Tips for Making the Best Tofu Fried Rice Recipe

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The tasty Tofu Fried Rice Recipe is made with veggies, rice, tofu, and a combination of amazing sauces and spices. Here’s what you’ll need to make it: For the tofu marinade: you’ll toss together firm or extra-firm tofu, olive oil, soy sauce, turmeric powder, and also cornstarch.

What is Tofu?

Tofu, also known as bean curd in English, is a food prepared by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into solid white blocks of varying softness; it can be silken, soft, firm, extra firm, or super firm. Beyond these broad textural categories, there are many varieties of tofu.

What Does Tofu Taste Like? Plain tofu has no specific flavor and is honestly, quite bland. This might be why people tend to hate it but the fact that it’s bland is exactly why we should LOVE it. The texture of tofu is more important than the taste- all the different types of tofu have different textures.

The high level of protein makes tofu a good alternative to animal-derived meat. Federal dietary guidelines include tofu as part of a healthy vegetarian dietary pattern, and a 2021 American Heart Association scientific statement emphasizes choosing plant-based proteins for heart health.

Tips for Making the Best Tofu Fried Rice Recipe

Use Cold Rice For Tofu Fried Rice Recipe

There’s a reason most classic fried rice recipes use rice that’s been cooked and thoroughly chilled (ideally overnight). Cold rice fries are so much better than warm or even lukewarm rice. Using freshly cooked rice will result in sticky, clumpy fried rice—no good. 

If you’re looking to make fried rice and don’t have any pre-cooked rice on hand, I recommend cooking some rice (asap, get it started!) and then spreading it onto a baking sheet in an even layer. Depending on your timeline, either pop it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or in the freezer for 10–15 minutes (just don’t forget about it or you’ll have a whole other problem on your hands—been there).

Meal Prep Tip For Tofu Fried Rice Recipe

If you tend to make fried rice often, cook a large batch of rice from time to time, let it cool to room temperature, then store rice in resealable zipper-lock bags. Or, every time you make a batch of fried rice, make a batch of rice on the side, let it cool and store it in the freezer for next time. This way you know you’ll always have rice ready!

Grapeseed Oil

I love using grapeseed oil in most of my Asian cooking. First of all, you can use it over high heat, which makes it ideal for fried rice. I also find, when cooked over high heat with garlic, ginger, and scallions, it adds that crave-worthy flavor we love about Asia.

High Heat For Tofu Fried Rice Recipe

Cooking over high heat is important for adding toasty flavor and helps to keep the veggies and rice from steaming. 

Toasted Sesame Oil And Oyster Sauce/Mushroom Sauce

First and foremost, toasted sesame oil is a MUST here. It’s incredibly bold in flavor and essential. Be sure to use toasted sesame and add it to the fried rice once you’ve removed the pan from the heat. Toasted sesame oil is a finishing oil and shouldn’t be used for cooking.

Now, the oyster sauce. If you follow a strict vegan diet, use mushroom sauce or simply leave this ingredient out altogether. But, if you’re willing to use a splash of oyster sauce I highly, recommend it. You don’t need much, just a few teaspoons or so, but it adds a nice savory you just can’t get from anything else. And if you aren’t an oyster or seafood fan—trust me here, it’s not “fishy” once added to the rice.

Vegetables

We’re making vegetarian/vegan fried rice here, the veggies are important! I tested this recipe quite a few times, and the one thing I kept coming back to was that I wanted this to be packed with veggies. Vegetarian or vegan aside, I prefer my fried rice to be generous with the veggies. This recipe keeps it simple and classic with carrots, green peas, and green onions. Simple, but perfect. 

Garlic And ginger

Here’s the deal, I kept the ingredient list and process as streamlined as possible. But after a few iterations, I just couldn’t leave the ginger out. I tried this fried rice with just garlic, but it was missing the added herbal spiciness from fresh ginger. Grab a small knob of ginger (usually next to the garlic), give it a mince, and add a couple of teaspoons (or a tablespoon!), it’s worth it I promise! 

Tofu

Extra-firm tofu is the way to go here. Make sure you give yourself enough time to press the tofu before baking. Pressing out excess liquid is important for getting that nice golden brown crust on the exterior (another instance where you want to sear not steam). 

Tofu Fried Rice Recipe

Ingredients

Ingredient Checklist

• 2 cups uncooked instant rice
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 1 (14-ounce) package of reduced-fat firm tofu, drained and cut into (1/2-inch) cubes
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup (1/2-inch-thick) slices of green onions
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
• 2 tablespoons sake (rice wine)
• 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• ½ teaspoon dark sesame oil
• Thinly sliced green onions (optional)

Directions

Instructions Checklist

• Step 1 Cook rice according to package directions, omitting salt and fat
• Step 2 While rice cooks, heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu; cook for 4 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally
• Remove from pan. Add eggs to pan; cook 1 minute or until done, breaking the egg into small pieces. Remove from pan. Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the pan. Add 1 cup of onions, peas and carrots, garlic, and ginger; sauté 2 minutes
• Step 3 While the vegetable mixture cooks, combine sake, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and sesame oil. Add cooked rice to pan; cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add tofu, egg, and soy sauce mixture; cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Garnish with sliced green onions, if desired

Note

Using frozen peas and carrots plus bottled minced garlic and ginger speeds up the preparation of this simple Chinese standby. Keep any leftover sake tightly capped in the refrigerator for up to three weeks, or you can substitute a tablespoon of rice wine vinegar for the sake.

FAQs

Conclusion

Tofu is a cholesterol-free, low-calorie, high-protein food that’s also rich in bone-boosting calcium and manganese. Tofu may help you to lose weight by keeping you fuller for longer on fewer calories than meat. It may reduce the risk of heart disease, especially when swapped for saturated fat-heavy animal proteins.

Tasty tofu fried rice is made with veggies, rice, tofu, and a combination of amazing sauces and spices. Here’s what you’ll need to make it: For the tofu marinade: you’ll toss together firm or extra-firm tofu, olive oil, soy sauce, turmeric powder, and also cornstarch.

Easy, healthy and so satisfying. It’s full of plant-based protein thanks to oven-baked tofu, tons of veggies, and even whole-grain brown rice—this is healthy eating at its tastiest! If you have leftover rice—this is a great recipe for using it up. It’s better if you use leftover (cooked and chilled) rice.

Also do read the following articles.

• Tofu Fried Rice Recipes- You Might Like
• Is Tofu Healthy and What to Know About it?
• Why Carbs in Tofu is Important For You?
• Tofu Bean Korean BBQ – You Must Visit Now
• Vegetarian Korean Bbq Options Out There For You