Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

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Crispy pan-fried Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry! This easy recipe starts with a homemade sesame ginger sauce that coats the crispy tofu and perfectly al-dente carrots and green beans. This easy stir fry recipe can be served with rice, quinoa, noodles, cauliflower rice, or on it’s own!

Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (1)

This has been my favorite tofu stir fry recipe for the better part of the last decade!

It’s truly remarkable with that crispy texture on that pan-fried tofu and those tender vegetables coated in a sesame ginger sauce that’s so good you’ll want to toss it with all the things. Friends who eat chicken – this recipe would be delicious with chicken too!

I don’t know what I love more about this tofu recipe.

Is it the little crispy bites of firm tofu that‘s coated in cornstarch and then pan-fried until it’s all crunchy and crispy around the edges? Yes. Is it the soy sesame ginger glaze that clings to the veggies and caramelizes when it hits the hot pan and sizzles? Yes. Could it be that it’s wildly adaptable to the produce you‘ve got stashed in your refrigerator? Have broccoli, red bell pepper, snow peas, and onions? Can you use those? Absolutely.

You don’t have to take my word for it! Just look at all the reviews from people that have made and loved this one! ❤️

Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Video:

Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2)

Ingredients for Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry:

  • Tofu:I like to use extra firm tofu for this recipe as it contains a lower water content and allows the tofu pieces to crisp up better in the pan. You can also use firm tofu if you prefer. Silken or soft tofu wouldn’t be a good choice here. First, press the tofu to remove as much moisture as you can. Thisdeviceis my favorite and definitely worth investing in if you make tofu stir fry’s often. Once pressed, cut the tofu into ​small cubes. The more pieces you make, the quicker the tofu will cook and the more surface area it will have. More surface area means more crispy edges and less of the center softness!
  • Seasonings:You’ll need kosher salt, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes for this recipe. The tofu pieces are tossed in a combination of kosher sal and cornstarch to help crisp them up in the wok or frying pan later.
  • Veggies:I use green beans and baby carrots that I cut in half lengthwise for this recipe. You could usewhatever veggies you like. Feel free to swap for green beans for broccoli, or add in some thinly sliced onions.
  • Sauces:You’ll need a variety of sauces for this recipe, such as rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. I prefer and suggest using toasted sesame oil for this recipe so that it gives the stir fry sauce a deep toasted flavor.
  • Brown sugar:The few tablespoons of sugar that we add to the recipe helps balances the acidic and salty ingredients in the recipe. Brown sugar works best for this recipe as it enhances the deep toasted sesame flavor, however, you can also use honey or maple syrup if you prefer. Keep in mind that if you want to keep this recipe vegan friendly, You’ll want to use something other than honey.
  • Aromatics:Freshly grated ginger and minced garlic are the heart and soul of any good stir fry recipe! You can use minced ginger from a jar or a tube if you’d like. Over the years, I have tested this recipe in every which way and it works just fine! It also eliminates the whole blending the sauce in the blender step, making for easier clean up!
  • For serving:I like to serve this stir fry recipe with brown rice. I love the way that nutty brown rice tastes with the soy ginger sesame glaze. Feel free to serve this with noodles, cauliflower rice, or any other grain that you like!
Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (3)

How to make Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry:

  1. Treat that tofu right.Start by folding a few tea towels or paper towels in the shape of your tofu. Remove the tofu from the packaging and place it on a plate with the paper towel. Plate another folded sheet on top and press down with a heavy cast iron skillet or simply remove the tofu from packaging and place it in thetofu press.Allow the tofu to rest for 15-20 minutes letting most of the moisture drip out of the protein. You’ll want to use this time to slice the vegetables and keep them ready in a bowl and to prepare the stir fry sauce. Once it’s dry, cut the tofu into ¾-1 inch pieces. You can also cut them smaller if you want! The tofu will cook faster and crisp up more that way. Add a tablespoon of cornstarch and some salt to a ziptop bag. Toss the tofu pieces in the bag. Zip and toss to combine.
  2. Make the sauce.While the tofu is pressing, combine the sesame oil, grated ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, brown sugar, cornstarch and a couple tablespoons of water. Blend until smooth and set aside for later.
  3. Stir fry it up.Add a drizzle of any high heat oil to a large skillet, wok, or pan over medium-high heat. Toss in the tofu pieces and cook them for 3-7 minutes flipping them frequently until crispy and golden on all sides. Add 2 tablespoons of sauce during the last little bit and toss and cook until the sauce clings to the tofu. Remove the tofu to a plate and keep warm. Add another drizzle or oil to the same pan and toss and cook the carrots and green beans until they’re cooked to your liking. Add the tofu back to the pan. Stir the sauce if the cornstarch has settled to the bottom and pour it in over all the other ingredients. Toss and stir to coat until the sauce thickens. Top with sesame seeds if desired or you could also top with thinly sliced green onion (I don’t) and serve warm over fluffy rice.
Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (4)

FAQs about this recipe?

