If you appreciate a simple and tasty tofu stir fry, you can’t miss this sweet and sour tofu. I’ve posted a few Chinese takeout style tofu recipes in the past, such as General Tso’s Tofu, Tofu and Broccoli, and Black Pepper Tofu. I’ve gotten so many requests for sweet and sour tofu, so I finally developed one for you. I can’t believe it took me so long to get to making this dish, because it tastes SO GOOD! The tofu cubes are golden crispy, extra crunchy on the outside, and tender inside. The sauce is very fragrant and rich. Serve it over steamed white rice – it is truly an indulgent feast. So let’s jump in and learn how to make this delicious dish!
The secret to extra flavorful and crispy tofu
I rarely press tofu. But I have a few tricks that helps you create the best tofu texture:
Best pan for sweet and sour tofu
I highly recommend a 12” (or larger) nonstick skillet to make sweet and sour tofu. It simply saves you so much trouble because the tofu won’t stick to the skillet and fall apart when you try to pry it up. It is entirely possible to use a cast iron skillet or a carbon steel skillet. But you will need to use a bit more oil. Also make sure to cook the tofu until fully browned before moving it, to keep it intact.
Ingredients
Your table should have marinated tofu, cornstarch, oil, mixed sauce, aromatics in a bowl, and pepper and onions on a plate. I prefer to group ingredients together if I plan to add them at the same time during cooking. It saves some cleanup and it makes me less likely to forget to add them. PS. I always love a colorful sweet and sour tofu so I used a third of three different colored peppers. Feel free to use any color(s) you prefer!
How to cook sweet and sour tofu
Cooking sweet and sour tofu couldn’t be easier! NOTE: I prefer to cook my vegetables very briefly, so they stay vibrant and crisp. If you prefer the vegetables a bit more softened, you can add them after you fry the aromatics. Quickly stir frying them for a minute will do the job. Then proceed to add the sauce and tofu.
Afterthoughts
Granted, this sweet and sour tofu does contain quite a bit of sugar. But it is still much healthier than the restaurant version. I used plenty of aromatics to make the sauce fragrant without using too much sugar. If you have a family member who doesn’t usually like tofu, I think this one will be a great introduction to the magical world of tofu!
More delicious tofu recipes
General Tso Tofu (Crispy Tofu without Deep Frying) Real-Deal Kung Pao Tofu Vegetarian Mapo Tofu Baked Crispy Tofu Nugget Crispy Tofu with Garlic Sauce
The recipe was updated with major changes in 2022. If you want the older version, see the recipe below:
Sweet and Sour Tofu (Old Version)
Sauce
1/4 cup vegetable stock 2 tablespoons light soy sauce 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine (or vegetable stock) 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 4 tablespoons tomato paste 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or sugar)
Cook
1/2 head small broccoli, cut into bite size florets 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 (16-oz. / 450-g) pack extra-firm or firm tofu, drained and cut into bite size pieces (about 1/2″ thick, 1 1/2″ long and wide) 1/2 small onion, sliced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon minced ginger
