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5.0 from 39 votes

Home Style Tofu (家常豆腐)

If you aren’t a tofu lover already, you will be after you try this home style tofu. It has a tender texture and crispy crust along with a savory, lightly spicy sauce and crunchy veggies. {Vegan}

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 2 to 4 servings
Calories: 218 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

  • 1 block (14 oz/396 g) soft or medium firm tofu , cut into 1 cm thick triangles (Footnote 1)
  • 1 cup vegetable oil , for deep frying
  • 4 cloves garlic , sliced
  • 1 " (2.5 cm) ginger , thinly sliced into strips
  • 3 green onions , cut into 1" pieces, white and green parts separated
  • 1 tablespoon doubanjiang
  • 1/2 carrot , sliced (about 1/3 cup)
  • 1 bell pepper , cut into 1” diamonds
  • 1 (8-oz / 226 g) can sliced bamboo shoots , or 1 bamboo shoot, sliced (about 1/3 cup)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
Sauce
  • 3 tablespoons light soy sauce (or soy sauce)
  • 1 tablespoon Chinkiang vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons vegetarian oyster sauce (or sweet bean paste) (Footnote 2)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 3 tablespoons water (or vegetable stock)
Slurry
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Mix the sauce ingredients together in a medium bowl.
  2. Add the slurry ingredients into a small bowl and stir to mix well.
  3. In a high-walled skillet or pot, heat the oil to 375°F (190°C). Carefully add the tofu. Fry until both sides turn golden, about 3 minutes. Flip once or twice to ensure even cooking. Remove the tofu from the oil and transfer it to a big plate.
  4. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of oil from the pan (alternatively, you can heat 1 tablespoon of oil in another large skillet).
  5. Add the garlic, ginger, green onion (white part), and doubanjiang to the pan. Turn the heat to medium. Stir fry to release the fragrance until the oil turns red, about 2 minutes.
  6. Add the fried tofu, carrots, bell peppers, and bamboo. Stir fry for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  7. Pour in the sauce. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer, gently flipping occasionally. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  8. Add the green onion (green part). Mix the slurry again so the cornstarch is fully dissolved. Pour in the slurry and mix with a spatula until the sauce thickens.
  9. Drizzle in a teaspoon of sesame oil to finish up.
  10. Serve hot over steamed rice as a main dish.

Notes

  • Be careful that you are not buying silken tofu. Some brands carry soft tofu (e.g. House Foods), that are too smooth and will not develop the desired texture.
  • If you do not wish to make the dish vegan, you can use regular oyster sauce instead.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 218kcal (11%) Carbohydrates 16.3g (5%) Protein 11.5g (23%) Fat 12.4g (19%) Saturated Fat 1.6g (8%) Cholesterol 1mg (0%) Sodium 786mg (33%) Potassium 469mg (13%) Fiber 3.6g (14%) Sugar 8.1g (16%) Calcium 152mg (15%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 2to 4 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 218

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 218kcal 11%
Carbohydrates 16.3g 5%
Protein 11.5g 23%
Fat 12.4g 19%
Saturated Fat 1.6g 8%
Cholesterol 1mg 0%
Sodium 786mg 33%
Potassium 469mg 10%
Fiber 3.6g 14%
Sugar 8.1g 16%
Calcium 152mg 15%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.