Is this recipe gluten-free?

As written, this recipe is not gluten-free, however it can be made GF friendly with one swap. You’ll need to swap the soy sauce for gluten-free tamari.

Is this recipe vegan-friendly?

As written, this recipe is vegan/ vegetarian-friendly, so you don’t have to sub anything at all!

How do you suggest storing leftovers?

Leftovers should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This recipe does taste best when consumed in one sitting as the tofu does lose that crispness, however, it’s still delicious. Leftovers keep for 4 days, just reheat in a microwave when you’re ready to eat.

How do you get in more veggies with this?

I love serving this stir fry with a side of sauteed baby bok choy. I usually just add a drizzle of toasted sesame oil to a pan and panfrybok choy halves it it for 2 minutes or so on high heat until crispy around the edges. A pinch of salt and red pepper flakes really makes this a delicious side dish.

If you like this recipe, you might also like:

  • Crispy Black Pepper Tofu Stir Fry
  • Crispy Honey Garlic Tofu
  • Spicy Curry Ramen with Tofu and Veggies
  • Peanut Tofu Stir Fry
  • Thai Basil Fried Rice
Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (5)

Original recipe shared Aug 2015, updated with new images, post, and minor recipe edits July 2022.

Yield: serves 3-4

Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry

Prep Time25 minutes

Cook Time15 minutes

Total Time40 minutes

Crispy pan-fried sesame ginger tofu and veggie stir fry! This easy recipe starts with a homemade sesame ginger sauce that coats the crispy tofu and perfectly al-dente carrots and green beans. This easy stir fryrecipe can be served with rice, quinoa, noodles, cauliflower rice, or on it’s own!

Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (6)

Ingredients

stir fry:

  • 1 (14 ounce) package extra firm tofu
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons high heat oil (such as avocado)
  • 2 ½ cups green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 cup baby carrots, cut lengthwise

sauce:

  • 1 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 ½ tablespoon grated ginger
  • 1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce (or GF tamari)
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water

Instructions

  1. TOFU: Drain tofu from packaging. Place tofu on a plate with a folded tea towel. Place another tea towel on top (in the shape of the tofu) followed by another plate and a heavy cast iron skillet or metal cans. Or simply use a tofu press. Let tofu dry for 15-20 minutes or up to 1 hour. Then, cut into ¾-1 inch cubes and toss in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and the ½ teaspoon of salt in a zip-top bag until coated.
  2. BLEND:While the tofu is drying, prepare the sauce. Combine sauce ingredients in a blender until completely smooth (see notes) Set aside.
  3. CRISPY TOFU:In a wok or large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of oil. Add tofu and let fry for 3-7 minutes. Flip tofu as needed to brown on all sides. Add 2 tablespoons of prepared sauce and allow to cook until the sauce coats the tofu; about 2-3 minutes. When the tofu is caramelized, remove to a plate.
  4. STIR FRY:Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan, if needed. Toss in veggies and cook for 3-4 minutes, tossing as needed to desired doneness. Add tofu back to the skillet. Stir the sauce to combine and pour it in. Stir to coat. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes or until the tofu soaks up the sauce.
  5. SERVE:Serve warm with rice, quinoa, noodles, cauliflower rice, or on its own. The tofu will lose it's crispness as it sits. Best when eaten fresh.

Notes

  • Update 4/22: after making this recipe countless times since publishing, I’ve found if you use garlic paste and ginger paste, you can skip the step of blending the sauce. Simply combine in a bowl with a whisk or a mason jar with a lid.

Have you made this recipe?

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below. You can also share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #LITTLESPICEJAR, I'd love to see what you made!

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30 Minute Meals Dinner Gluten-Free Under 500 calories Vegan Vegetarianasian brown rice crispy tofu quinoa rice sesame ginger spicy stir fry takeout tofu vegan vegetarian veggie

published on Jul 11, 2022

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  1. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (10)

    Matt Robinson (@realfoodbydad) Reply

    I could eat this every night of the week and be perfectly happy

  2. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (11)

    Marzia Reply

    I’m totally with you on that! Thanks Matt!

  3. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (12)

    Sabrina Reply

    Looks delicious! Love how you got a great crust on the tofu.

  4. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (13)

    Eric Planck Reply

    Delicious! I added Mushrooms and a bit of Yellow pepper, it came out very well.

  5. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (14)

    gretchenkwood Reply

    Tonight I’ll be making this for the 2nd time! It was so delicious last time – the sauce is perfection! And of course, because it seems I can never quite follow the rules, I added some extra (yellow squash, red peppers, mushrooms, water chestnuts) and it really was super flavorful. Thank you for the awesome recipe!!

