Hoisin Tofu Stir Fry

If you’ve ever thought tofu was bland and uninspiring, this Hoisin Tofu Stir Fry will change your mind. This dish is a burst of flavours, combining crispy, golden tofu with a sticky, tangy hoisin glaze that’s as satisfying as it is delicious. 

Perfect for weeknight dinners or when you want to impress your friends with a plant-based dish, this stir fry brings together a delightful balance of textures and flavours that are sure to please both vegans and non-vegans alike. 

Table of Contents

• Ingredient Breakdown
• Tips on Getting the Crispiest Tofu
• Making the Glaze
• Customising Your Hoisin Tofu Stir Fry
• More Stir Fry Recipes

Ingredient Breakdown

• Extra-firm tofu: The base of the dish, offering a hearty texture and ability to absorb the flavours of the glaze. Firm tofu is perfect for achieving that crispy outer layer.
• Corn flour (cornstarch): Helps create a crisp, golden exterior on the tofu while maintaining its soft, tender centre.
• Bell pepper: Adds a sweet, slightly crunchy bite, balancing the rich and savoury elements in the dish.
• Red onion: Brings a hint of sharpness and sweetness, complementing the other vegetables and the glaze.
• Spring onions: A fresh, slightly pungent touch, offering a burst of green colour and mild onion flavour.
• Garlic: A key ingredient in many Asian-inspired dishes, lending a fragrant, savoury base to the stir fry.
• Vegetable oil: Used for frying the tofu to a crisp and sautéing the vegetables.
• Hoisin sauce: The star of the sauce, hoisin adds a deep umami flavour with a sweet and salty profile.
• Sriracha: Adds heat and spice, creating a nice contrast to the sweetness of the hoisin sauce.
• Dark soy sauce: Deepens the flavour with a rich, salty undertone, helping to balance the sweetness of the hoisin.
• Chinese black vinegar: A vinegar with a mild acidity that adds a tangy depth to the sauce.
• Shaoxing wine: A type of Chinese cooking wine that imparts a slightly sweet and aromatic flavour, adding complexity to the sauce.
• Sugar: Balances the savoury and tangy elements in the sauce, helping it caramelise as it coats the tofu.
• Crushed red chilli flakes (optional): For those who like a bit of heat, these flakes add a mild spiciness that complements the sauce beautifully.

Tips on Getting the Crispiest Tofu

The key to the Hoisin Tofu Stir Fry is getting the tofu just right – crispy on the outside while tender and flavourful on the inside. Here’s how you can achieve that perfect tofu texture:

Start by using extra-firm tofu. This type of tofu holds its shape well and can be pan-fried to achieve a crispy texture. Before cooking, make sure to press the tofu to remove excess moisture. This step is essential for achieving the best texture. You can wrap the tofu in kitchen towels or use a tofu press to do this.

Once the tofu is pressed, cut it into bite-sized cubes. Coat the tofu cubes with corn flour to ensure they get crispy when fried. This coating will give the tofu a golden, crunchy exterior that contrasts beautifully with the tender interior.

Next, heat the oil in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add the tofu in a single layer, ensuring that the pieces don’t touch each other. This will allow them to crisp up evenly. Cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, turning the tofu gently with tongs until all sides are golden and crispy.

After frying, transfer the tofu to a wire rack or a kitchen towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil. This step ensures the tofu stays crispy and doesn’t become soggy from the oil.

Making the Glaze

The glaze is what takes this dish to the next level, and fortunately, it’s incredibly simple to make. The beauty of this sauce is its balance of flavours – sweet, spicy, tangy, and umami.

Start by combining the hoisin sauce, dark soy sauce, sriracha, Chinese black vinegar, Shaoxing wine, and sugar in a bowl. Whisk until the sugar dissolves completely. You can adjust the level of spice by adding more or less sriracha and red chilli flakes. If you prefer a more intense heat, feel free to increase the amount of sriracha and red chilli flakes.

Once the tofu is fried and removed from the pan, use the same pan to cook the garlic and vegetables. This allows the tofu’s flavour to infuse into the pan, giving the stir fry a more integrated taste. After sautéing the garlic and vegetables for a few minutes, pour the glaze into the pan, stirring it constantly. The sauce will quickly begin to thicken, forming a sticky and glossy coating for the tofu.

Add the crispy tofu back into the pan. Toss it with the sauce to ensure each piece is generously coated. Let the tofu simmer in the sauce for a minute or so, allowing the glaze to thicken slightly. The result is a deliciously sticky, savoury-sweet coating that perfectly complements the crispy tofu.

Customising Your Hoisin Tofu Stir Fry

One of the great things about this Hoisin Tofu Stir Fry is its versatility. While the recipe is delicious as written, it’s easy to adjust based on personal preferences or the ingredients you have on hand. 

• The tofu can be swapped for tempeh or seitan if you’re looking for a different plant-based protein, or you can even add some chicken or beef if you’re not following a vegan diet.
• The vegetables in the stir fry can also be varied to suit your taste. While bell peppers, red onion, and spring onions are classic choices, you could try adding other vegetables like broccoli, carrots, or mushrooms. These additions will not only change the flavour profile but also add different textures to the dish.
• If you like your stir fry with more heat, you can increase the amount of sriracha or red chilli flakes in the glaze.
• For an even healthier twist, you could add leafy greens such as spinach, bok choy, or kale to the stir fry. These greens will provide additional nutrients, including vitamins and antioxidants, and will integrate well into the dish without overpowering the flavour. 

The beauty of the Hoisin Tofu Stir Fry lies in its flexibility. You can make it your own based on what’s available and your taste preferences.

More Stir Fry Recipes

If you’re looking for more flavour-packed meals that come together in no time, just like this Hoisin Tofu Stir Fry, why not try out some of these?

• Sticky Brussels Sprouts Stir Fry: This dish proves that Brussels sprouts are far more than a side dish for Christmas dinner. Roasted until golden and tossed in a rich, umami-packed hoisin glaze, these sprouts will convert even the most sceptical eaters. 
• Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry: Ditch the takeaway and whip up this Chinese-American classic. Bursting with delicious flavours, tender beef and crisp broccoli, this saucy stir-fry is sure to be a hit with friends and family! 
• Cashew Chicken Stir Fry: This takeaway inspired classic is packed with tons of flavour and comes together in less than 15 minutes! It combines succulent chicken pieces, roasted cashews and crisp vegetables tossed in a delicious, moreish sauce.
• Teriyaki Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry: Bursting with delicious flavours, tender beef and crisp vegetables, this tasty stir-fry is sure to be a hit with friends and family.

See how I make these recipes and more over on my Instagram!