Is kung pao tofu vegan?

Yes, unlike kung pao chicken, there are no animal products in kung pao tofu.

What is kung pao tofu made of?

Stir-fried tofu, peanuts and vegetables in a sauce that is sweet, spicy, and sour.

Kung pao tofu • We Count Carbs

Description

Crispy tofu, roasted peanuts, celery, red bell pepper, chilis and scallions are tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce. This low-carb, vegan dish of stir-fried tofu is inspired by kung pao chicken.

Ingredients

Scale

for the crispy tofu

1 block (14 oz, 397g) extra firm tofu
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons peanut oil

for the sauce

2 teaspoons cold water
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper

for the stir-fry

1 teaspoon fresh raw ginger, minced
3 cloves garlic, crushed
3 stalks celery, sliced thin
1 red bell pepper, sliced
2 stalks scallions, chopped into 1 inch pieces
1/2 cup peanuts, shelled, dry-roasted, unsalted

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Instructions

Press the tofu to remove excess water. Remove the cover from the package of tofu and pour cold running water into package to rinse tofu. Transfer tofu from package to a plate. Cover it with a paper towel and place a heavy skillet or pot of water on top. Leave it for 10 minutes to press the liquid from the tofu, while you prepare the other ingredients. Once tofu has been pressed, cut it into 1/2 inch cubes.
Prepare the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together water and cornstarch until thoroughly mixed. Combine remaining sauce ingredients together and set aside.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. In a small bowl, toss tofu cubes in 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Lay tofu cubes down in a single layer, spaced apart. Fry tofu. Don’t stir-fry. Let each piece fry for 1-2 minutes on each side until browned on all sides. Transfer tofu to a plate. Leave oil in skillet.
In the same skillet, add peanuts. Stir-fry over medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes until aromatic. Add celery, red bell pepper, scallions, ginger and garlic. Stir-fry 1-2 minutes.
Add sauce. Simmer until sauce thickens and bubbles.
Return tofu to skillet. Toss to coat.

Notes

If you are short on time, you can skip the step of pressing and crisping the tofu first and just stir-fry tofu cubes.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stir-fry
Cuisine: American