20 Minute Sizzling Black Pepper Garlic Tofu
Make a yummy Sizzling Black Pepper Garlic Tofu tonight in 20 minutes for a vegetarian main dish with a kick! A little spicy and a lot hearty, this mouthwatering tofu dish is an easy way to get all the protein you need on a vegetarian diet. Made with kai dong’s newest sauces, Sizzling Black Pepper Sauce and Everyday Garlic Oil, this garlicky, saucy tofu tastes just like the Taiwanese Night Market.
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Tofu: The Most Versatile Vegetarian Protein
I always have tofu in the fridge because it is affordable, long-lasting, and takes less than 5 minutes to prepare. Tofu is so easy, it’s almost impossible to “overcook”. Today, I’m using medium-firm tofu, but if you are a beginner, you can swap for firm tofu. Tofu can fall apart easily, so be gentle.
The peppery, savory sauce of this Black Pepper Tofu coats the tofu so well, it’s the perfect pairing. If you have any leftover sauce, drizzle it on top of steamed vegetables and dumplings, or toss it with noodles. You’ll thank me later.
More Flavorful Tofu in 1 Simple Step
What makes each piece of tofu so flavorful is actually an extra simple step: coating the tofu in a starch mix. Before pan frying, coat your bite-sized tofu pieces in a mix of corn starch, tapioca starch, salt, and peppers.
Be sure to let the coated tofu rest for 5 minutes before cooking so the coating can properly cling to the side of the tofu. This gives it some flavor and a layer of starch that will crisps up in the pan, creating tons of little pockets that will soak up the delicious sauces you add.
Make It A Full Meal With Noodle Stir Fry
My favorite way to make a meal of this Sizzling Black Pepper Tofu is actually with another kai dong dish – the Four Seasons Scallion Noodle Stir Fry! Today, I added some bok choy and bean sprouts to make my meal fully vegetarian. With tender, garlicky tofu and aromatic fried noodles, this is a comforting and super filling meal!
Sizzling Black Pepper Tofu Ingredients
- 1 medium-firm tofu
- ½ cup Corn Starch
- ½ cup tapioca starch use all corn starch if you can’t find tapioca starch
- Salt and pepper to season
- 4 tbsp Sizzling Black Pepper Sauce
- 2 tbsp Four Season Scallion Sauce
- 1½ tbsp Everyday Garlic Oil
- ½ onion sliced
- 1 red bell pepper sliced (optional)
Making Sizzling Black Pepper Tofu
- Cut the tofu into bite-size pieces, about 1in cubes.
- In a shallow pan, add in tapioca starch and corn starch, and season with salt and pepper. Coat the tofu with a thin layer of the starches, let it rest for 5 minutes.
- In a pan, drizzle in oil, and turn the heat to medium-high. Once the pan is hot, add in the tofu, and pan-fry for 1-2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown on all sides. Remove and set aside
- In the same pan, add in sliced onion and red pepper, saute for 3 minutes, or until onion is soft and fragrant.
- Next add in Sizzling Black Pepper Sauce, Everyday Garlic Oill, and Four Season Scallion Sauce, mix well and simmer for 1 minute to allow the sauces to combine.
- Add back in the tofu, turn the heat to high, and saute on high heat for 2 minutes.
- Garnish with green onion, sesame seeds and cilantro and enjoy!
Looking For More Tasty Ways to Use kai dong Sauces?
20 Minute Sizzling Black Pepper Tofu
By Tiffy Cooks
Ingredients
- 1 medium-firm tofu
- ½ cup Corn Starch
- ½ cup tapioca starch can use all corn starch if you can’t find tapioca starch
- Salt and pepper to season
- 4 tbsp Sizzling Black Pepper Sauce
- 2 tbsp Four Season Scallion Sauce
- 1½ tbsp Everyday Garlic Oil
- ½ onion sliced
- 1 red bell pepper sliced (optional)
Instructions
- Cut the tofu into bite-size pieces, about 1in cubes.
- In a shallow pan or plate, add in tapioca starch and corn starch, and season with salt and pepper. Coat the tofu with a thin layer of the starches, let it rest for 5 minutes.
- In a pan, drizzle in oil, and turn the heat to medium-high. Once the pan is hot, add in the tofu, and pan-fry for 1-2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown on all sides. Remove and set aside
- In the same pan, add in sliced onion and red pepper, saute for 3 minutes, or until onion is soft and fragrant.
- Next add in Sizzling Black Pepper Sauce, Everyday Garlic Oill, and Four Season Scallion Sauce, mix well and simmer for 1 minute to allow the sauces to combine.
- Add back in the tofu, turn the heat to high, and saute on high heat for 2 minutes.
- Garnish with green onion, sesame seeds and cilantro and enjoy!