  6. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (15)

    Amy Reply

    This dish is absolutely amazing, and that sauce is to die for. The second time I made it I used tempeh instead, added a red bell pepper and served on top of brown rice. Delish! Thank you!

    • Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (16)

      Margarita Reply

      May I ask how you sliced the temph? I’ve never used it and would love to try it in recipes. Thank you.

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  10. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (17)

    Laura Reply

    I’ve made this recipe about 5 times now and each time it’s been amazing. I follow it to the letter and wind up with great food every time. I used preminced ginger last night and it made prep time so much faster! Would recommend going with preminced if possible.

    5

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  13. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (18)

    vivian Reply

    This was really good. I’m a big tofu fan, so it didn’t take much to convince me to try this. The green beans at the market didn’t look very good, so I substituted zucchini. This recipe would be adaptable to whatever vegetables looked good, which makes it even better. I needed more cornstarch to lightly coat my tofu, but it makes a huge difference in terms of the crispness you can achieve. Thanks for a great recipe!

    5

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  16. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (19)

    Nancy Reply

    Absoutely AMAZING! I used the veggies I had on hand and added a little Siracha to the sauce. I’m truly a “newby” at cooking vegan and this recipe was easy to follow.

    5

  17. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (20)

    Drina Reply

    Loved it! The caramelised tofu was enough to praise this dish, I could have ate them all straight out the wok!
    I used a prepacked box of stir fry veg for 2 which had edamame beans, broccoli and carrots and added 2 jumbo mushrooms instead of the veg stated and it worked out great, got 3 servings. Will be making again soon

    5

  18. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (21)

    Naimah Abdullah Reply

    Nice and fresh recipe. Great flavors without too many seasonings that over power the ingredients. Great Balance!

    4

  19. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (22)

    James Strange Reply

    This looks so good!

  20. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (23)

    Judy Reply

    I’m always looking for different sauces to use instead of my old tried and true. This was really delicious. Great recipe.

    4.5

  21. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (24)

    Aileen Reply

    Hi, I made this recipe tonight. It was delicious! Definitely will be making it again. The tofu turned out nice a crispy on the outside & soft in the middle. The flavour of the sauce really makes the dish. Loved it!!

  22. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (25)

    Lise Reply

    My husband who never wants to eat tofu pretending he hates it, had this recipe for dinner tonight and admitted (oh yé !) that it was very good and that he wanted it for his lunch tomorrow as well . Would you believe it ! I can’t believe it 🙂 I had some bean sprouts in the fridge so I added it and it add a little crunch to the already delicious meal. Thank you for this recipe.

    5

    • Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (26)

      Marzia Reply

      Your husband sounds just like mine! Glad to hear you both enjoyed it 🙂

  23. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (27)

    Kathy Reply

    So good! I was really impressed by how good the crispy tofu was. I wish all the vegetarian dishes I tried turned out this yummy. And the whole family liked it!

    5

  24. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (28)

    Brigit Reply

    Missing the sesame seeds in the recipe and found that 1 tablespoon of cornflour was too much. I didn’t get the tofu that crispy either but other then that, it tasted delicious.

    4

    • Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (29)

      Tom Reply

      You must use cornstarch, not cornflour!!!

  25. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (30)

    Sam Reply

    Delicious! Tasted like it came from a restaurant. The tofu had better texture than I’ve ever been able to achieve at home.

    5

  26. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (31)

    Kamala Modur Reply

    I tried a few different ways of cooking tofu & have not been successful.But your recipe even with just firm tofu,was so delicious!IThis sauce can be used for so many other veggie side dishes.Thank you.Will be checking your site often

    5

  27. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (32)

    Mark Reply

    Made this last night – I doubled the recipe so there would be left-overs for lunch today. Boy was I wrong – it all went. The sauce is AMAZING.

    5

  28. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (33)

    Maggie Reply

    I’d like to make this ahead of time (making sure not to over cook the veges) and re-heat. Will it really ruin the tofu?

    • Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (34)

      Marzia Reply

      I wouldn’t say it would ruin it but as mentioned in the recipe, the tofu may lose some of its crispness as it sits.

  29. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (35)

    michele Reply

    I have made this twice. I nuke my veggies a bit first so they cook faster and this time I didnt even have sesame oil and it was still good. I added sweet potato to mine.great!

    5

  30. Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (36)

    Cicely Moore Reply

    This one is definitely a keeper! I can’t wait to make it again. The sauce is delicious. My husband loved it too.

