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Liv Vegan Strong

Easy Vegan Comfort Food Recipes

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Sweet Chili Tofu

April 9, 2022 · Last Modified: June 2, 2022

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If you love sweet and savory, this recipe is for you! Crispy pan-fried tofu tossed in a sweet chili sauce mixed with soy sauce, sriracha, green onion, and sesame seeds served over rice. Perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

Sweet Chili Tofu served with Jasmine rice, veggies and scallions.

Crispy pan-fried tofu served with a sweet chili sauce mixture that is sweet but has a bit of heat and so much flavor! This Vegan Sweet Chili Tofu is perfect when you want a delicious meal but don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen. Add veggies and rice to bulk it up and make it even more satisfying!

This Sweet Chili Tofu is my comfort meal. It has been for a while so I thought it was time to post it here. It’s very simple. It almost doesn’t even feel like a recipe to be honest, it’s THAT easy. But since I make it so much and it’s so dang good, I just have to share! If you have friends and family who think they hate tofu, make this for them. It’s so hard not to love something that’s covered in the most delicious sweet and spicy sauce.

Need more dinner ideas? Check out these 25 Easy Vegan Dinner Recipes!

What You Will Need For This Pan-Fried Sweet Chili Tofu

Kitchen Essentials:

This sweet chili tofu is incredibly simple and doesn’t require any special equipment. I do recommend pressing the water out of the tofu and a tofu press is helpful but not required.

Main Ingredients: 

  • Extra Firm Tofu
  • Sweet Chili Sauce
  • Sriracha
  • Low Sodium Soy Sauce

Substitutions:

  1. Extra Firm Tofu: Chicken-Style Seitan would also be delicious paired with this sauce as well as tempeh or soy curls.
  2. Sweet Chili Sauce: I opted to use store-bought sweet chili sauce (make sure it’s vegan!) but you could easily make your own.
  3. Sriracha: Can be substituted with Sambal Oelek or Original Tabasco.

How to Make Sweet Chili Tofu:

How To Make The Best Sweet Chili Tofu

I prefer the texture and taste of tofu that has been pressed. I’m pretty lazy when it comes to pressing tofu so I like to use my tofu press and add a block of tofu the night before I plan to use it and let it press all night in the fridge. That way when I’m ready to use it, I don’t have to wait!

Coating the tofu in cornstarch is key to getting the best crispy tofu. When combined with a little moisture it creates a coating that gets perfectly crisp and golden brown every time. 

Sweet Chili tofu topped with sesame seeds and scallions.

Be patient when pan-frying tofu. If it doesn’t easily flip over when in the frying pan, leave it longer. It should easily flip once the side is golden brown.

Be sure not to over crowd the pan when frying. Over crowding will cause the tofu to steam and it will never get crispy. I recommend frying in batches with lots of room in between each piece and remove the crispy pieces to a wire rack while you continue to fry the rest. Placing them on a paper towel or a plate will cause one side to become soggy.

FAQ:

Is Sweet Chili Sauce Vegan?

A lot of store-bought sweet chili sauces are vegan. I use Thai Kitchen which has a certified vegan label.

Is Sriracha Vegan?

Some store-bought sriracha brands are vegan but some aren’t. Do some research on brands near you to find a vegan friendly one. It shouldn’t be too hard but if you struggle finding a vegan friendly sriracha you can replace it in this recipe with Sambal Oelek or Original Tabasco.

Do I have to press tofu?

You don’t always have to press tofu but for this particular recipe, I recommend it to ensure crispy tofu!

How do I get my tofu extra crispy?

Press your tofu, toss in cornstarch, don’t over crowd the pan (always fry in batches!) and don’t flip too early! That’s my four most important steps to ensure you get crispy tofu every time. Read more all about tofu in my Ultimate Guide to Cooking Tofu.

Can I bake the tofu instead?

Of course! Toss in soy sauce, cornstarch and seasonings as written and then bake at 425F for 20-25 minutes.

Close up shot of sweet chili tofu.

More Easy Tofu Recipes You Might Like:

  • Baked Sesame Garlic Tofu
  • Crispy Tofu Rice Bowl with Peanut Sauce
  • Vegan Orange Tofu
  • Sticky Teriyaki Tofu Stir Fry

If You Make This Recipe:

I would greatly appreciate if you share your review in the comments below and leave a star rating. Don’t forget to add if you made any fun substitutions. Thank you!

 

Close up shot of sweet chili tofu.

