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Tofu, Broccoli and Red Pepper Stir Fry

This quick and easy recipe serves 2 generously. Serve with white or brown rice, or without rice for a super light yet intensely flavorful meal. You can easily double this for a larger group.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time7 minutes
Total Time22 minutes
Servings: 2

Ingredients

  • 1/2 package fresh extra firm tofu*
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 TBSP sirracha or chili garlic sauce or 1 tsp crushed red pepper (to taste)
  • 1 TBSP rice vinegar
  • 2 TBSP brown sugar
  • 1 TBSP water
  • 2 TBSP peanut oil
  • 1 bunch baby broccoli stems coarsely chopped and tops cut into florets
  • 1 small red bell pepper seeded and cut into 1" strips
  • 1/2 small yellow onion sliced
  • Cooked white or brown rice for serving optional

Instructions

  • Remove tofu from package and drain of excess water. Wrap tofu in a clean tea towel. Place a heavy cast iron pan or a pan weighted with cans or dried beans on top of towel-wrapped tofu and set aside to allow tofu to release it's liquid and become more compressed.
  • While tofu is being pressed, prepare vegetables and sauce.
  • Combine garlic, soy, chili-garlic sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar and water and set aside.
  • After 10-15 minutes, remove wet tea towel from tofu and slice into 1/2 inch thick slices. cut slices in half yeilding ~2" pieices of tofu.
  • Heat peanut oil in a heavy cast iron pan on high heat.
  • Pat tofu pieces dry and add to oil. Be careful when adding tofu to pan, the tofu still contains a lot of moisture and is likely to splatter when added to the hot oil.
  • Allow tofu to cook undisturbed in pan for ~2-3 minutes until it is browned.
  • Using tongs, flip tofu pieces and add soy sauce mixture to pan and reduce heat to medium.
  • After ~2 minutes, remove tofu from the pan and set aside, leaving some of the sauce in the pan.
  • Add onions and peppers and cook for ~2 minutes.
  • Add broccoli and cook for another 2 minutes until broccoli is tender.
  • If pan becomes too dry, add another 1-2 TBSP of water to deglaze.
  • When broccoli is tender, return tofu to pan and toss to combine.
  • Serve immediately as a light meal or with white or brown rice as an entree.

Notes

*I like buying tofu in the split packages since I am usually only cooking for 2-3. You can use half the package without even opening the other half.