
Chili tofu
Recipe from Hetty Lui McKinnon · original post · full recipe on hettymckinnon.com
A vegan take on Indo-Chinese chili paneer: crispy cornstarch-coated tofu stir-fried with bell pepper, broccoli and onion in a sticky soy, ketchup and sriracha sauce.
Ingredients
- extra firm tofu — drained and cut into 2.5 cm cubes450 g
- cornstarch60 g
- vegetable oil — divided75 ml
- soy sauce — 4 tsp20 ml
- dark soy sauce — 4 tsp20 ml
- ketchup60 ml
- rice vinegar — 4 tsp20 ml
- sriracha15 ml
- white sugar13 g
- cornstarch — for the sauce8 g
- ginger — peeled and finely chopped15 g
- garlic cloves — finely chopped3 ea
- jalapeno — thinly sliced1 ea
- large red bell pepper — cut into 2.5 cm pieces1 ea
- broccoli — cut into small florets400 g
- red onion — halved and sliced150 g
- scallions — thinly sliced, to serve2 ea
Method
- Scatter the cornstarch onto a large plate or tray, season with 1 teaspoon salt and a big pinch of black pepper and toss to combine. Add the tofu and toss until coated on all sides.
- Line a tray or plate with paper towels.
- Heat 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tofu and pan-fry until crispy and golden on all sides, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to the paper towels.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, ketchup, rice vinegar, sriracha and sugar. Add 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 60 ml (1/4 cup) water and whisk until lump free.
- Return the pan to medium-high heat with 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the ginger, garlic and jalapeno and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the bell pepper, broccoli and onion, season with 1 teaspoon salt and stir-fry until crisp-tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the sauce and toss for 20 to 30 seconds until thickened. Add the tofu and toss until coated, then remove from the heat.
- Top with scallions and eat with rice.
Cooking for a different diet?
Swaps that keep this dish what it is. The prices on this page are for the recipe as written.
Gluten-free
- 20 ml Tamari instead of soy sauce
- 20 ml Tamari instead of dark soy sauce
Use tamari for both the light and dark soy sauce; the sauce will be a little lighter in colour but cooking times are unchanged.
Swaps are suggestions — check labels if you are cooking for an allergy.
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What it costs, and where to buy it
Each item at whichever of your shops sells it cheapest.
Shops to compare
List price at each shop
Missing items
These totals leave part of the list out, so a lower one isn't a cheaper shop.
WoolworthsBest choiceyou pay $57.84 · 42% spare
$33.74
missing 2 items
Colesyou pay $74.94 · 54% spare
$34.80
missing 2 items · $1.06 more
Aldiyou pay $25.93 · 47% spare
$13.85
missing 8 items
$8.44a serve
from $8.44 a serve at Woolworths · 14 of 16 ingredients priced
About $33.74 of ingredients used for 4 serves.
$55.74 across 3 shops · 14 of 16 items priced · $3.43 more for bigger packs, 51% spare for later
$33.74
missing 2 items
you'll pay $57.84 · 42% of it spare
$34.80
missing 2 items · $1.06 more
you'll pay $74.94 · 54% of it spare
$13.85
missing 8 items
you'll pay $25.93 · 47% of it spare
Buy at
Aldi$17.94
extra firm tofu
$0.58/100g
need 450 gEarth Grown Firm Tofu 450g$2.59closest match
Aldi$0.58/100g$2.59·
Woolworths$6.22/1kg$2.80·
Coles$0.88/100g$4.40
vegetable oil
$0.27/100ml
need 75 mlPure Vita Vegetable Oil 2L 2,000ml$5.49closest match
Aldi$0.27/100ml$5.49·
Woolworths$0.53/100ml$4.00·
Coles$0.43/100ml$17.00
soy sauce
$0.36/100ml
need 20 mlAsia Green Garden Sauce Soy 500ml, Regular$1.79closest match
Aldi$0.36/100ml$1.79·
Woolworths$0.38/100ml$1.90·
Coles$0.38/100ml$1.90
ginger
$0.12/10g
need 15 gStonemill Crushed Ginger 227g$2.69closest match
Aldi$0.12/10g$2.69·
Coles$20.00/1kg$2.00·
Woolworths$33.00/1kg$2.64
jalapeno
$4.98/1kg
need 1 itemDeli Originals Green Sliced Jalapenos 480g 0.48kg$2.39closest match 1 pack assumed, quantity unknown (sold by weight)
Aldi$4.98/1kg$2.39·
Woolworths$0.74/100g$2.50·
Coles$5.40/1kg$2.70
large red bell pepper
$10.68/1kg
need 1 itemDeli Originals Grilled Peppers 280g 0.28kg$2.99closest match 1 pack assumed, quantity unknown (sold by weight)
Aldi$10.68/1kg$2.99·
Woolworths$16.67/1kg$5.50·
Coles$16.67/1kg$5.50
Buy at
Coles$32.50

sriracha
$20.00/1kg
need 15 mlColes Sriracha Crunch 400g$8.00 1 pack assumed, quantity unknown (sold by weight)

white sugar
$0.18/100g
need 13 gColes Simply Australian White Sugar 1kg$1.80closest match
Coles$0.18/100g$1.80·
Woolworths$0.18/100g$1.80·
Aldi$0.13/100g$2.59
Buy at
Woolworths$5.30

garlic cloves
$41.43/1kg
need 3 itemsWoolworths Garlic Cloves 70g$2.90 1 pack assumed, quantity unknown (sold by weight)
Woolworths$41.43/1kg$2.90·
Aldi$29.99/1kg$1.80·
Coles$33.00/1kg$1.98
Not priced
- cornstarch · 68 g
- scallions · 2 items




