Eggplant Tofu
Take your usual stir-fry recipe up a notch with eggplant tofu! This dish is a delightful blend of tender eggplant and textured tofu, bursting with flavor. Loved by vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike, it’s a go-to for a satisfying meal any time of day. It’s seriously auber-genius!
Cook the tofu and eggplant until they’re wonderfully soft and flavorful. Serve over steamed rice for a meal that’s as tasty as it is easy! If this is a favorite dish, you’ve got to try the vegan Panda Express eggplant tofu dish! Dee-lish!
If you’re a die-hard eggplant fan, make sure to add this vegan eggplant bacon BLT and sweet and spicy eggplant to your repertoire asap! When you’re in the mood for something quick and easy, this baba ganoush dip is so silky and utterly delicious.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
Wondering what makes this tofu eggplant recipe so tasty? Here are the key ingredients that bring out the best flavors in this dish.
- Tofu – Using extra-firm or super-firm tofu gives this a “meaty” texture and flavor. If you use super-firm tofu (or Hodo‘s extra-firm tofu), you can skip the step of pressing your tofu. Not a fan of tofu recipes? Try tempeh, mushrooms, seitan, or a plant-based meat instead.
- Eggplant – Japanese or Chinese eggplants (the kind that are long and skinny) are recommended because they are easier to cook without getting mushy. Feel free to swap out the eggplant for cauliflower, broccoli, or oyster mushrooms if you prefer.
- Bell Pepper – You can use any color bell pepper—yellow, orange, or even green—but the red is the sweetest and makes the dish more colorful. Add more veggies or swap bell pepper with snap peas, green beans (like these sizzling green beans), onion, or anything else you like.
- Ginger – Fresh or powdered both work, though fresh is better. Similar spices such as allspice, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, or mace are tasty, warm, and spicy swaps.
- Green Onions – Give a pop of color to the dish. Try using diced shallots instead of sliced green onions.
- Soy Sauce – Provides a savory umami flavor. For a gluten-free version, feel free to substitute for coconut aminos or tamari.
- Toasted Sesame Oil – Make sure to use the toasted variety for the most umami flavor. A little goes a long way!
- Sesame Seeds – White or black sesame seeds give a little extra crunch, though the black looks the best. Another option is to use chopped peanuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, or poppyseeds instead.
How To Make This Eggplant Tofu Recipe
Follow these simple steps to whip up a batch of tasty eggplant and tofu in no time! With just a few easy-to-find ingredients and some basic kitchen skills, you’ll have a delicious meal on the table in no time at all!
Step 1: Prepare Tofu – Slice the tofu into 1/2-inch thick triangles or squares.
Step 2: Heat Up Oil – Heat the sesame oil in the pan over medium-high heat.
Next, Step 3: Start Cooking the Tofu – Add the sliced tofu to the pan once the oil is sizzling.
Step 4: Prep & Add Vegetables – Chop the vegetables and add to the pan.
Step 5: Add Sauce and Cook – Pour in the soy sauce and allow the ingredients to cook without stirring until the tofu is golden brown on the bottom. Flip the tofu and repeat for the other side. Then add the green onion and sesame seeds.
Finally, Step 6: Serve with Cooked Side – Serve hot and sizzling onto a bed of steamed rice, cooked pasta, or rice noodles.
Helpful Tips and Serving Suggestions
If you’d like to take your stir-fry game to the next level, we have some helpful tips and tricks for you:
- Prepare to Prep – Save yourself some time and cut all (if not most) of the ingredients the day before. Cut tofu, eggplant, and veggies into uniform pieces for even cooking.
- Pat, Pat, Baby – Even if you’re using Hodo tofu or you’ve already pressed the tofu, remember to dry the tofu before cooking. All you need to do is gently press the tofu between paper towels to remove any excess moisture, just in case.
- Heat It Up – Stir fry quickly over high heat to achieve a nice sear on the tofu and vegetables. Using a pan that has a large-sized surface also helps.
- Flavor Boost – Add a splash of hot sauce, sriracha, or a sprinkle of spicy peppers for extra flavor.
- Steaming Sides – Enjoy this eggplant tofu recipe over steamed rice, colorful quinoa, or fun-shaped noodles for a satisfying and interesting meal.
- Mouthwatering Marinade – For an even bigger punch to the palate, marinate the tofu the night before. We love this garlic ginger marinade!
Recipe FAQs
It’s really easy to store any remaining tofu and eggplant stir-fry. Add leftovers to a separate container from the noodles or rice (if possible), cover, and place in the fridge for up to 3 days. Not recommended for freezing.
It’s not gluten-free, but no worries. You can make this recipe completely gluten-free with just a couple of small swaps! Use tamari instead of soy sauce and serve with rice, gluten-free noodles, or gluten-free grains instead of wheat-based pasta.
Definitely! You can pair the eggplant with anything plant-based protein you like. Tasty options would include: tempeh, vegan steak, vegan chicken, vegan sausage, or oyster mushrooms.
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Eggplant Tofu Stir Fry
Equipment
- 1 large nonstick pan
- 1 tofu press optional
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 1 package tofu, extra-firm or super-firm
- 2 Japanese or Chinese eggplants, diced or sliced into ½-inch thick half-disks
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated (or ½ teaspoon ground ginger)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce, or tamari for gluten-free option
- 2 green onions, sliced, reserving some for garnish
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, divided, reserving half for garnish
Instructions
- In a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat, add the sesame oil and allow to heat until it sizzles when you flick a drop of water in it.
- Wrap the tofu block in a kitchen towel and gently press to squeeze out any water, pat the tofu dry. Alternately, press the tofu in a tofu press or use super-firm tofu. Slice the tofu into ½-inch-thick triangles (or any shape you wish) and add them to the sizzling hot pan.
- Add the diced eggplant, sliced bell pepper, minced garlic, and grated ginger.
- Pour the soy sauce into the pan and use a spatula to flip the tofu and mix everything until it's evenly coated. Use the spatula to make room for the tofu triangles to lay flay on their side. Allow everything to cook undisturbed until the tofu has lightly browned on the bottom side, and then flip the tofu again. Once tofu has lightly browned on both sides, add half of the green onion, half of the sesame seeds, mix in, and then remove from heat.
- Garnish with remaining sesame seeds and green onion and serve hot.
Video
Notes
- Storing Leftovers: Place cooled leftovers to a separate container from the noodles or rice (if possible), cover, and place in the fridge for up to 3 days. Not recommended for freezing.
- Gluten-Free Option: Use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. Consider sides such as steamed rice, rice or glass noodles, or a gluten-free grain option.
Nutrition
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Leave a Comment
Every year, my garden is bursting with eggplant and I never know what to do with all of them. Now I know! I’m making this Eggplant Tofu recipe on repeat all season long.
What a great vegetarian meal!
Looks delicious! I love the combination of eggplant and tofu. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Unique and tasty recipe!
This eggplant tofu stir fry is the best! So easy and so tasty!
I really enjoyed this recipe for lunch today. It made enough that I’ve got enough leftovers for a couple more lunches too. I added some chili garlic sauce for heat, but that’s just a personal preference. The flavor was great!
This is perfect for an easy, delicious, and super nutritious dinner!
Delicious hearty dish. Great over rice or barley.
Seriously delicious. For anyone who doesn’t entirely love the texture of eggplant, this is the way to go. Along with the tofu, it’s just really good.