Crispy Black Pepper Tofu – Connoisseurus Veg

January 8, 2024

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This crispy black pepper tofu is smothered in spicy sauce stir-fried with candy bell peppers and crispy celery. Serve over rice for a flavor-packed meal that is completely doable on a weeknight.

Wooden surface set with a wok and plate of Black Pepper Tofu.

This black pepper tofu is the spicy vegan dinner you in all probability did not know you wanted in your life! Black pepper is a kind of substances so many people spicy meals lovers usually overlook, however that should change.

Black pepper is affordable, available, and most of us have it hanging out in our pantries. But it surely packs a critical taste punch, particularly when utilized in heavy quantities like we’re doing on this recipe. You may discover that the warmth from black pepper hits otherwise from what you’d discover in dishes that use scorching pepper primarily based sauces, like my Szechuan tofu or gochujang tofu.

Along with being scrumptious, this recipe is fast and straightforward. Fry the tofu, stir-fry some veggies, add sauce, and voila: you’ve got bought a umami-packed meal able to get pleasure from.

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Components You may Want

Soy sauce. In case you’re not a fan of tremendous salty dishes or simply wish to scale back the sodium content material of this dish, be happy to make use of decreased sodium soy sauce.
Darkish soy sauce. That is completely different from common soy sauce, with a a lot saltier, extra savory style. I do not suggest leaving this out or substituting, because it provides a ton of taste to the dish. It is undoubtedly value selecting up a bottle on the Asian market (strive it in my vegan pad see ew in case you want one other use for for it).
Brown sugar. Use natural sugar to maintain the recipe vegan. Typical brown sugar could also be processed utilizing animal bone char.
Sambal oelek. This can add some extra acquainted warmth to the dish. Be at liberty to depart it out if you would like to simply let the black pepper shine.
Black pepper. Use freshly floor black pepper. You may want to purchase complete black peppercorns, which can be found within the spice aisle of most supermarkets, and grind it your self utilizing a pepper mill or mortar and pestle.
Cornstarch.
Peanut oil. Be at liberty to substitute your favourite high-heat oil, comparable to canola oil, vegetable oil, or coconut oil.
Tofu. The recipe requires super-firm tofu, which has an incredible texture and is best to work. Additional-firm tofu may be substituted, however it would have to be pressed earlier than utilizing.
Crimson bell pepper. Want a inexperienced, orange, or yellow bell pepper? Use it!
Celery.
Garlic.
Ginger.
Scallions. Often known as inexperienced onions.

How It is Made

The next is an in depth photograph tutorial on how one can make this dish. Scroll all the best way down if you would like to skip proper to the recipe!

Hand stirring black pepper sauce ingredients together in a glass bowl.

Begin by doing your whole prep work: chop the veggies and aromatics, cube the tofu, and blend the sauce substances, which embody each soy sauces, brown sugar, sambal oelek, black pepper, and cornstarch.

Dredge the tofu cubes in cornstarch, then warmth some oil in a wok or skillet. Add the tofu cubes to the new oil and fry them for a couple of minutes on both sides, till they’re browned and crispy. Switch the tofu to a plate. Cook dinner the tofu in batches if it will not all slot in a pleasant even layer in your wok.

Tip: Frying the tofu means the dish will include a good quantity of oil. If you would like to chop again on that, strive this methodology for pan-frying tofu as a substitute.

Red bell pepper and celery cooking in a wok.

In case you’ve bought a ton of oil within the wok, fastidiously wipe some out. Now flip up the warmth and add diced bell pepper and sliced celery to the wok. Stir-fry the veggies briefly, simply till they deepen in colour.

Vegetables and aromatics cooking in a wok.

Now add minced garlic, freshly grated ginger, and finely chopped scallions (however simply the white components) to the wok. Combine them up with the veggies and stir-fry all the pieces for about 30 seconds.

Hand pouring sauce into a wok filled with fried tofu and vegetables.

Return the fried tofu to the wok and pour the sauce over the tofu and veggies. Watch out to not pour the sauce instantly on the new cooking floor or it would sputter.

Proceed stir-frying all the pieces for a few minute, till the sauce thickens a bit and coats the tofu and greens.

Black Pepper Tofu and vegetables in a wok.

Take away the wok from warmth and add the inexperienced components of your scallions.

Plate of Black Pepper Tofu with wok and bunch of scallions in the background.

Your black pepper tofu is able to get pleasure from! Pile it onto plates with rice and dig in straight away — the tofu will not keep crispy for lengthy.

Leftovers & Storage

Leftover black pepper tofu will maintain in an hermetic container within the fridge for about 3 days. The tofu is not going to maintain it is crispness, however the taste will nonetheless be nice. I’ve discovered that the simplest method to reheat this dish is within the microwave.

Extra Tofu Stir-Fries

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