The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

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This vegan broccoli tofu stir fry recipe uses just one pan. Flavorful takeout style recipe made with homemade stir fry sauce, green onions, and fresh garlic and ginger.

The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (1)

This broccoli tofu stir fry is made in just one big pan and tastes like takeout.

If you have ever wondered how to cook tofu that tastes delicious, this is it!

I took one bite of the broccoli and realized it tasted just like the broccoli with garlic sauce that I order from a local Chinese restaurant.

Stir fry recipes are one of our favorite dinners, and we are often making recipes like teriyaki vegetables, egg roll in a bowl, cabbage stir fry, teriyaki mushrooms, and tofu stir fry noodles.

Ingredients needed to make broccoli tofu stir fry

  • cubed tofu
  • cornstarch
  • 3 ingredient stir fry sauce
  • white rice
  • fresh ginger
  • garlic
  • green onions
  • broccoli florets
  • oil
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How To Make Broccoli tofu stir fry

First, you will drain the tofu, and pat it dry.

I love buying pre packaged diced tofu, like I use in this recipe. It is so convenient!

If you cannot find pre packaged tofu, just drain a block of tofu and press it well before cutting into cubes.

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Once you drain your tofu and pat it dry, place the cubes in a bowl.

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Toss with cornstarch and shake to coat.

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The cornstarch is going to help the tofu get those crispier edges.

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How to pan fry the tofu

Heat a large skillet with oil until hot.

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Add in your tofu and start to pan fry it.

Cook the tofu for 10 – 15 minutes, stirring often, until all sides are cooked and crispy.

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Adding the rest of the stir fry ingredients

Next, add in your fresh garlic, ginger, green onion, broccoli and one batch of homemade stir fry sauce (recipe linked in the instructions below).

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These fresh ingredients give the dish so much flavor, so do not leave them out!

Keep stirring and cooking until broccoli is to your desired texture and stir fry sauce is thick and sticking to the broccoli and tofu.

I love my broccoli with a bit of crunch, so I cook it for just a few minutes while still leaving a bit of a bite to it.

The texture really adds so much to this stir fry, so be sure you do not overcook your broccoli into mush.

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Tips to get the best flavor for your stir fry

The secret to the flavorful sauce is in the fresh garlic and ginger, so do not skip these.

Once you pair them with my 3 ingredient stir fry sauce, magic happens.

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I have had people leave out the fresh garlic and ginger and did not like the recipe and that is why!

The recipe, as written, yields the very best stir fry flavor.

Fresh garlic and ginger are total game changers and you absolutely need them in your stir fry!

Please promise me you won’t skimp on this!

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I promise it is worth the time chopping it up and it only takes a few minutes.

If you have never tried fresh ginger before, no need to be afraid!

Almost every grocery store should carry it in the produce section. It looks like a root.

Just cut off the skin, and dice up your ginger with a knife until it’s in minced like tiny pieces.

It is just as easy as garlic!

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The flavor is so rich and deep with minimal ingredients, thanks to the fresh ingredients!

This recipe is made with just 9 ingredients and is bursting with flavor.

It is also naturally vegan and gluten free.

We served it over white rice and three adults finished off the whole recipe.

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I would say for more normal sized portions it would easily serve four adults (we were very hungry!)

Serve over your choice of grain, or just by itself!

This would be delicious on it’s own, or served over white rice, brown rice, quinoa, etc.

For a twist you could even serve it with brown rice stir fry noodles or ramen noodles.

Even over cauliflower rice would be a great way to serve it!

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I made this last night and my family loved it.
I never made any thing with tofu before….. I was scared but not as hard as I thought it would be. Thank you for this recipe. I will be cooking with Tofu again. – Jackie

I’ve been craving this ever since I made it.

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My family used to eat Chinese every Sunday growing up, and it was a tradition I loved.

I could definitely eat this broccoli tofu stir fry every Sunday!

You would not see me complaining one bit.

If you have not tried it yet, I promise you will love it!

If you have never made stir fry at home, this recipe will make it so easy for you!

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More stir fry recipes

  • Stir Fry Vegetables
  • Mushroom Ramen Noodles
  • Ramen Noodle Stir Fry
  • Broccoli with Garlic Sauce
  • What are the best vegetables to put in stir fry?
  • How Do You Thicken Stir Fry Sauce?
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Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Broccoli tofu stir fry recipe made in just one pan. A healthy alternative to takeout in a rich garlicky stir fry sauce with fresh broccoli florets.

