
Chili tofu
Recipe from Hetty Lui McKinnon · original post · full recipe on hettymckinnon.com
A vegan take on Indo-Chinese chili paneer: crispy cornstarch-coated tofu stir-fried with bell pepper, broccoli and onion in a sticky soy, ketchup and sriracha sauce.
Ingredients
- extra firm tofu — drained and cut into 2.5 cm cubes450 g
- cornstarch60 g
- vegetable oil — divided75 ml
- soy sauce — 4 tsp20 ml
- dark soy sauce — 4 tsp20 ml
- ketchup60 ml
- rice vinegar — 4 tsp20 ml
- sriracha15 ml
- white sugar13 g
- cornstarch — for the sauce8 g
- ginger — peeled and finely chopped15 g
- garlic cloves — finely chopped3 ea
- jalapeno — thinly sliced1 ea
- large red bell pepper — cut into 2.5 cm pieces1 ea
- broccoli — cut into small florets400 g
- red onion — halved and sliced150 g
- scallions — thinly sliced, to serve2 ea
Method
- Scatter the cornstarch onto a large plate or tray, season with 1 teaspoon salt and a big pinch of black pepper and toss to combine. Add the tofu and toss until coated on all sides.
- Line a tray or plate with paper towels.
- Heat 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tofu and pan-fry until crispy and golden on all sides, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to the paper towels.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, ketchup, rice vinegar, sriracha and sugar. Add 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 60 ml (1/4 cup) water and whisk until lump free.
- Return the pan to medium-high heat with 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the ginger, garlic and jalapeno and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the bell pepper, broccoli and onion, season with 1 teaspoon salt and stir-fry until crisp-tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the sauce and toss for 20 to 30 seconds until thickened. Add the tofu and toss until coated, then remove from the heat.
- Top with scallions and eat with rice.
Cooking for a different diet?
Swaps that keep this dish what it is. The prices on this page are for the recipe as written.
Gluten-free
- 20 ml Tamari instead of soy sauce
- 20 ml Tamari instead of dark soy sauce
Use tamari for both the light and dark soy sauce; the sauce will be a little lighter in colour but cooking times are unchanged.
Swaps are suggestions — check labels if you are cooking for an allergy.
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What it costs, and where to buy it
Each item at whichever of your shops sells it cheapest.
Shops to compare
List price at each shop
Missing items
These totals leave part of the list out, so a lower one isn't a cheaper shop.
Woolworths NZyou pay $96.42 · 23% spare
$74.55
missing 6 items
New Worldyou pay $38.92 · 62% spare
$14.62
missing 8 items
Pak'nSaveyou pay $24.78 · 31% spare
$17.00
missing 9 items
$18.64a serve
from $18.64 a serve at Woolworths NZ · 10 of 16 ingredients priced
About $74.55 of ingredients used for 4 serves.
$38.19 across 3 shops · 11 of 16 items priced · $0.14 more for bigger packs, 53% spare for later
$74.55
missing 6 items
you'll pay $96.42 · 23% of it spare
$14.62
missing 8 items
you'll pay $38.92 · 62% of it spare
$17.00
missing 9 items
you'll pay $24.78 · 31% of it spare
Buy at
Pak'nSave$22.83

extra firm tofu
$1.55/100g
need 450 gPams Firm Tofu 450g$6.99closest match
Pak'nSave$1.55/100g$6.99·
Woolworths NZN/A·
New WorldN/A

ginger
$9.96/1kg
need 15 gPams Crushed Ginger 1g$2.29closest match
Pak'nSave$9.96/1kg$2.29·
Woolworths NZ$2.49·
New World$10.83/1kg$2.49

garlic cloves
$0.65/10g
need 3 itemsMrs Rogers Naturals Eco Ground Cloves 35g$2.29closest match 1 pack assumed, quantity unknown (sold by weight)
Pak'nSave$0.65/10g$2.29·
Woolworths NZ$3.20·
New World$1.40/10g$4.00

large red bell pepper
$0.46/10g
need 1 itemPams Ground Black Pepper 50g$2.29 1 pack assumed, quantity unknown (sold by weight)
Pak'nSave$0.46/10g$2.29·
Woolworths NZ$3.15·
New World$0.74/10g$3.69

broccoli
$11.96/1kg
need 400 g2 × Bellaverde Sweet Stem Broccoli 1kg$2.99real special
Pak'nSave$11.96/1kg$2.99·
New World$13.16/1kg$3.29·
Woolworths NZ$8.29

red onion
$2.99/1kg
need 150 gPeeled Red Onions 1kg$2.99real special
Pak'nSave$2.99/1kg$2.99·
New World$4.99/1kg$4.99·
Woolworths NZ$5.50
Buy at
Woolworths NZ$13.27

vegetable oil
$3.10
need 75 mlWoolworths vegetable oil 750mlclosest match
Woolworths NZ$3.10·
New World$0.58/100ml$11.69·
Pak'nSaveN/A

soy sauce
$3.49
need 20 mlHigh Mark soy sauce reduced salt 550ml
Woolworths NZ$3.49·
Pak'nSaveN/A·
New WorldN/A

dark soy sauce
$3.49
need 20 mlHigh Mark soy sauce dark 550ml
Woolworths NZ$3.49·
Pak'nSaveN/A·
New WorldN/A

rice vinegar
$3.19
need 20 mlObento Rice Wine Vinegar 250ml
Woolworths NZ$3.19·
New World$1.36/100ml$3.39·
Pak'nSaveN/A
Buy at
New World$2.09

white sugar
$0.50/100g
need 13 gChelsea White Sugar 100g$2.09closest match
New World$0.50/100g$2.09·
Pak'nSave$0.39/100g$1.95·
Woolworths NZ$2.49
Not priced
- cornstarch · 68 g
- ketchup · 60 ml
- sriracha · 15 ml
- jalapeno · 1 item
- scallions · 2 items