Sweet and Savory Tofu Rice Bowl
One-Pan Wonder! Delicious Sweet and Savory Tofu Rice Bowl Recipe
Tender tofu and sweet vegetables come together in a delightful sauce, creating a perfect dish that’s incredibly satisfying. It’s an ideal meal for a quick and delicious bite.
Main Ingredients
- 1 block Firm Tofu (approx. 290g)
- 1/2 Onion (approx. 90g)
- 2-3 leaves Chinese Cabbage (approx. 60g)
- Cornstarch (for coating tofu) – as needed
- 4 Tbsp Cooking Oil
- Slurry (1 Tbsp water + 1 Tbsp cornstarch)
- 2 servings Cooked Rice
Seasoning
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce (or seasoned soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp Granulated Sugar (or regular sugar)
- 1 Tbsp Hoisin Sauce (or 1/2 Tbsp oyster sauce if unavailable)
- Sesame Seeds (for garnish) – a pinch
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce (or seasoned soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp Granulated Sugar (or regular sugar)
- 1 Tbsp Hoisin Sauce (or 1/2 Tbsp oyster sauce if unavailable)
- Sesame Seeds (for garnish) – a pinch
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, pat the tofu dry with paper towels and cut it into rectangular pieces, about 1.5 to 2 cm thick. Slice the onion and Chinese cabbage into strips about 8mm thick.
Step 2
On a wide plate, use a sieve to evenly dust the bottom with cornstarch. Place the sliced tofu pieces on top without overlapping, then dust the top of the tofu with more cornstarch to coat all sides. This step helps the tofu become crispy when pan-fried and allows it to absorb the sauce better.
Step 3
Heat 2 Tbsp of cooking oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Pan-fry the coated tofu until golden brown on both sides. It’s best to cook over medium or medium-high heat rather than high heat to prevent burning and ensure the tofu cooks through.
Step 4
Push the fried tofu to one side of the pan. Add the remaining 2 Tbsp of cooking oil to the empty side, then add the sliced onions and cabbage. Stir-fry the vegetables. Add 1 Tbsp of granulated sugar (or regular sugar) and 2 Tbsp of soy sauce to the side with the vegetables, and continue stir-frying until the vegetables are coated with the sauce.
Step 5
Prepare 1 Tbsp of Hoisin sauce.
Step 6
While the tofu continues to cook on one side, pour the Hoisin sauce over the vegetables on the other side. Stir-fry everything together, incorporating the soy sauce mixture. It’s important to cook until the vegetables are softened and well-combined with the sauce.
Step 7
Tilt the pan and spoon the sauce from the bottom over the tofu pieces to coat them evenly. Sear the tofu over high heat initially for crispiness, then reduce the heat to medium to allow the sauce to penetrate. When stir-frying vegetables, gather them in the center of the pan and move the pan around to ensure the sauce is evenly distributed, adjusting the heat as needed.
Step 8
In the empty tofu plate, mix 1 Tbsp of water with 1 Tbsp of cornstarch to create the slurry. Slowly pour this slurry over the vegetables in the pan and stir quickly to thicken the sauce. The cornstarch slurry will make the sauce glossy and help it adhere better to the tofu and vegetables.
Step 9
Serve the warm cooked rice in a bowl. Top generously with the beautifully cooked tofu and vegetables. Finally, sprinkle with sesame seeds for a delicious finishing touch. Your sweet and savory tofu rice bowl is ready! Enjoy your meal.