Ingredients

  • 8 oz package of cubed tofu
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 10 cloves of garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup minced fresh ginger
  • 9 cups fresh broccoli florets
  • 1 cup chopped green onions
  • unsalted white rice, for serving

For the stir fry sauce

  • One batch of 3 ingredient Homemade Stir Fry Sauce

Instructions

  1. Drain the cubed tofu and pat dry
  2. Place the tofu cubes in a bowl
  3. Add 3 tablespoons of cornstarch and toss gently to coat
  4. Heat a large skillet on medium high heat with 3 tablespoons of olive oil
  5. Pan fry the tofu for 10-15 minutes, until crispy on all sides
  6. Make one batch of the3 ingredient stir fry saucerecipe linked in the recipe ingredients and shake to combine
  7. Add the broccoli, ginger, garlic, green onions and the homemade stir fry sauce to the skillet and sauté for 10-15 minutes, or until broccoli is desired texture
  8. Serve alone or over unsalted rice or stir fry noodles
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 485Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 924mgCarbohydrates: 67gFiber: 15gSugar: 6gProtein: 20g

Did you make this recipe?

Be sure to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!

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The Best Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

FAQs

How to cook broccoli for ramen? ›

Blanch broccoli in boiling water (1-2 minutes) and drain. Refresh under cold water. Mix lemon juice, honey, pepper, salt, and noodle flavoring; and combine with broccoli and noodles.

What type of tofu is best for stir-fry? ›

For tofu stir-fries, buy extra-firm tofu (or if you can't find that, buy firm tofu). Grace Young, wok guru and author of Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge, says that for the best texture, “You want to remove as much liquid as possible before you stir-fry, so start with extra-firm.

How to stir-fry tofu without it falling apart? ›

Use tender tofu and be gentle.

You add the tofu to the pan and gently shake or stir it. You don't vigorously move it around the wok with a spatula, lest it fall apart. There's a fair amount of liquid and seasoning too so the tofu takes on the other ingredients. This is delicate stir-frying with some simmering involved.

Should you cook broccoli before stir-frying? ›

Blanch vegetables before stir-fry

Blanching destroys the enzymes that turn green veggies brown and mushy over time or with cooking. This makes it perfect for preparing ingredients for recipes that rely on the bright green color.

What do you soak broccoli in before cooking? ›

Fill a large bowl with 2 ⅔ cups cold or warm water and ⅓ cup white vinegar. Allow it to soak for 2 minutes, then dump the broccoli into a colander. Rinse the vinegar-treated broccoli very well under running water.

How do you keep broccoli crispy when cooking? ›

“To keep broccoli beautifully green and slightly crunchy it's best to boil or steam for just a few minutes. ”

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

Should you marinate tofu before cooking? ›

Let the marination magic happen

You should aim to marinate tofu for at least 2 hours in the fridge. To infuse more flavour, you can leave it to marinade for up to 2 days before cooking up.

Why boil tofu before frying? ›

Many cooking experts champion a quick soak as a way to give the protein more texture and flavor. “Simmering cubed tofu in salted water for 60 seconds pulls out excess moisture and tightens the proteins on its surface,” Lukas Volger told Bon Appétit in 2021.

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.

Why won't my tofu get crispy? ›

If your crispy tofu isn't getting crispy, it could be because there is too much moisture in the tofu. Another issue could be the oil isn't hot enough to fry the tofu. Or you forgot to add the corn flour. These three reasons can cause your tofu to be soggy or not crisp up as much as you'd like.

How do you keep broccoli crisp in a stir fry? ›

An expert Chinese chef's tip for making the best broccoli

First, blanch the florets! This not only softens the stems, but also stops the enzyme that leads to browning. My dad also adds some salt and oil to his blanching water, which helps the broccoli retain its crunchy texture and bright green color.

How to saute vegetables for ramen? ›

Sauté Aromatics: In the meantime, add the oil to a sauté pan and warm over medium heat. Add the white parts of the green onion and sauté for around 90 seconds, until translucent. Add the vegetables to the pan and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until they are tender to your liking.

How to add frozen broccoli to ramen? ›

Frozen Vegetables

You just open a bag and dump them into your boiling broth. You don't have to do any prep work like cleaning, peeling, or chopping your vegetables. This can save you a ton of time, which is great when you're trying to fix a bowl of ramen in a hurry.

Do you cook vegetables for ramen? ›

These are some of the most common vegetables paired with ramen noodles. Mix and match your favorites and don't be afraid to load 'em up! I like to add a mix of cooked and raw vegetables for added texture. Some of the veggies cook quick in the hot broth so you end up with a lovely al-dente texture.

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