    4.5

Sesame Ginger Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

FAQs

What type of tofu is best for stir-fry? ›

For tofu stir-fries, buy extra-firm tofu (or if you can't find that, buy firm tofu). Grace Young, wok guru and author of Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge, says that for the best texture, “You want to remove as much liquid as possible before you stir-fry, so start with extra-firm.

How do you stir fry tofu without it falling apart? ›

You add the tofu to the pan and gently shake or stir it. You don't vigorously move it around the wok with a spatula, lest it fall apart. There's a fair amount of liquid and seasoning too so the tofu takes on the other ingredients. This is delicate stir-frying with some simmering involved.

How long does tofu stir-fry keep? ›

Refrigerator: store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for three days. Reheat in the microwave or on a pan with a dash of water. Freezer: you can freeze leftover stir-fried tofu. However, its texture will change slightly—Thaw in the microwave.

How to dry tofu for stir-fry? ›

Place tofu slices on top in a single layer. Cover with another layer of paper towels and press gently to remove excess moisture.

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

What kind of tofu do Chinese restaurants use? ›

But at Chinese restaurants, the most commonly used tofu is silken tofu or egg tofu. They also use cornstarch or potato starch to lightly coat the tofu before putting it in the wok or fryer to fry.

What happens if you don't drain tofu before cooking? ›

Here's the thing: even though tofu might be labeled firm or extra-firm, it contains a lot of water. This excess water can cause the tofu to crumble when you cook it, and it will also have a hard time crisping up. But when you press tofu, you remove the excess moisture.

Why is my tofu not getting crispy in the pan? ›

If your crispy tofu isn't getting crispy, it could be because there is too much moisture in the tofu. Another issue could be the oil isn't hot enough to fry the tofu. Or you forgot to add the corn flour. These three reasons can cause your tofu to be soggy or not crisp up as much as you'd like.

What pairs well with tofu? ›

Best Vegan Side Dishes for Grilled Tofu at a Barbecue or Cookout
  • Vegan Dill Potato Salad with Fiddleheads (No Mayo) ...
  • Herb Grilled Vegetables. ...
  • Vegan Spinach Salad Recipe with Maple Balsamic Dressing. ...
  • Fresh Tomato Lime Salad Dressing with Cilantro. ...
  • Salad with Beans, Quinoa, Rice, and Pecans and Lemon Herb Dressing.
Jul 12, 2021

Can I eat tofu that expired 3 months ago? ›

After the date passes, while it may not be of best quality, refrigerated products should still be safe if handled properly and kept at 40 °F (4.4 ºC) for a reasonable number of days to consume the food, (which is likely 3-4 days for tofu).

How do you know if tofu has gone bad? ›

Use all your senses to tell if a food has gone bad by looking, touching and smelling the tofu. Spoiled tofu tends to have a darker color of tan or even brown. Mold may form on the surface or you may see discoloration. Tofu that has gone bad also tends to be slimy and have a sour or rotten odor – fresh tofu has no odor.

Do you season tofu before or after frying? ›

Add tofu to the pan in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the pan. Allow tofu to cook, undisturbed for about 4-5 minutes or until the underside is golden brown and crispy. Step 2: Flip the tofu pieces and season the cooked side with salt.

Can you coat tofu in flour instead of cornstarch? ›

Substitutions: If you prefer not to cook with cornstarch, you can substitute in an equal volume of all-purpose flour or potato starch. Tofu: This recipe can also be made with medium-firm tofu, but you'll need to be a bit more gentle while pressing and coating it.

Should I marinate tofu before I fry it? ›

For the tastiest results, marinade the tofu overnight. Roll slices or cubes of marinated tofu in some rice flour, potato starch, corn flour or grated coconut before pan-frying for an extra-crispy crust. Be sure to use a non-stick pan with a generous amount of oil. Deep-frying is also an option.

What firmness of tofu is best for stir-fry? ›

Use firm or extra-firm tofu.

Silken tofu will disintegrate upon handling given how soft and fragile they are due to their high moisture content. While they're perfect in smoothies and hot and sour soup, soft tofus will not be able to withstand this stir-fry technique.

Is firm or soft tofu better for frying? ›

When pan-frying tofu, choose firm or extra-firm tofu. The former may take a little longer to pan-fry because it has more moisture, but pan-fried firm tofu absorbs flavors well simply because it's not as dense as extra-firm tofu.

What kind of tofu is good for cooking? ›

Make sure you select the right texture.

In grocery stores, it ranges from silken to extra-firm. Soft silken tofu would be my choice for blending into desserts or slicing into miso soup, but if you're serving it as a main dish or topping it onto bowls, extra-firm is what you'll need.

Which type of tofu to use? ›

Firm and extra-firm tofu are most commonly used in Western recipes, as the mostly solid texture is easy to cut, easy to fry, easy to grill and easy to eat.

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