Spicy Braised Tofu (Easy & Delicious!)

My spicy braised tofu recipe will blow you away! Braising your tofu is just about the easiest, quickest way to infuse it with maximum flavor. Serve that tofu with some peppers and rice, and you’ve got an absolutely delicious vegan meal that can be on the table in record time!

People often ask me how to make tofu taste good. The answer isn’t all that simple, since there are a handful of methods. For crispy, restaurant-style tofu, I’ll usually recommend fried tofu. For intensely flavorful tofu, I’ll refer folks to one of my baked tofu recipes, like my lemon and herb baked tofu or Italian baked tofu.

Today I’m sharing another method that I think you’ll love for infusing your tofu with flavor: braising it!

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Braising is a method of cooking where you briefly sauté your food, then simmer it in a little bit of super flavorful sauce. You’ve probably heard of folks cooking meat this way, but it works great for tofu as well, resulting in tofu with great texture and amazing flavor.

Braised tofu is just as flavorful as baked tofu if you ask me, but whereas with baking your tofu will generally need to spend a minimum of thirty minutes in the oven, braising can be done super quickly.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Soy sauce. Substitute gluten-free tamari or liquid aminos if needed.
Water.
Brown sugar. Use organic brown sugar to keep the recipe vegan. Non-organic sugars are sometimes processed using animal bone char.
Sriracha sauce. Sriracha contains sugar, so it may not be vegan! I’ve linked to a vegan brand that I like in the recipe card.
Toasted sesame oil. Most grocery stores sell this in the international foods aisle.
Tofu. I like this recipe best with super-firm tofu. You can also use extra-firm tofu, but you’ll need to press it first. Confused about all the varieties of tofu? Read my comprehensive guide to tofu.
Vegetable oil. Any neutral high-heat oil will work! Peanut oil, corn oil, canola oil, and coconut oil are all fine options.
Red bell pepper. I’ve included this to make the recipe into a well rounded meal. But you can leave it out if you’d like.
Garlic.
Scallions. You might know them as green onions.
Toasted sesame seeds.
Rice. Pairing this tofu up with rice is a great way to make it into a main dish, but you can skip the rice if you’d like, or swap it out with something else like quinoa or noodles.

How It’s Made

The following is a detailed photo tutorial on how to make this dish. Scroll all the way down if you’d like to skip right to the recipe!

Start by mixing your sauce. Stir together soy sauce, water, brown sugar, sriracha, and sesame oil.

Pan-fry your tofu next. Heat some oil in a skillet, then add tofu triangles. Cook them for a few minutes on each side, then remove them from the skillet.

Tip: The recipe instructs you to cut your tofu into triangles, but you can certainly cut it into cubes, strips, or slabs if you prefer!

Sliced red bell peppers cooking in a skillet with a spatula.

Raise the heat a bit and add sliced bell peppers. Cook the peppers for a few minutes, just until they’re starting to soften.

Minced garlic and scallions cooking in a skillet with peppers.

Add some minced garlic and just the white parts of your scallions. Cook them for about thirty seconds, stirring constantly to prevent them from burning.

Sauce being poured into a skillet containing tofu and peppers.

Add the tofu back to the skillet, then carefully pour the sauce over the tofu.

Tofu and peppers simmering in sauce in a skillet.

Simmer the tofu and peppers in the sauce. The tofu will suck up all that delicious flavor while this happens.

Braised Tofu cooking in a skillet with bell peppers and scallions.

Now take the skillet off of heat and stir in the green parts of your scallions.

Braised Tofu cooking in a skillet with peppers, scallions, and sesame seeds.

Sprinkle your braised tofu with some toasted sesame seeds.

Skillet filled with Braised Tofu with a spatula.

Your spicy braised tofu is ready to enjoy!

Variations & Serving Ideas

For a milder version of this dish, reduce the amount of sriracha sauce or skip it completely.
Add your favorite veggies! Broccoli, snap peas, asparagus, carrots, and cabbage would all make delicious additions and can be added at the same time as the red bell pepper. If you’re adding a lot of veggies, consider increasing the amount of sauce by 50% or so.
Try serving this dish over my coconut rice. The richness will go really well with the sweet and spicy flavors of the tofu.
Skip the rice and serve the tofu and peppers on a sandwich.

Leftovers & Reheating

Braised tofu will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about three days, or in the freezer for about three months.

This dish is best reheated in the microwave. Place it in a microwave-safe bowl, cover it with a wet paper towel, and microwave it in one minute increments until hot.

Plate of Braised Tofu with a bunch of scallions in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this recipe spicy?

This dish has a medium level of spice to it. For a milder version, lower the amount of sriracha. For extra heat, use extra sriracha or add some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.

Is this dish gluten-free?

It can be, if you use gluten-free tamari or liquid aminos instead of soy sauce.

Can I make this recipe oil-free?

You can! Use a really good nonstick cooking surface to prevent the tofu from sticking, and add a tablespoon or two of water when cooking the bell peppers. The sesame oil is in there for flavor, but can be omitted if necessary.

More Easy Tofu Recipes

Like this recipe? If so, please stop back and leave me a review and rating below if you try it! Also be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my newsletter for more recipes like this one!

Plate of Braised Tofu with sesame seeds and stir-fried bell peppers.

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