Sweet and Sour Tofu is a dish that will keep you coming back for more. The dish carries the perfect level of sweet and tart!
Sweet and Sour Tofu Recipe
Sweet and Sour is a taste that I have loved for a long time. Back in the days when I was a meat eater and have no other dietary restrictions, I would often order sweet and sour chicken. I loved the perfect balance of sweet and sour in this type of dish!
*We recently updated this post with new photos. Same delicious recipe with an optional skillet method and some mouthwatering photos!
Well, the meat-eating days are gone for me as well as a few other things! But have no fear, we can recreate those things that we used to love! This is another vegetarian Chinese food recipe.
Sauce ingredients for Sweet and Sour Tofu
The entire recipe is in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. But here's what you will need before you start:
Sugar - This is the sweet part of our sweet and sour. I'm using regular white sugar.
Apple cider vinegar - Apple cider vinegar is the sour part! I love the warm flavor of this type of vinegar, but other vinegars could be used.
Ketchup - Ketchup adds a bit more sweetness and a thickness to the sauce that is very nice.
Bragg's Aminos - This is similar to soy sauce, but gluten free.
Garlic Salt - to season and boost the savory notes of the sauce.
Simple ingredients come together for a mouthwatering taste! This does make a big batch of sauce. I like to keep the extras for dipping and to use on other foods!
You just need to blend the sauce ingredients together over low heat until smooth! Easy peasy!
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you ASAP!
HOW TO MAKE SWEET AND SOUR TOFU
- Prepare sauce by whisking together ketchup, coconut aminos, suagar, apple cider vinegar and garlic salt and heating in a saucepan over low heat until everything is combined and the sugar is dissolved.
- Press the Tofu - more information about how to do that is below!
- Cut tofu into bite sized cubes, cover with sauce and cook using your chosen method from below. You can choose to broil the tofu, or cook it in a pan on the stovetop.
- Serve over rice and enjoy!
These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below.
How To Press Your Tofu
Once your sauce is prepared, you can work on prepping your tofu. You probably know that I am a HUGE fan of the EZ Tofu Press! In fact, I use it at least once a week!
Of course for this recipe, I used my EZ Tofu Press. I honestly didn't know that I needed one until I tried it and saw the difference! You've heard that story before BUT it is very true!
My tofu cooks better and tastes better! AND I don't have to balance unstable heavy objects on top of my tofu to squeeze it! For me, that was a disaster in the kitchen!
The press now has measuring marks on the bottom plate of the press. This helps you align the tofu so that you can an evenly pressed block of tofu. Pressing your tofu helps you to get even more delicious tofu! The press is simple and your tofu will be pressed in 10-15 minutes!
Looking for more delicious vegetarian recipes? All our recipes are nut-free and gluten-free. We also have vegan recipes too!
More Tofu Recipes To Try
Tofu Noodle Bowls are delicious for lunch or as a meal prep idea, topped with a sweet and savory SunButter sauce.
Pineapple Barbecue Tofu has this amazing caramelized crust on the outside and cooks up quickly under the broiler.
Are you missing buffalo wings? Try Buffalo Tofu Bites!
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Sweet and Sour Tofu
Ingredients
- Sauce:
- ¾ c sugar
- ½ c apple cider vinegar
- ¼ c ketchup
- 1 T Bragg's Aminos
- ½ t garlic salt
- Tofu:
- 1 block of extra firm tofu
- 1 bunch of scallions diced
- sesame seeds garnish
Instructions
- In a sauce pan over medium heat, put all sauce ingredients into the pan. Whisk sauce together until well blended, smooth and warm. Set aside.
- Using your EZ Tofu Press, press the tofu for 15 minutes.
- Cut tofu into long skinny planks (as shown in pictures)
- Marinate tofu planks in ½ the sweet and sour sauce mixture for 1 hour.
Broiler Method
- Place planks on a lipped baking sheet. Broil for 10 minutes, fiipping sides after 5 minutes.
Skillet Method
- If you choose to NOT broil your tofu but use your skillet, you will place tofu along with marinade in the skillet over medium heat. As the tofu cooks, the sauce will thicken.
- Cook tofu about 5 minutes and add in remaining sauce. Cook until sauce is thick, about another 5 minutes. *I like to leave 1-2 T left of sauce to garnish with.
- Garnish with diced green onions and sesame seeds, if desired. Top with additional sauce if needed.
- ENJOY
Nutrition
All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
Here is a sneak peak at our OLD photos!
*This post does contain an affiliate link to amazon. Thank you to EZ Tofu Press for sponsoring this post!
I love to stir fry tofu! Lots of frozen veggies (cheaper and easier) and San-J sauces!
Sounds delicious! I can't turn down a good stir fry! Oh yes and San-J sauces! YUMMMM
What a great way to make tofu!! I can't wait to try this recipe
Thanks, enjoy!
This is my kind of meal! Your presentation is restaurant worthy, indeed! Delicious!
ENJOY!
I usually press my tofu between two plates with a heavy cast iron skillet on top, but that gadget looks easier. 🙂
The tofu press is SO much easier!
Love this vegetarian spin on a classic. It sounds delicious and a great way to switch things up!
Enjoy!
Love this sauce with the liquid aminos! so yummm!!
The aminos are SO good!