Sweet & Sour Tofu Fried Rice

Tofu often gets a bad rep in the vegan community. Bland, flavorless, and has a mouthfeel of a sponge. However, if you get the cook right and season it correctly it will taste amazing…like addicting amazing! 

This tofu is crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside. Tossed in a sticky & thick sweet & sour glaze served over a slightly toasted veggie fried rice. This recipe is beyond simple and can easily be stored in your fridge to enjoy any time of the week. 

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This recipe is using my sweet & sour tempeh sauce recipe that was featured in Thrive Magazine and on The Feed Feed website! So, I will link that recipe in the ingredient list. It is definitely one of my favorites, as it’s super thick and has the perfect balance of sweet and sour.

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Sweet & Sour Tofu Fried Rice 

By: Taavi Elizabeth     Serves: 4-5 

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Ingredients 
  • 1 14 oz. pkg extra firm tofu 
  • Sweet & sour sauce 
  • 1 1/2 cups short grain brown rice
  • 3 whole star anise (optional) 
  • 3 cups vegetable broth 
  • 1 tsp oil  
  • 1/2 diced white onion 
  • 2 diced carrots 
  • 1/2 head of broccoli, cut into small florets 
  • 1/2 diced green bell pepper
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen peas 
  • 1 tsp sesame oil 
  • 2 tbsp tamari (or low-sodium soy sauce) 
  • 1 tsp mirin (or rice vinegar) 
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder 
Optional add-ons: 
  • black and/or white sesame seeds 
  • fresh cilantro 
  • fresh green onion 
  • sriracha 
Directions 
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. 
  2. Press the excess water out of the tofu by putting the block between paper towels and adding a heavy weight on top. Let sit for 5 min. Cut into cubes and arrange on baking sheet. Bake for 30-35 min. or until crispy and golden brown. 
  3. While tofu is baking, prepare the rice. In a saucepan add in dry rice, veggie broth, and star anise. Bring to a boil, cover, and lower heat to medium-high. Simmer for 20-25 min. or until rice is cooked. 
  4. In a large skillet, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the onion and saute until translucent. Mix in the rest of the vegetables and saute for 5-6 min. or until soft. Once rice is done, add it to the skillet (remove star anise). Press it to flat down in an even layer and cook for 5 min to get it crispy. Add in the rest of the ingredients (ie; sesame oil, etc). Stir to combine. Season with salt if needed. 
  5. Prepare the sweet and sour sauce last, to keep it nice and warm. In a small bowl, toss the tofu in the sauce to fully coat. 
  6. Serve: In a bowl, add in fried rice and top with sweet and sour tofu. Sprinkle on a few sesame seeds, chopped green onion, cilantro, and a drizzle of sriracha. 
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2 Comments

  1. May 8, 2018 / 8:43 am

    Your photography is so beautiful! That close-up shot is just perfect! I can’t wait to see more of your work on your blog!
    Tofu is such a great food to cook with, I love experimenting with different ways to give it some more flavor!

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