Description
These Sweet Chili Tofu Bowls are a delicious and healthy dish featuring crispy pan-fried tofu coated in a tangy sweet chili sauce, served alongside sautéed carrots and bell peppers over nutty brown rice. This recipe balances textures and flavors perfectly for a satisfying vegetarian meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Tofu and Coating
- 14 oz extra firm tofu
- 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Salt (to taste)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for frying tofu)
Vegetables
- 1 lb carrots (around 5 medium, peeled and diced)
- 1 red bell pepper (diced)
- 8 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil (for sautéing vegetables)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (for vegetables)
Others
- 4 cups cooked brown rice
- Sweet Chili Sauce (about 1/2 cup total, divided)
Instructions
- Press the tofu: Drain the tofu and place it between kitchen towels. Put a heavy object like a cast iron skillet on top and let it press for 30 minutes to remove excess water.
- Cook the rice: Prepare 4 cups of cooked brown rice according to package instructions or using a rice cooker.
- Heat oil for vegetables: Warm 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sauté carrots: Add diced carrots and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the skillet. Cook for about 10 minutes until carrots are slightly cooked but still firm.
- Add bell peppers and garlic: Stir in diced red bell pepper and minced garlic; sauté for an additional 5-7 minutes until vegetables are soft.
- Mix in sweet chili sauce (vegetables): Remove skillet from heat and stir in about 1/8 cup of sweet chili sauce. Adjust to taste if desired.
- Prepare tofu: Once pressed, cut tofu into small chunks. Toss with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch until well coated.
- Fry tofu: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tofu chunks and pan-fry until golden and crispy on all sides, about 10-15 minutes.
- Add sweet chili sauce (tofu): Pour in 1/3 cup sweet chili sauce and toss the tofu to coat evenly.
- Assemble bowls: In serving bowls, layer cooked brown rice, sautéed vegetables, and sweet chili tofu.
- Serve and garnish: Add additional sweet chili sauce over the rice or tofu as desired before serving.
Notes
- Pressing tofu is essential to achieve crispy texture by removing excess moisture.
- You can adjust the amount of sweet chili sauce depending on your preferred sweetness and spice level.
- Use extra firm tofu to prevent it from crumbling while frying.
- Brown rice can be substituted with quinoa or white rice as preferred.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure the sweet chili sauce you use is certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: sweet chili tofu bowls, vegetarian tofu recipe, pan-fried tofu, easy tofu bowls, healthy tofu dinner
