Tofu and Broccoli Fried Rice Recipe (2024)

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London

It also tastes completely fine without the sugar.

KJM

I used sesame oil too, ideal. Having so often overcooked stir fries I followed the cooking times precisely, and the results were fabulous, one of the best stir fry recipes ever. Do figure, however, on a hour of prep beforehand, and have your numerous bowls of ingredients handy right next to the stove.

A Biloon

I make this in a little sesame oil and use with left over Chinese food rice. Sprinkle with sesame seeds too. Easy on the soy, it gets salty fast.

Caroline

I made this today using cubed and roasted japanese sweet potato that I had leftover from yesterday instead of the tofu. I used only 1tbsp of sugar for the glaze since the potatoes were already sweet. Otherwise I followed the recipe pretty much exactly and it came out great! To the person who commented that it tastes great without the sugar - sure, but you need it for creating the sticky glaze on the tofu/sweet potato.

Julia

As others have noted, the times and servings are way off. This takes about 3x as long to cook as it says (you don't soften carrots and broccoli in 3 minutes). And it's a huge quantity; definitely more than 4 servings. But you want to know whether it's good or not -- it is!

Sue

I find adding straight sugar to stir-fries unpleasantly brash, but a small splash of mirin or pineapple juice adds some roundness and aroma without tasting overtly sweet.

Michelle

I veganized this with Just Egg. Delicious.

Lara

Made it this weekend and followed the recipe to a T. Heads up, use a big ol' pot - this makes SO MUCH FOOD. (I used a 12" cast iron skillet and stirring was a challenge by the end.)

Tracy

In place of rice, we used quinoa. We also replaced 1 of the 5 tablespoons of oil with sesame oil, used 2 eggs instead of 4, and eliminated the sugar. It turned out delicious, and we will make it again.

Lynne

Delicious but NOT minimum prep. This comes together quickly AFTER a lot of chopping and prepping.

GW

Made tonight. From scratch - including making the rice - it was 2 hours. Despite that, the subtleties were almost worth it. Not just another stir-fry. Some interesting layers, mostly from the tofu. I might make it again, but only with help. Everyone raved.

Meg

Substituted 2 tblsp. Trader Joe’s crunchy chili onion oil for the jalapeño & came out very tasty!

Berk

There's no way all that food fits into my 12-inch pan, so I used my wok. Also, not that quick - requiring good mise en place ahead of time. But, having said that, really good - especially the glazed tofu. We drizzled on top with Nik Sharma's Indo-Sichuan sauce but chili crisp or Sriracha would have done fine. Will go on our rotation whenever we have a lot of veggies that we need to use with leftover rice.

GW

Sugar was absolutely essential for us.

Chris

25 min in a parallel universe perhaps. Is it 25 min with a team of helpers or does fresh ginger and crushed garlic tubs of store bought ginger and garlic? Prep is 30 min at a sprint!

Corey

An excellent recipe, a softer change in flavour from typical sautées. For those struggling with cooking times I suggest cutting the veggies thinner & making sure your wok is very hot, it will cook in the time given. Also: added more veggies & used 2 cups of rice, proportions were still excellent.

Snuku*ms

I used a bit of sesame oil and teriyaki sauce at the end to give the rice a little color Abd flavor. I always follow recipes to the T, the first time I make them and it turned out delicious and beautiful.

QUAASAM

Very nice. Easy will do it again. Reduce sugar to 1 tablespoon.

Laura

Add more soy sauce at the end of the cooking process.

Megan

This was delicious and I will be making this again. Many are mentioning the huge portion size, but there’s just two adults and a baby in our house and we ate the majority of this for dinner. Maybe just a lunch portion remaining. Chose to not add salt to taste whenever it was mentioned in the recipe and it still came out sufficiently salty with just the soy glaze/juices.

Pilots CAN cook

Underwhelmed by this recipe. Just okay. Not something I’d cook again.

Emily

Used frozen carrot & celery leftover from another dish in place of the carrot & broccoli. Swapped in about half sesame oil for canola oil. Added way more soy sauce and also rice vinegar at the end. Used a mix of brown and white rice. Lots of lime juice and peanuts added before serving, along with sriracha, is totally needed. Makes 6 portions not 4. Ratios of veggies/egg/tofu/rice were perfect, will follow again.

Eva

This is just an okay fried rice recipe. Needs a good amount of doctoring up; recommend checking more standard fried rice recipes and then just adjusting ingredients to palate.

Sandy

Huge! Easily feeds six.

Beth

Has anyone tried the recipe with brown rice.

Andrea

More broccoli, peas.

emily

This is a great option if you’re on a budget, I think this only cost me about $10. Also if you want your tofu to look like it does in the photo, cut into slices and pan fry before cubing them and adding to the pan.

Cristina

Someone mentioned that this makes so much food it barely fits on a pan. I cooked this and prepared 3 cups of rice instead of 4 and kept the other ingredients the same. It fit perfectly in my 12 skillet and was quite flavorful

Tamara

Do not add salt or sugar. Also this recipe is for 8 servings, not 4. There is no way you should eat this much in one serving. Good vegetarian fried rice recipe.

Chef55

Best stir fry ever. Used completely random veggies (aging broccolini, frozen edamame, scallions): used 1/3 of sugar (which gives nice coating of caramel to the tofu), 1/2 of the oil and finished off with a pat of butter for extra flavor. Divine.

