Firecracker Tofu Broccolini Stir-Fry

This firecracker tofu broccolini stir-fry is spicy, savory and absolutely delicious. Eat it just as is, or serve over rice or noodles. 

First of all, let me say that I make this dish with tofu that I have frozen and then thawed and you should do the same. As it thaws, or maybe as it’s freezing actually, the tofu releases a lot of the liquid it contains. When you open the container, you can pour a lot of it off already. Then it’s simple to slice it thickly and squeeze even more out. 

Why are we trying to dry the tofu out? Because when you get rid of the excess liquid it makes browning the tofu much, much easier! And browning is all about adding texture and flavor. 

 

Firecracker Tofu Broccolini Stir Fry

The sambal is essential for spiciness to give the tofu its firecracker name. If you aren’t sure about how much spiciness you can manage, start with 2 tablespoons. We love it with four – or more! 

Ingredients

For the firecracker sauce:

¼ cup reduced sodium soy sauce

3 tablespoons brown sugar, tightly packed

2 tablespoons black vinegar (or substitute rice vinegar)

2 tablespoons sesame oil

2-4 tablespoons sambal oelek

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated

¼ cup water

1 tablespoon cornstarch

For the dish:

10 oz or 283g baby broccoli aka broccolini

1 lb or 450g block extra firm tofu, frozen then thawed

2 tablespoon canola or another light oil

1 medium yellow onion

For garnish: 

Sesame seeds

Spring onion, sliced diagonally

Method

Grate the garlic and ginger into a mixing bowl. 

Add in the soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, sambal oelek, sesame oil, water and cornstarch. Whisk to combine then set aside.

Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Trim the broccolini and cut the stem parts into bite sized pieces. Set the florets aside. 

Blanch the stems in the boiling water for 1-2 minutes, depending on whether they are thick or thin, then add in the florets. Blanch for another minute.

Transfer the broccolini into a colander and run cool water over it until it is cool also. Set aside. 

Squeeze the thawed tofu to remove as much excess liquid as you can then crumble it with the tines of a fork.

Peel and chop the onion finely. 

In a large nonstick skillet, fry the tofu crumbles in the canola oil until browned and a little crispy. Depending on how dry you managed to get your tofu, this could take a while but it’s worth the time for texture and flavor. 

Transfer the tofu to a bowl and then add the onion to the pan and cook until it softens and the edges start to brown, stirring often. 

Put the tofu back in and stir well to combine.

Pour in the firecracker sauce and stir to coat.

Cook for a several minutes, stirring often, to mellow the fresh garlic and ginger.

Add the blanched broccolini and toss gently to combine. Cook until heated through and tender enough for your liking. We like our broccolini still pretty crunchy.

Top with sesame seeds and spring onions to serve. As I mentioned in the introduction, this is lovely just as it is or you can serve it over rice or noodles. 

Enjoy! 

It’s Sunday FunDay and today we are sharing recipes made with protein rich vegetarian ingredients like tofu, ricotta, cottage cheese and paneer. Many thanks to our host, Mayuri from Mayuri’s Jikoni. Check out the links below. 

• Corn Paneer Parathas from Mayuri's Jikoni
• Cottage Cheese Muffins from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Cottage Cheese Wraps from Making Miracles
• Cheese Paneer Tikka Open Sandwich in Air Fryer from Cook with Renu
• Firecracker Tofu Broccolini Stir-Fry from Food Lust People Love
• Homemade Paneer Recipe Ideas from Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
• Paneer Tomato Rice With Leftover Rice For One from Sneha's Recipe
• Pasta with Green Beans and Ricotta from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Potato, Cottage Cheese, & Caramelized Onion Pierogi from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Retro Cottage Cheese Jello Salad from A Messy Kitchen

 

We are a group of food bloggers who believe that Sunday should be a family fun day, so every Sunday we share recipes that will help you to enjoy your day. If you're a blogger interested in joining us, just visit our Facebook group and request to join.

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