This easy pan cooked Sweet Chili Tofu is made with crispy tofu tossed in sweet chili sauce with peppers and onions. Served over rice for a 30 minute weeknight meal.
Another episode of my series tofu recipes that aren't teriyaki. As a 2-3x per week teriyaki tofu eater, I'm trying to switch up the flavors!
I am not a huge spice person, so sweet chili sauce is a perfect option. Sweet chili sauce is a bit spicy, but it's balanced by sweet. Especially homemade! I can control the spice level exactly to my taste.
I added bell pepper and onion when I cooked the tofu for those micronutrients. I liked how the sweetness of the red bell pepper and yellow onion complement the sweet sauce. Serve over rice or noodles for a complete meal!
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Why You'll Love This Pan Fried Sweet Chili Tofu
- Dietary needs - this recipe is totally plant-based! It's also naturally gluten-free, and I list easy swaps and instructions for a totally oil-free and refined sugar free dish
- Sweet & spicy - The sauce is the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy
- Better than takeout - made at home in under 30 minutes
- Versatile - Serve with rice, noodles, veggies, or in a bow
- Custom Heat Level - easily adjust the spice to your taste with my homemade sweet chili sauce
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Super Firm Tofu: super firm tofu is a vacuum-packed tofu that does not require any pre-pressing - if you like a solid, firm tofu, look for super firm. Extra firm also works - you can press it if you want, or just make the recipe as-is. Feel free to also use tempeh or seitan (my seitan chicken would be great here!)
- Olive Oil: optional, for cooking
- Sweet Chili Sauce: you can use store bought sauce or follow the recipe for homemade below
- Vegetables: I used red pepper and an onion. Feel free to use any color pepper or onion. And also throw in your favorite veg - broccoli, green beans, pea pods. Fresh or frozen!
- Rice: to serve
- Garnish: fresh scallions; sesame seeds
Sweet Chili Sauce Ingredients
- Rice Vinegar
- Organic Cane Sugar or Agave: I used cane sugar for the photos here, but a great refined-sugar free option is agave or maple syrup
- Water
- Sambal Oelek: this is red chili paste - it adds heat to the sauce! Similar hot pepper pastes like gochujang can also work!
- Red Pepper Flakes: for more heat! After making the sauce feel free to add more to your taste
- Garlic: fresh garlic is best here
- Ginger: fresh ginger is delicious, but optional if you don't have it. I don't recommend using dried because it can make the sauce gritty, but if you have freeze dried ginger, that's a good sub!
- Cornstarch Slurry: cornstarch helps to thicken the sauce. Usually with sauces we pre-mix with a bit of water to help avoid clumps. You can also use arrowroot
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1. Prepare the sweet chili sauce if making homemade - see full recipe notes here. In a small saucepan, heat all ingredients except the cornstarch slurry over medium heat. Bring to a simmer. Give the cornstarch slurry another stir and then add to the pan. Let cook at a strong simmer for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly before using.
Step 2. Slice the tofu into cubes.
Step 3. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add the oil if using. Add the tofu and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-6 minutes, until starting to brown.
Step 4. Add ¼ cup of the sweet chili sauce to the tofu and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 2-4 minutes, until well coated and browning more.
Step 5. Add the onion and bell pepper, and another ¼ cup of sweet chili sauce. Stir well and cook 4-6 minutes more.
Step 6. Serve over rice topped with scallions and sesame seeds.
FAQ & Expert Tips
Yes. Cook the tofu separately until crisp, then toss with the sauce in the pan with the veggies.
This dish has a mild spice. Sweet chili sauce is not overly spicy. If making homemade sauce feel free to up the spice with more red pepper flakes.
Yes! Pan-fry using a nonstick skillet with a splash of water or broth as needed. I typically do not use any liquid when sautéing tofu, just keep a close eye and stir often.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Recipe Prayer
Thank you God for this nourishing weeknight meal. Allow this meal to nourish our bodies. Amen.
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📖 Recipe
Pan Cooked Sweet Chili Tofu
Ingredients
- 1 16 Ounce Block Super Firm Tofu or Extra Firm pressed 30 minutes
- 2 Teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil optional, for cooking
- ½ Cup Sweet Chili Sauce recipe below
- 1 Medium Red Bell Pepper sliced into thin strips
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion sliced into thin strips
- Rice to serve
- Fresh Scallions to serve
- Sesame Seeds to serve
Sweet Chili Sauce
- ⅓ Cup Rice Vinegar
- ⅓ Cup Organic Cane Sugar or Agave
- ⅓ Cup Water
- 1 Tablespoon Sambel Oelek
- ¼ Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Clove Garlic minced
- ½" Piece Ginger grated, optional
- 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch + 1 Tablespoon Water mixed to form a slurry
Instructions
- Prepare the sweet chili sauce if making homemade - see full recipe notes here. In a small saucepan, heat all ingredients except the cornstarch slurry over medium heat. Bring to a simmer. Give the cornstarch slurry another stir and then add to the pan. Let cook at a strong simmer for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly before using.
- Slice the tofu into cubes.
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add the oil if using. Add the tofu and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-6 minutes, until starting to brown.
- Add ¼ cup of the sweet chili sauce to the tofu and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 2-4 minutes, until well coated and browning more.
- Add the onion and bell pepper, and another ¼ cup of sweet chili sauce. Stir well and cook 4-6 minutes more.
- Serve over rice topped with scallions and sesame seeds.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate.
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