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Tofu and Broccoli Fried Rice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you season tofu before or after frying? ›

Allow tofu to cook, undisturbed for about 4-5 minutes or until the underside is golden brown and crispy. Step 2: Flip the tofu pieces and season the cooked side with salt. Allow the second side to cook for an additional 4 minutes or until the second side is golden brown and crispy.

Why do people soak tofu in brine before frying? ›

Why does the brine work? Both the heat and the salinity of the water draw moisture out of the surface of the tofu, helping it crisp and brown. The hot water also gradually tightens the proteins at the surface of the tofu, helping keep any remaining moisture inside.

How to make fried tofu like Chinese restaurants? ›

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. One piece at a time, dip the tofu into the cornstarch to coat both sides, then into the beaten egg. Immediately transfer to the skillet for pan frying. Cook until both sides turn golden brown.

What does adding cornstarch to tofu do? ›

A light coating of cornstarch will absorb even more moisture from the tofu's surface and contribute to a distinct coating. Sprinkle over the starch (potato starch, tapioca starch, and arrowroot all work too) a little bit at a time and toss the tofu, pressing gently so the starch adheres.

What should I marinate tofu in? ›

In a mixing bowl or measuring cup with a spout, whisk together the marinade: soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, olive oil, sesame oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, ginger, and Sriracha. Drizzle over the tofu. If any pieces look bare, turn them over in the marinade a few times so all of the sides are coated.

What do you season tofu with? ›

Marinate the tofu for at least 30 minutes to infuse it with flavor. Alternatively, you can skip this step and season the tofu right before cooking with a dash of salt and pepper or paprika and chili flakes.

What is the tofu rule? ›

No one cares about unblocking a task as much as the person doing it. That's why it's important for that person to follow the Take Ownership and Follow Up (TOFU) principle. That means taking ownership of the task and chasing the people you are waiting on until it gets done.

What happens if you don't drain tofu before cooking? ›

Here's the thing: even though tofu might be labeled firm or extra-firm, it contains a lot of water. This excess water can cause the tofu to crumble when you cook it, and it will also have a hard time crisping up. But when you press tofu, you remove the excess moisture.

Do you put cornstarch before or after marinating tofu? ›

If you want to bake the tofu instead, I recommend following my Baked Tofu post instructions – 400°F for 20 minutes, flipping in between. I would still recommend doing the marinade with cornstarch step afterwards (just heat up the pan a bit and add the tofu right after it comes out of the oven).

Can you coat tofu in flour instead of cornstarch? ›

Substitutions: If you prefer not to cook with cornstarch, you can substitute in an equal volume of all-purpose flour or potato starch. Tofu: This recipe can also be made with medium-firm tofu, but you'll need to be a bit more gentle while pressing and coating it.

Why does restaurant tofu taste different? ›

This difference in taste is largely due to one key ingredient: salt. In the culinary world, salt is a key flavor enhancer that unlocks and elevates the natural tastes of food. When it comes to tofu, which is naturally quite mild-tasting, salt becomes a critical component in transforming it into something delicious.

Why is tofu not frying? ›

You're not pressing out excess moisture.

Before frying, tofu should be pressed to eliminate any excess water. Sometimes, in a hurry to get dinner done, I skip this step. But I always regret it. The still-sort-of-wet tofu never gets as golden brown or as crisp.

What can I add to tofu to make it taste better? ›

Just as you can caramelize vegetables by roasting them in the oven, the same is possible for tofu. Start by pressing your tofu to remove the water. Then, toss pressed tofu pieces in a marinade made with a combination of oil, soy sauce, sweetener, and other flavorings of your choosing, such as garlic and ginger.

How much cornstarch to coat tofu? ›

Ingredients
  1. 1 (14- to 16-ounce) block. extra-firm tofu.
  2. 1 teaspoon. kosher salt.
  3. 3 tablespoons. cornstarch.
  4. 2 tablespoons. vegetable oil.

What can I coat tofu with instead of cornstarch? ›

If you want a crispy outer coating for your tofu, flour can be a great substitute for cornstarch. Simply coat the tofu cubes or slices with a dusting of all-purpose flour before frying. The flour helps create a light and crispy texture while ensuring the tofu stays tender on the inside.

Should I fry tofu before marinating? ›

If you want the flavor to get all the way inside, you have to get heat involved somehow, whether that's in the form of a dip in boiling salty water, or by pan-frying, baking, or my new favorite pre-marinade technique: Air-frying. Cold, raw tofu rejects marinades because of its high water content and low porosity.

How do you season tofu to make it taste good? ›

Marinate it: Tofu can be marinated in a variety of flavorful sauces or spices. You can use soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and other seasonings to make a simple marinade. Let the tofu marinate for at least 30 minutes (or up to a few hours) before cooking or grilling.

Should I marinate my tofu before air frying? ›

Can Air Fryer Tofu Be Made Without Marinade? Technically yes (just drizzle with olive oil and add a pinch of salt), but remember tofu is bland on its own. If you make it without the marinade, be sure you have a robust sauce to coat it in afterwards.

How do you keep tofu crispy after frying? ›

Cornstarch – This is the secret to the most perfect fried tofu. Cornstarch forms a protective layer around each cube of tofu, which crisps up when added to heat. If you don't have cornstarch, arrowroot powder and tapioca starch also work. Garlic powder – This is optional but adds a delightful savory, garlicky flavor.

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