Sweet Soy Tofu & Vegetables. Fried tofu balls stir fried in a maple soy based sauce paired with snap peas and bell peppers. A quick and easy Asian-style tofu dish. Ready in 20 minutes.
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What is Sweet Soy Tofu & Vegetables?
Sweet Soy Tofu & Vegetables is a tofu vegetable stir fry featuring fried tofu balls, a variety of vegetables stir fried in a tasty sweet soy sauce with hints of sesame and garlic. It's a delicious vegan side dish or main dish and the perfect companion to white rice or brown rice. This quick and easy tofu stir fry comes together in just 20 minutes or less making for a perfect busy weeknight meal for the whole family to enjoy. Unfortunately, this is a unique Chinese dish that you won't often find at Chinese restaurants or at Chinese takeout as maple syrup is not a Chinese ingredient. I created this dish because I love sweet and salty flavor profiles.
I've always been a big fan of tofu stir fry recipes and this one is really tasty. The sauce is sweet and savory but perfectly balanced with the onion aromatics. If you're not a fan of some of the suggested vegetables, feel free to swap them for ones that you would like. If you're a tofu lover, I highly recommend this as this is one of the best tofu vegetable stir fry recipes I have on the blog!
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients for this easy tofu vegetable stir fry recipe.
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.
Note: Most Asian grocery stores will carry most of the Asian specific ingredients.
- Fried tofu balls: or substitute with extra firm tofu
- Neutral oil:Â any flavorless oil like avocado oil, peanut oil, grapeseed oil, vegetable oil or canola oil with a high smoke point. I would avoid using olive oil or coconut oil due to its heavier scent.Â
- Garlic
- Green onions or scallions
- Snap peas
- Cold water or vegetable stock
- Red bell pepper: or substitute with green bell pepper or yellow bell pepper
- Orange bell pepper
- Sesame seeds
- Regular soy sauce: or substitute with low sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce. If you’re gluten-free, substitute with tamari sauce, coconut aminos or a gluten-free soy sauce of your choice.Â
- Maple syrup
- Sesame oil
How to Make Sweet Soy Tofu & Vegetables
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium heat. Then add garlic, scallions and fry for 10-15 seconds or until fragrant.
- Add in snap peas and cook until soft, followed by fried tofu balls. Pour water over top and allow the tofu balls to cook for 3 minutes until water has evaporated.
- Toss in the bell peppers and mix in with the tofu and snap peas.
- Lastly add regular soy sauce, maple syrup, sesame oil and mix until your veggies and tofu are covered in the sauce. Let this cook for 5 minutes until most of the liquid in the pan has evaporated.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and enjoy!
Storage & Reheating
This dish will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, microwave for 2-3 minutes or reheat on the stovetop in a pan on medium heat until hot.
Expert Tips
- Use vegetable stock over cold water for more flavor!
- Allow the fried tofu balls to absorb the flavors and cook until most of the liquids have evaporated in the pan.
Other tofu recipes you may like!
- MALAYSIAN CURRY TOFU
- CHICKEN TOFU VEGETABLE CHOW MEIN
- CHINESE SALT & PEPPER TOFU
- VEGAN KIMCHI TOFU STEW
📖 Recipe
Easy 20-min. Sweet Soy Tofu & Vegetable Stir Fry
Ingredients
- 140 grams fried tofu balls or sub with extra firm tofu
- 2 cups snap peas
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 orange bell pepper diced
- ½ cup green onions finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- ½ cup water or vegetable stock
- 4 tablespoon regular soy sauce
- 4 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil
- sesame seeds optional garnish
Instructions
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium heat. Then add garlic, scallions and fry for 10-15 seconds or until fragrant.
- Add in snap peas and cook until soft, followed by fried tofu balls. Pour water over top and allow the tofu balls to cook for 3 minutes until water has evaporated.
- Toss in the bell peppers and mix in with the tofu and snap peas.
- Lastly add regular soy sauce, maple syrup, sesame oil and mix until your veggies and tofu are covered in the sauce. Let this cook for 5 minutes until most of the liquid in the pan has evaporated.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and enjoy!
Mark
This was super tasty and very easy to make. I really like the sweet soy sauce.
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
With so many sweet and savory flavors, this is one stir fry recipe that would tempt my whole family!
Kim Lange
I've been eating a lot more tofu lately, so I can't wait to try this Christie! It sounds and looks wonderful!
Katerina | Once a Foodie
Yummmm! I love the flavours you have going on here, Christie - and I can imagine making this for the whole family during the week, it seems delicious and quick. Love meals like this, especially full of protein and veg. Thanks so much for sharing, bookmarking!
Sherri
I literally think I am addicted to tofu and this dish is totally calling my name! I could eat this every single day! 🙂
christieathome
Thanks so much Sherri! Haha! Tofu is such a great plant-based protein!
Michelle | Sift & Simmer
Another delicious vegetarian recipe! I am so bookmarking this for meatless Fridays!
christieathome
Thanks so much Michelle! I hope you enjoy it!
Leanne
Always looking for new ways to prepare tofu. This looks delicious Christie. It would really hit the spot for dinner tonight!
Never Ending Journeys
This stir fry looks so yummy and full of flavor - I want to dig right in! Maple syrup is definitely an interesting addition, too, I didn't think to do that!
Alexandra
This is such a delicious way to enjoy tofu - the flavours work so well!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
Oh so yummy, Christie! I wish you could make me a small amount of each dish on your site so I can have a feast 🙂