in this recipe. It is so convenient!

If you cannot find pre packaged tofu, just drain a block of tofu and press it well before cutting into cubes.

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (3)

Once you drain your tofu and pat it dry, place the cubes in a bowl.

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (4)

Toss with cornstarch and shake to coat.

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (5)
The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (6)

The cornstarch is going to help the tofu get those crispier edges.

How to pan fry the tofu

Heat a large skillet with oil until hot.

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (7)

Add in your tofu and start to pan fry it. Cook the tofu for 10 – 15 minutes, stirring often, until all sides are cooked and crispy.

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (8)

Adding the rest of the stir fry ingredients

Next, add in your fresh garlic, ginger, green onion, broccoli and one batch of homemade stir fry sauce (recipe linked in the instructions below).

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (9)

These fresh ingredients give the dish so much flavor, so do not leave them out!

Keep stirring and cooking until broccoli is to your desired texture and stir fry sauce is thick and sticking to the broccoli and tofu.

I love my broccoli with a bit of crunch, so I cook it for just a few minutes while still leaving a bit of a bite to it.

The texture really adds so much to this stir fry, so be sure you do not overcook your broccoli into mush.

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (10)

Tips to get the best flavor for your stir fry

The secret to the flavorful sauce is in the fresh garlic and ginger, so do not skip these. Once you pair them with my 3 ingredient stir fry sauce, magic happens.

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (11)

I have had people leave out the fresh garlic and ginger and did not like the recipe and that is why! The recipe, as written, yields the very best stir fry flavor.

Fresh garlic and ginger are total game changers and you absolutely need them in your stir fry! Please promise me you won’t skimp on this!

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (12)

I promise it is worth the time chopping it up and it only takes a few minutes.

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (13)

The flavor is so rich and deep with minimal ingredients, thanks to the fresh ingredients! This recipe is made with just 9 ingredients and is bursting with flavor.

It is also naturally vegan and gluten free.We served it over white rice and three adults finished off the whole recipe.

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (14)

I would say for more normal sized portions it would easily serve four adults (we were very hungry!) Serve over your choice of grain, or just by itself!

This would be delicious on it’s own, or served over white rice, brown rice, quinoa, etc. For a twist you could even serve it with brown rice stir fry noodles or ramen noodles.Even over cauliflower rice would be a great way to serve it!

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (15)

I made this last night and my family loved it.
I never made any thing with tofu before….. I was scared but not as hard as I thought it would be. Thank you for this recipe. I will be cooking with Tofu again. – Jackie

I’ve been craving this ever since I made it.

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (16)

My family used to eat Chinese every Sunday growing up, and it was a tradition I loved.

If you have never made stir fry at home, this recipe will make it so easy for you!

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (17)

More stir fry recipes

  • Stir Fry Vegetables
  • Mushroom Ramen Noodles
  • Ramen Noodle Stir Fry
  • Broccoli with Garlic Sauce
  • What are the best vegetables to put in stir fry?
  • How Do You Thicken Stir Fry Sauce?
The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (18)

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (19)

Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry

Joy Shull

Broccoli tofu stir fry recipe made in just one pan. A healthy alternative to takeout in a rich garlicky stir fry sauce with fresh broccoli florets.

4.57 from 72 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Chinese

Servings 4 servings

Calories 496 kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 oz package of cubed tofu drained and patted dry
  • 3 tablespoons corn starch
  • 10 cloves of garlic minced
  • ¼ cup fresh ginger minced
  • 9 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 cup green onions chopped
  • 4 cups cooked unsalted white rice for serving

For the stir fry sauce

  • cup + 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch
  • ¼ cup toasted sesame oil

Instructions

  • Drain the cubed tofu and pat dry

  • Place the tofu cubes in a bowl

  • Add 3 tablespoons of cornstarch and toss gently to coat

  • Heat a large skillet on medium high heat with 3 tablespoons of olive oil

  • Pan fry the tofu for 10-15 minutes, until crispy on all sides

  • Make one batch of the3 ingredient stir fry saucerecipe linked in the recipe ingredients and shake to combine

  • Add the broccoli, ginger, garlic, green onions and the homemade stir fry sauce to the skillet and sauté for 10-15 minutes, or until broccoli is desired texture

  • Serve alone or over unsalted rice or stir fry noodles

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 496kcalCarbohydrates: 73gProtein: 18gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 1692mgPotassium: 953mgFiber: 7gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1483IUVitamin C: 184mgCalcium: 165mgIron: 4mg

Tried this recipe? Tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite!Let us know how it was!

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (20)
The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

FAQs

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

What type of tofu is best for stir-fry? ›

Use firm or extra-firm tofu.

While they're perfect in smoothies and hot and sour soup, soft tofus will not be able to withstand this stir-fry technique.

