Delicious tofu fry made with homemade sauce as well as batter fried tofu pieces. Really spicy,salty,sweet surprise.
I made this tofu stir fry/chili tofu, which in turn is an adaption of Indo Chinese dish Chili paneer.
Indo Chinese dishes are contribution of Chinese immigrant settled mainly in the north Eastern India, Kolkata and to some extent in Mumbai. Chinatown is there in both Kolkata and Mumbai. Indo Chinese dishes consist of Chinese seasoning and cooking techniques to Indian tastes. Today every restaurant will have at least few indo Chinese dishes in their menu. Indo Chinese dishes include chili (means hot and batter-fried), Manchurian ( means a sweet and salty brown sauce), and Szechwan (means a spicy red sauce). They may uses local spices turmeric, cumin coriander etc.
If I say paneer, my hubby will start run from there. I don’t know why he hates it but he does that. If he runs, my kids will join him also. They too are against paneer, then as a punishment for cooking paneer in the house I need to finish it. But if I make tofu, he will join to do taste test. Kids may or may not join. So I always try my paneer dishes with tofu. Since it healthier than paneer also both them has no taste as such, if you combine with some spices and sauce they will excel each other.
This not the chili we have here in the States, it is a side dish made with batter fired tofu and then they cooked again with veggies and sauce. It is delicious. I made this tofu stir fry with my own sauce version, added, sweet chili sauce, tomato ketchup, and Chinese black rice vinegar. I had some vinegar and sauce I bought for making Chinese dumpling soup that I wanted to use. So whenever I make any dish that requires Chinese ingredients, I will try to use them.
First tofu are pressed well and cut into cubes, small cubes and then it is dipped in batter made with all purpose flour and corn starch, ginger garlic paste and salt. Then they are shallow fried. The sauce is made with veggies, onion, tomato ketchup, soya sauce, sweet chili sauce and Chinese black rice vinegar. Spices used include green chili and pepper. It is really easy and delicious and goes well with a bowl of or rice. Give it a try simple delicious dish, you will love it.
Firm tofu cut it into cubes
Combine all purpose flour, corn starch, pepper, salt and garlic paste in a bowl into a batter
Coat the tofu pieces with the batter
Then dredge them in 2 tablespoon all purpose flour
Fry them until it become golden brown in all sides
For gravy heat oil
chopped garlic and ginger paste and sauté
Then add the onion and green chili sauté
Then add green and red bell pepper and sauté
Add the soya sauce, sweet chili sauce; Chinese black rice vinegar, ketchup and water bring it to boil.
Toss in the fried tofu and mix well.
Enjoy with with bowl of rice .
Tofu Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 14 oz 396g Firm tofu ( squeezed well and chopped into cubes)
- 3 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 2 ½ tablespoon corn flour
- 2 tablespoon all purpose flour for dredging
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic paste
- ⅓ cup water
- For gravy
- 1 ½ tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ tablespoon hot chili oil
- 2 clove garlic chopped finely
- ½ tablespoon ginger paste
- ½ onion chopped cubes
- ½ green bell pepper chopped cubes
- ½ red bell pepper chopped cubes
- 1 green chili chopped finely
- 2 tablespoon soya sauce
- 1 tablespoon Chinese black rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon ketchup
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Making batter fried tofu
- First squeeze all the water from tofu and cut it into small bite size cubes.
- Combine all purpose flour, corn starch, pepper, salt and garlic paste in a bowl
- and make a smooth batter by adding approximately ⅓ cup of water.
- Coat the tofu pieces with the batter and then dredge them in 2 tablespoon all purpose flour
- and shallow fry in hot oil over a high flame until tofu is golden brown. Flip once to get evenly cook all the side.
- Drain it on kitchen towel and keep aside.
- For making sauce
- Heat the sesame oil, hot chili oil and
- add chopped garlic and ginger paste and sauté over a high flame for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Then add the onion and green chili sauté for a few more seconds.
- Then add green and red bell pepper and sauté for 3 -4 minutes.
- Add the soya sauce, sweet chili sauce; Chinese black rice vinegar, ketchup and water bring it to boil.
- Toss in the fried tofu and mix well.
- Serve immediately, garnished with the spring onion greens with a bowl of rice.
Nutrition
This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
Reeni says
Good idea to use tofu in it's place! What a beautiful presentation you gave it! I want to dig right in!
mjskit says
I've never seen batter fried tofu. Usually it's fried until it's dried out. This tofu looks delicious Swathi! And what a gravy! Great dish!
Suja Manoj says
Looks absolutely delicious,yum yum.
Winnie says
IT looks absolutely FANTASTIC !!
I'm a vegetarian and love tofu
This dish is screaming my name 🙂
Pinning
sushma mallya says
wow,tofu never looks so delicious....mouthwatering dish
Anu'skitchendelights says
Delicious and looks inviting....
Rekha Vengalil says
The dish looks very delicious. I will sure give this a try..:-)
julie says
very healthy stir fry n colorful too,love the way u give step by step pics..admire ur patience,Swathi 🙂
Sony's Kitchen says
Tofu paneer looks super yum ........ well presented!
sona says
Delicious and healthy tofu stir fry..
Beulah says
It's the same here, my husband also does not like paneer! Should make this for him. This looks yummy!
jaspinder kaur says
Wow Dear wht a gr8 recipe.. my mouth is watering.. surely try it soon nd clicks are too awesome.
shweta a says
dont like tofu much, but this is so spicy and tempting...I will try for sure.
Smitha says
they look so lovely..
traditionallymodernfood says
I love tofu:) looks tempting to eat
Nalini Somayaji says
Very Innovative and healthy recipe...
Nalini Somayaji says
Nice to know the recipe....healthy and so innovative....good information..
Deepa says
Awesome and delicious looking stir fry. Wonderfully prepared.
Deepa
Kumar's Kitchen says
such a scrumptious looking stir fry and quick enough to make....perfect for a celebration when we are ticked on time....gorgeous food clicks as always,thanks 🙂
Happy Valley Chow says
I'm honestly not a huge tofu person, but man that looks like you got a ton of great flavor going on there. That looks delicious. Great job 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
maha says
It`s hard to get tofu in super markets here...BUt urs pics r calling me to taste it n try it..:)
linsy says
Lovely dish, try it soon. How black rice vinegar is from regular rice vinegar? I might use regular only.
Swathi says
Yes linsy you can use rice vinegar, that will fine. try it let me know. how it turned out.
Amber @ Apples to Applique says
Mmm, this looks good! I don't eat much meat, but I love stir-fry, so I think I need to try this. I've never actually cooked tofu, but I'm curious to give it a shot. Thanks for the recipe!
Gloria says
looks so inviting...healthy & delicious stir fry...