The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

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This vegan broccoli tofu stir fry recipe uses just one pan. Flavorful takeout style recipe made with homemade stir fry sauce, green onions, and fresh garlic and ginger.

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (1)

This broccoli tofu stir fry is made in just one big pan and tastes like takeout.

If you have ever wondered how to cook tofu that tastes delicious, this is it!

I took one bite of the broccoli and realized it tasted just like the broccoli with garlic sauce that I order from a local Chinese restaurant.

Stir fry recipes are one of our favorite dinners, and we are often making recipes like teriyaki vegetables, egg roll in a bowl, cabbage stir fry, teriyaki mushrooms, and tofu stir fry noodles.

Ingredients needed to make broccoli tofu stir fry

  • cubed tofu
  • cornstarch
  • 3 ingredient stir fry sauce
  • white rice
  • fresh ginger
  • garlic
  • green onions
  • broccoli florets
  • oil
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How To Make Broccoli tofu stir fry

First, you will drain the tofu, and pat it dry.

I love buying pre packaged diced tofu, like I use in this recipe. It is so convenient!

If you cannot find pre packaged tofu, just drain a block of tofu and press it well before cutting into cubes.

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Once you drain your tofu and pat it dry, place the cubes in a bowl.

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Toss with cornstarch and shake to coat.

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The cornstarch is going to help the tofu get those crispier edges.

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How to pan fry the tofu

Heat a large skillet with oil until hot.

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Add in your tofu and start to pan fry it.

Cook the tofu for 10 – 15 minutes, stirring often, until all sides are cooked and crispy.

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Adding the rest of the stir fry ingredients

Next, add in your fresh garlic, ginger, green onion, broccoli and one batch of homemade stir fry sauce (recipe linked in the instructions below).

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These fresh ingredients give the dish so much flavor, so do not leave them out!

Keep stirring and cooking until broccoli is to your desired texture and stir fry sauce is thick and sticking to the broccoli and tofu.

I love my broccoli with a bit of crunch, so I cook it for just a few minutes while still leaving a bit of a bite to it.

The texture really adds so much to this stir fry, so be sure you do not overcook your broccoli into mush.

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Tips to get the best flavor for your stir fry

The secret to the flavorful sauce is in the fresh garlic and ginger, so do not skip these.

Once you pair them with my 3 ingredient stir fry sauce, magic happens.

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I have had people leave out the fresh garlic and ginger and did not like the recipe and that is why!

The recipe, as written, yields the very best stir fry flavor.

Fresh garlic and ginger are total game changers and you absolutely need them in your stir fry!

Please promise me you won’t skimp on this!

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I promise it is worth the time chopping it up and it only takes a few minutes.

If you have never tried fresh ginger before, no need to be afraid!

Almost every grocery store should carry it in the produce section. It looks like a root.

Just cut off the skin, and dice up your ginger with a knife until it’s in minced like tiny pieces.

It is just as easy as garlic!

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The flavor is so rich and deep with minimal ingredients, thanks to the fresh ingredients!

This recipe is made with just 9 ingredients and is bursting with flavor.

It is also naturally vegan and gluten free.

We served it over white rice and three adults finished off the whole recipe.

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I would say for more normal sized portions it would easily serve four adults (we were very hungry!)

Serve over your choice of grain, or just by itself!

This would be delicious on it’s own, or served over white rice, brown rice, quinoa, etc.

For a twist you could even serve it with brown rice stir fry noodles or ramen noodles.

Even over cauliflower rice would be a great way to serve it!

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I made this last night and my family loved it.
I never made any thing with tofu before….. I was scared but not as hard as I thought it would be. Thank you for this recipe. I will be cooking with Tofu again. – Jackie

I’ve been craving this ever since I made it.

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My family used to eat Chinese every Sunday growing up, and it was a tradition I loved.

I could definitely eat this broccoli tofu stir fry every Sunday!

You would not see me complaining one bit.

If you have not tried it yet, I promise you will love it!

If you have never made stir fry at home, this recipe will make it so easy for you!

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More stir fry recipes

  • Stir Fry Vegetables
  • Mushroom Ramen Noodles
  • Ramen Noodle Stir Fry
  • Broccoli with Garlic Sauce
  • What are the best vegetables to put in stir fry?
  • How Do You Thicken Stir Fry Sauce?
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The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (19)

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Broccoli tofu stir fry recipe made in just one pan. A healthy alternative to takeout in a rich garlicky stir fry sauce with fresh broccoli florets.

Ingredients

  • 8 oz package of cubed tofu
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 10 cloves of garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup minced fresh ginger
  • 9 cups fresh broccoli florets
  • 1 cup chopped green onions
  • unsalted white rice, for serving

For the stir fry sauce

  • One batch of 3 ingredient Homemade Stir Fry Sauce

Instructions

  1. Drain the cubed tofu and pat dry
  2. Place the tofu cubes in a bowl
  3. Add 3 tablespoons of cornstarch and toss gently to coat
  4. Heat a large skillet on medium high heat with 3 tablespoons of olive oil
  5. Pan fry the tofu for 10-15 minutes, until crispy on all sides
  6. Make one batch of the3 ingredient stir fry saucerecipe linked in the recipe ingredients and shake to combine
  7. Add the broccoli, ginger, garlic, green onions and the homemade stir fry sauce to the skillet and sauté for 10-15 minutes, or until broccoli is desired texture
  8. Serve alone or over unsalted rice or stir fry noodles
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 485Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 924mgCarbohydrates: 67gFiber: 15gSugar: 6gProtein: 20g

Did you make this recipe?