What do you season tofu with? ›

Most seafood seasonings include celery seed, paprika, mustard powder, salt, and black pepper. Add lime juice to the tofu marinade to bring forward more of that classic seafood flavor. 5. Soy sauce: Marinating tofu in soy sauce helps the tofu absorb flavor quickly.

Should you boil tofu before frying? ›

In her book Asian Tofu, Andrea Nguyen recommends pouring boiling, salted water over cut tofu and letting it sit for 15 minutes before going on to fry it, and on Instagram, the Omsom account highlights a technique for brining slices tofu in salt water before pan frying them to get the crispiest pieces.

Why can't you eat spinach and tofu together? ›

As tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively, the combination of the two will form kidney stones. But in fact, only prolonged and volumionous consumption of tofu and spinach at the same time will pose this risk.

What makes tofu taste better? ›

Soak the tofu in salt water for 20 minutes. This will make it extra crispy. Season the tofu with soy sauce, spice, spice powder, garlic, egg and cornstarch.

Do you need to press tofu before stir-frying? ›

Press the Tofu Before Stir-Frying

Young also advises pressing the tofu, even extra-firm tofu, between a few layers of paper towels and with something heavy to weigh it down. It's a few extra minutes of work, but there's a big payoff in the texture of the finished tofu.

What vegetables go well with tofu? ›

Crispy tofu and fresh vegetables like broccoli and spinach, sautéed in a quick and easy garlic sesame sauce.

What kind of tofu do Chinese restaurants use? ›

White in colour and tender to touch, soft tofu (yun dou fu) contains the highest water content of all tofu types and is widely used in Cantonese and other southern Chinese cuisines. It's similar to Japanese silken tofu, but while very soft it has a bit more “body” to it, making it slightly easier to handle and cut.

What spices make tofu taste good? ›

Combine brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, garam masala, oregano, garlic powder and salt. Dredge tofu in spice blend, covering all surfaces.

What should I marinate tofu in? ›

In a mixing bowl or measuring cup with a spout, whisk together the marinade: soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, olive oil, sesame oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, ginger, and Sriracha. Drizzle over the tofu. If any pieces look bare, turn them over in the marinade a few times so all of the sides are coated.

How do you get the most flavor out of tofu? ›

12 Ways To Add More Flavor To Tofu
  1. Press tofu to help it absorb flavor. Nungning20/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Coat tofu in starch before cooking. ...
  3. Season tofu more than you think. ...
  4. Use a marinade. ...
  5. Toss it in a sauce. ...
  6. Find inspiration from other foods. ...
  7. Roast tofu for tasty caramelization. ...
  8. Try deep frying your tofu.
Jan 7, 2024

What happens if you don't drain tofu before cooking? ›

Here's the thing: even though tofu might be labeled firm or extra-firm, it contains a lot of water. This excess water can cause the tofu to crumble when you cook it, and it will also have a hard time crisping up. But when you press tofu, you remove the excess moisture.

Should you coat tofu in cornstarch before frying? ›

Cornstarch: A must ingredient for crispy fried tofu. It soaks up the moisture and creates that browned coating we all love. Garlic powder: For flavor, otherwise tofu is very plain. Olive oil: For frying.

Why won't my tofu fry? ›

If your crispy tofu isn't getting crispy, it could be because there is too much moisture in the tofu. Another issue could be the oil isn't hot enough to fry the tofu.

Is tofu a high inflammatory food? ›

Tofu and tempeh.

Studies suggest people who eat soy-based foods have lower odds of inflammation-related diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Nuts and legumes, Tree nuts like almonds and walnuts, along with peanuts, are rich in unsaturated fats, along with anti-inflammatory vitamins and minerals.

Can we eat tofu and egg together? ›

Yes, you can eat eggs and soya chunks together as they are both excellent sources of protein. Soya chunks are a plant-based protein source, while eggs are an animal-based protein source. When combined, they provide a complete protein profile that contains all the essential amino acids required by the body.

Is it OK to eat eggs with tofu? ›

Quick, easy, and healthy, Tofu and Eggs is the perfect meal for any weeknight dinner!

Does tofu affect your stomach? ›

These carbohydrates can be difficult for the body to digest, leading to gas and bloating. Additionally, tofu contains trypsin inhibitors, which can interfere with digestion and lead to abdominal discomfort. However, there are ways to reduce the negative effects of fermentation on digestion.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6028

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Birthday: 1996-05-10

Address: Apt. 425 4346 Santiago Islands, Shariside, AK 38830-1874

Phone: +96313309894162

Job: Legacy Sales Designer

Hobby: Baseball, Wood carving, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Lacemaking, Parkour, Drawing

Introduction: My name is Dean Jakubowski Ret, I am a enthusiastic, friendly, homely, handsome, zealous, brainy, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.