Tofu and Broccoli Stir Fry

Make this easy tofu and broccoli stir fry for a delicious vegetarian meal in 30 minutes! The tofu is marinated, then cooked until perfectly crispy and flavorful, then finished up in a sticky ginger garlic sauce with broccoli.

Tofu is a great ingredient if you want to create a delicious and healthy meal that is packed with protein. In the past I shared some very popular tofu recipes, including Crispy Marinated Tofu, Mapo Tofuand General Tso’s Tofu. If you’ve tried any of these recipes, you’d know that with the proper preparation, you can turn plain-tasting tofu into a rich tasting feast.

Marinating tofu is key

I used a simple three-ingredient marinade that is savory and sweet, with a hint of sourness. Not only does it impart a great flavor, but the soy sauce also creates a beautiful char on the surface of the tofu.

When marinating the tofu, using a ziplock bag will help the marinade coat the tofu more evenly.

Once the tofu is marinated, drain the liquid from the bag. Then add the cornstarch into the bag and shake the bag to coat the tofu. The cornstarch will absorb the last bits of marinade on the exterior of the tofu, creating a thin coating. The coating is flavorful and becomes perfectly crispy when you pan fry the tofu.

Set up

When you’re ready to cook, your table should have:

• Marinated and coated tofu
• Mixed sauce: This brown sauce uses hoisin sauce to add a fruity flavor, and sesame oil for nuttiness.
• Broccoli, cut to florets
• Minced aromatics (ginger, garlic)
• Sesame seeds for garnish (Optional)

How to cook tofu and broccoli

First, blanch the tofu in the large skillet you will be using for the stir fry. The large skillet boils water faster than a deeper pot, plus it saves you time in terms of cleanup. Once done, drain the broccoli and set it aside on a plate.

Use the same skillet to brown the tofu. The key is to heat up the skillet to hot, then brown the tofu over medium heat. The surface of the tofu might brown too quickly if using too much heat, creating uneven spots. All you need is patience; sear the tofu until most sides have browned and there’s no raw cornstarch on the surface.

Then saute the aromatics to release the fragrance. Add the sauce and cook until it thickens.

Finally, add back the cooked tofu and broccoli. Stir to mix everything together.

The result is perfectly seasoned tofu and tender broccoli with a fragrant sticky sauce that is savory, nutty and slightly sweet.

How to serve broccoli and tofu

Serve broccoli and tofu by itself as a main dish, or over steamed rice for a hearty meal. You can also serve it as one of the main dishes in a multi-course dinner, along with appetizers, sides and a soup.

The tofu loses its crispiness if stored in the fridge, but the flavor will still be delicious once you reheat it.

Other delicious tofu recipes

Want to Know More?Receive our 5-Day Chinese Cooking Crash Course & Recipe Updates! Subscribe

Tofu and Broccoli Stir Fry