Be sure to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (20)
The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

FAQs

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.

Should you cook broccoli before stir frying? ›

It's best to blanch broccoli before stir frying since they need some time to thoroughly cook through. Blanching will help the stems soften so they're nice and tender after stir frying.

What kind 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.

What can you use to season tofu? ›

Coat it in garlic, black pepper, salt (plus more of your favourite seasonings), liquid aminos and some olive oil. Then mix it into some cornstarch and toss it all together, then bake for about 20 minutes. Cornstarch also helps to draw out excess moisture so it really gets the tofu crispy.

Why can't you eat spinach with tofu? ›

- It is said that tofu cannot be eaten together with spinach at the same time. As tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively, the combination of the two will form kidney stones. But in fact, only prolonged and volumionous consumption of tofu and spinach at the same time will pose this risk.

Is there a downside to eating tofu? ›

Contains antinutrients

Like most plant foods, tofu contains several antinutrients. These compounds are naturally found in plant foods and lower your body's ability to absorb nutrients from food ( 6 ).

How do Chinese restaurants get broccoli so crispy? ›

The Chinese broccoli needs to cook as fast as possible, so that the nutrients and color don't have as much opportunity to leach out into the water. It's best to start with as much boiling water as you can. Restaurants serve amazingly green and crunchy Chinese broccoli because they use huge amounts of boiling water.

What should you not do when stir-frying? ›

How to stir-fry: 10 common mistakes to avoid at all costs
  1. But first… what IS stir frying? ...
  2. #1: Using the wrong pan. ...
  3. #2: Slicing ingredients too large or thick. ...
  4. #3: Being unorganised. ...
  5. #4: Not getting the wok hot enough. ...
  6. #5: Adding the oil before the wok is hot. ...
  7. #6: Throwing every ingredient in at once. ...
  8. #7: Crowding the protein.

How to keep broccoli green in stir-fry? ›

It's simple: you have to reduce cooking time in order to preserve the colour. Whether in water, steamed or stir-fried, cooking green vegetables for 5-7 minutes will protect the chlorophyll against acidic damage.

What is the best oil for frying tofu? ›

Oil: I used a mix of avocado oil & olive oil to pan-fry the tofu. However, using just one oil works. You can also substitute for other neutral oils, but I find avocado and olive oil give this tofu the best flavor.

What soy sauce is best for stir fry? ›

Using natural fermentation methods, light soy sauce has strong aromatic umami and savoury flavour. Making it ideal as a marinade, dressing, sauce mix and table condiment. It is a great addition to stir-fry recipes, noodles dishes and even our own burger recipe!

How to make fried tofu like Chinese restaurants? ›

How to make fried tofu
  1. Always press the tofu first. Wrap the tofu brick in paper towels and place a plate or skillet on top. ...
  2. Cut the pressed brick into 1-inch cubes.
  3. Place them in a large bowl and sprinkle the soy sauce on top and gently stir to coat. ...
  4. Gently stir to coat once more and get ready to fry!
Nov 8, 2021

What is the secret to cooking tofu? ›

Press it. Tofu contains a lot of water, and you'll want to squeeze most of it out, especially if you're baking, grilling, or frying it. I recommend using a tofu press to do this, because it gives the tofu a delicious chewy texture and makes cleanup a breeze. But having one isn't necessary.

How to make tofu actually taste good? ›

How to Make Tofu Taste Good
  1. Understand the different tofu varieties. ...
  2. Press your tofu. ...
  3. Marinate the tofu – for a long time! ...
  4. Use cornstarch to make crispy tofu. ...
  5. Use sesame oil for pan-frying. ...
  6. A good sauce is your best friend. ...
  7. Crumble it up. ...
  8. Use your blender.
Apr 6, 2022

Do you coat tofu in flour or cornstarch? ›

Coating your tofu with a mixture of cornstarch and salt will give it a crunchy coating with great flavor. You can also use potato starch, regular flour, or even gluten-free flour instead of cornstarch, but the cornstarch crisps up the best. You can bake, pan-fry, or deep fry your tofu.

What does tofu pair well with? ›

What to serve with tofu. These easy tofu meals go well with white rice, toasted bread, or noodles.

What makes tofu curdle? ›

It contains magnesium chloride, which reacts with the protein in the soy milk, causing the soy milk to curdle.

Is tofu a high inflammatory food? ›

Tofu contains several anti-inflammatory, antioxidant phyto-chemicals making it a great addition to an anti-inflammatory diet. What is this? Tofu is also a good source of 'complete' plant protein, meaning that it has a well-balanced amino acid profile. It's also one of the most well-known plant-based sources of iron.

Is it OK to eat eggs with tofu? ›

By stretching an egg with a little tofu, you reduce the cholesterol and saturated fat. Try tucking it into a whole-wheat pita pocket for a simple and satisfying breakfast sandwich-and a healthful alternative to fast-food fare.

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