Sweet Chili Tofu

Liv King
If you love sweet and savory, this Sweet Chili Tofu recipe is for you! Crispy pan-fried tofu tossed in a sweet chili sauce mixed with soy sauce, sriracha, green onion, and sesame seeds served over rice. 
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

Crispy Tofu:

  • 1 Block Extra-Firm Tofu pressed
  • 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • Pinch of Salt & Black Pepper
  • 1-2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil for pan-frying

Sweet Chili Sauce:

  • 1/4 cup Vegan Friendly Sweet Chili Sauce
  • 2 tablespoon Low Sodium Soy Sauce
  • 1/2-1 teaspoon Vegan Friendly Sriracha
  • 2 teaspoons Rice Vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Green Onions finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoons Sesame Seeds

Instructions
 

  • Press the block of tofu for at least 20 minutes to remove excess water. See above for the importance of pressing tofu.
  • Cut the tofu in to 16 large cubes or rectangles.
  • Toss the tofu in soy sauce until coated and then add the cornstarch, garlic, onion, salt and pepper. Toss carefully to coat.
  • Heat a large pan on medium-high heat. Add 1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil or enough to coat the base of the pan and pan fry each side until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes each side.
  • Whisk together the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, sriracha, and rice vinegar in a small bowl.
  • Thinly chop green onions and add to the sauce along with sesame seeds.
  • Toss the tofu in to the sauce and serve with jasmine rice, vegetables of choice and top with extra green onions and more sesame seeds. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Pressing improves the texture of the tofu and will also help the tofu crisp up in the pan. I have a tofu press and highly recommend it but you can make a diy tofu press easily by putting the tofu in between two plates and stacking heavy items on top. I almost always have pre- pressed tofu in my fridge so it’s ready to use any time! Simply press tofu and then store in an airtight container and use within 2-3 days.
Did you make this recipe?Leave a comment down below or tag @livveganstrong on instagram.
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By: Liv · In: All Recipes, Main Course, Quick & Easy, Trending · Tagged: dinner, easy dinner, fried tofu, pan-fried tofu, quick and easy, sweet chili sauce, sweet chili tofu, tofu rice bowl, Vegan

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Comments

  1. Rebecca says

    April 12, 2022 at 6:07 pm

    5 stars
    The extra firm tofu was a game changer for me 😊 And the cornstarch really made a nice crispy coating. I ended up substituting the sauce with one that came with an Asian veggie mix I use and it was delicious paired with buckwheat soba noodles 💕

    Reply
    • Liv says

      April 12, 2022 at 6:22 pm

      That’s great! Thank you for this comment! That veggie mix with soba noodles sounds so good. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Sydney A. says

    April 9, 2022 at 4:12 pm

    5 stars
    Rice and tofu is my families go to meal so I had to make this one. Every time I make tofu it’s always different and not as crispy but this time using your tips my tofu turned out perfectly! Pressing the tofu helped tremendously and the use of cornstarch. Thanks for another great recipe!

    Reply
    • Liv says

      April 9, 2022 at 4:45 pm

      So glad you found the tips helpful! Happy you enjoyed 🙂

      Reply
  3. Braxton Greer says

    March 20, 2022 at 1:02 pm

    5 stars
    Made this last night – easy and delicious. Served over jasmine rice with some sautéed broccoli and mushrooms.

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Liv says

      March 20, 2022 at 1:15 pm

      Love the addition of broccoli and mushrooms. Yum! Glad you enjoyed 🙂

      Reply
  4. Mitch says

    March 17, 2022 at 8:08 am

    5 stars
    Delicious! Love this recipe as a frequent go-to.

    Reply
    • Liv says

      March 17, 2022 at 8:22 am

      It’s one of my favorites as well. Glad you enjoyed 🙂

      Reply
  5. Slingback says

    October 4, 2021 at 7:24 pm

    Hi! Q for #2: Toss in soy sauce first, then in cornstarch, garlic, onion, salt and pepper? Or mix to make a paste? Tried to mix first but I got dry lumps, not a paste.

    Reply
    • Liv says

      October 4, 2021 at 9:42 pm

      Sorry that wasn’t entirely clear! I’ve updated the instructions. Toss the tofu in soy sauce first to coat and then toss in the dry ingredients.

      Reply
    • Amy Hunt says

      March 17, 2022 at 10:53 am

      5 stars
      Oh, how I love this recipe. No notes. One time, I added some roasted cauliflower and it was a nice addition. If you make it, be sure to print out and/or bookmark the recipe, because you WILL want to send the link to your friends.

      Reply
      • Liv says

        March 17, 2022 at 11:01 am

        Thank you so much for this amazing comment! I appreciate it! I’m glad you enjoyed 🙂

        Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Spicy Gochujang Braised Tofu - says:
    November 1, 2021 at 9:46 am

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  2. Sesame Ginger Cauliflower - says:
    October 14, 2021 at 12:09 pm

    […] Sweet Chili Tofu […]

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  3. Vegan Beef Wontons w/ Spicy Chili Oil - says:
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I’m Liv, the creator of Liv Vegan Strong. I share vegan comfort food recipes that everyone will love! I have been vegan for over 10 years now and started Liv Vegan Strong to share fun and delicious recipes to show you that vegan cooking is easy, approachable, and far from boring!

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