Easy Kung Pao Tofu Recipe | Cook Click N Devour!!! (2024)

Kung pao tofu is a delicious, flavor packed sweet and spicy tofu side dish in under 40 minutes! This is a homemade vegan take on popular Chinese takeout dish kung pao chicken.

Pan fried tofu tossed in a delicious sweet, spicy kung pao sauce that is so flavorful, served with crispy roasted peanuts! A wonderful delicious weeknight meal with brown rice or white jasmine rice.

Serve with rice for comforting takeout style dinner. For more Asian recipes please check veg stir fry, veg fried rice, Asian cucumber salad, vegan pho, scallion pancakes, sweet and sour vegetables

Kung pao tofu is my all time favorite tofu recipe both to make at home as well as from takeout’s or in restaurants.

While the ones served in restaurants or so greasy you can make a really delicious one at home with less oil.

Even if you are not a tofu but want to include tofu in your diet, I suggest you try this recipe. The kung pao sauce has the familiar Indo Chinese flavor and the pan fried tofu is so delicious, not rubbery at all.

This recipe is inspired by a Local Asian restaurant that we used to frequent many years back. I so loved their momos, bao buns, sesame noodles peanuts noodles etc.

This sweet and spicy tofu used to be my all time favorite, perfectly crisped up tofu tossed in a flavorful sauce, select vegetables and loads of roasted peanuts and sesame seeds as topping. What’s not to love?

I love to recreate our restaurant favorites at home with less oil and make it more flavorful.

Also I have added more vegetables, pan fried the tofu instead of deep frying and the homemade sauce is top notch.

I can assure you this homemade kung pao tofu is as good as your local Asian restaurant, in fact better!

For more tofu recipes please check braised tofu, Thai basil tofu, tofu tikka masala, tofu stir fry, tofu curry recipes.

What Is Kung Pao Tofu?

Kung pao tofu is a delicious tofu stir fry with vegetables and sweet and spicy sauce. The dish is served with loads of roasted and crushed peanuts.

This stir fry tofu dish is a vegan take on Chinese kung pao chicken. Instead of chicken we are using tofu and the sauce contains soy sauce and few other ingredients.

This dish is topped with loads of roasted peanuts and sesame seeds. It tastes so delicious with interesting textures.

Like all of my recipes, this dish is also very adaptable. If you do not have all the sauces handy, you can still make this dish, I have given some variations and substitutions in the notes section.

Serve this sweet and spicy tofu with steamed brown rice or long grained rice for a wonderful meal.

This Kung Pao Tofu Is

Vegan & can be made gluten free

So tasty with varied textures

Contains very flavorful sauce

very easy to make

Topped with peanuts!

What Is Kung Pao Sauce Made Of?

It is quick and delicious mix of few popular sauces used in Chinese cooking.

Soy sauce– one of the most commonly used sauce in Chinese cooking. I like to use dark soy sauce for its flavor and color. If you want less salty and spicy dish you can use light soy sauce or a mix if both. Use tamari for gluten free option.

Hoisin sauce– One more popular sauce made of soy bean paste. Use gluten free if preferred. If you do not have this sauce handy, just skip it or increase the amount of soy sauce.

Rice vinegar– For tang and flavor. If rice vinegar is not available you use any vinegar or lemon juice works in a pinch. Rice wine vinegar will also be very good in this sauce.

Hot sauce– Any hot sauce like siracha can be used. I always make it extra spicy, so I use homemade chili paste here.

Corn starch– You can add 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1/2 cup water as slurry and add it to thicken the sauce.

See Also

Best Achari Gobhi Recipe - Cubes n juliennesCrouton recipe | Homemade crouton recipeSpicy Kuzhi Paniyaram Recipe | Cook Click N Devour!!!baked egg rolls recipe – use real butter

Other Ingredients For Stir Fry

Tofu– Use firm or even better extra firm tofu is possible in this recipe. Firm tofu or extra firm tofu holds the shape well on frying. It helps to press the tofu using a tofu press or between two kitchen towels and heavy object for 20 minutes.

Kung pao vegetables– along with tofu I like to use lots of vegetables in this recipe. I use red peppers, green peppers, white or red onion here. You can also use cubed carrots, broccoli in this recipe.

Ginger-garlic– For flavor, add as much as you like

Peanuts– peanuts are unique to this recipe and adds so much to taste and texture. Dry roast them in a skillet or oven until fragrant. You can remove the skin and crush them if you prefer, I just toss them whole. You can also buy peanuts without skin from the grocery store.

Sesame seeds– Sesame seeds are optional and not found in all recipes. But how can roasted sesame seeds not taste good in a stir fry?

Sesame oil– Lends authentic delicious flavor. if unavailable use any cooking oil.

How To Make Kung Pao Tofu Recipe

Press the tofu block using a tofu press or heavy object for 20 minutes. Cut into cubes. Place tofu cubes aside until use. If using a heavy object make sure to place the tofu block in between several layers of paper towels.

Combine 3 tablespoons corn flour, salt and 1/2 teaspoon cracked peppercorn or powdered peppercorn into a large bowl.

Add the tofu cubes and toss well. You can add 1-2 tablespoons water to keep the flours intact. Heat 3 tablespoons sesame oil in a pan. Place the batter coated tofu in the pan as single layer.

Fry the tofu pieces until golden brown. Remove to a paper towel or tea towel and set aside.

Next to make the sauce, heat 2 tablespoons sesame oil in a wok or pan. Once the oil is hot, add red chili flakes and crushed ginger garlic. Fry in high heat for a minute. You can also add few dried red chili peppers or even sichuan pepper here.

Add cubed onions and saute for a minute in high heat.

Next add the cubed bell peppers. I have used colored ones like green pepper, yellow and red pepper here. You can use whatever bell pepper you have for stir frying.

Saute in high heat for 3-4 minutes. Add all the sauces, vinegar, brown sugar or maple syrup, red chili paste if using

mix well and add salt to taste.

Mix and cook for 3-4 minutes or until all the ingredients come together. Add the pan fried tofu pieces.

Finally add toasted peanuts and sesame seeds. You can also add chopped scallion greens. Mix well.

Serve hot with steamed rice.

Recipe Notes & Tips

Before you begin with the recipe, make sure to press the tofu really well for 20 minutes. This will remove all the moisture from tofu and it will hold its shape well after frying.

You have to fry the tofu well before tossing in the sauce. Here I have pan fried the batter coated tofu using less oil. You can bake or even deep fry as per preference.

Keep all the ingredients ready before beginning as you have saute the ingredients in high flame in any stir fry recipe.

Generally this stir fry tofu is not very saucy. It is on the drier side. So I do not make any corn flour slurry or add water to the sauce. If you want a sauce you can mix all the sauce ingredients in a bowl, add some corn flour slurry and mix.

To make this dish extra spicy you can fry some dried red chilies along with ginger garlic. I have used red chili flakes here instead of dried red chilies.

Chop all the veggies in uniform size for quick cooking.

Vary the quantity of sauces as per your taste.

Serving Suggestions

We love this kung pao tofu with rice.

You can serve with brown rice, jasmine rice or long grained rice.

This stir fry also goes well noodles.

More Asian Recipes

Veg stir fry

sesame noodles

thai yellow curry

chilli potato

Frequently Asked Questions

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