If you’ve ever tried my recipe for How to Make Tofu Taste Good (or the new quicker method), you’ve likely fallen in love with tofu.
Prior to discovering this method – which crisps the tofu up in the oven without any oil or cornstarch – I wasn’t a big fan of tofu. But it’s since become my tried-and-true method for pretty much all things tofu!
The baking method works beautifully in this simple, 9-ingredient vegetable stir-fry infused with almond butter for added protein and nuttiness. Shall we?
This is my new favorite stir-fry recipe* because it is so easy to make, is ready in less than 1 hour, and packs plenty of plant-based protein and fiber.
Baked tofu is marinated in sesame oil, tamari, lime juice, chili garlic sauce, maple syrup, and almond butter, which acts as an extremely flavorful sauce for the rest of the stir-fry.
*Note: You can learn more about stir frying and its origin here.
Once the tofu is marinated, all that’s left to do is stir-fry the tofu and veggies!
I went with green beans and cherry bomb peppers, but you could use whatever vegetables you have on hand. I think zucchini, asparagus, or even sweet potato would be delicious!
I’m in love with this recipe! It’s:
Simple
Flavorful
Easy to make
Protein-rich (22 g protein / serving!)
Salty-sweet
Perfectly spiced
& SO delicious
This would make the perfect weeknight meal when you’re craving something hearty yet healthy. It’s extremely customizable: Sub peanut butter for almond butter, cauliflower rice for brown rice, or whatever seasonal vegetables you have on hand. And it stores well, making it perfect for leftovers the next day!
For more stir-fries, check out our General Tso’s Tofu Stir-Fry, Vegan Singapore Noodles, Crispy Peanut Tofu + Cauliflower Rice Stir-Fry, How to Make Tofu Taste Good: Stir-Fry, 30-Minute Portobello Stir-Fry, and Thai Noodle Bowls with Almond Butter Tofu.
If you try this recipe let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram so we can see what you came up with. Cheers, friends!
Almond Butter Tofu Stir-Fry
Ingredients
TOFU
- 1 12-ounce package extra firm tofu
MARINADE
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil (divided)
- 4 Tbsp reduced-sodium tamari (or soy sauce if not GF)
- 3 Tbsp maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp almond butter (or sub peanut butter)
- 2 Tbsp lime juice
- 1-2 tsp chili garlic sauce (or 1/2 tsp red pepper flake // or 1-2 Thai chilies, minced // amounts as original recipe is written)
VEGGIES
- 1 pound green beans (trimmed)
- 2-3 small spicy peppers (I used cherry bomb – use bell peppers for less heat)
FOR SERVING optional
- Brown rice*, white rice*, or Cauliflower Rice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Also wrap tofu in a clean, absorbent towel and set something heavy on top – like a cast-iron skillet – to press out excess moisture.
- Once oven is preheated, unwrap tofu and cut into small cubes. Arrange on the lined baking sheet in an even layer and bake for 25-30 minutes or until puffy, dried out, and slightly crispy on the edges (see photo). This step helps crisp up the tofu. The longer you bake it, the firmer and crispier it will get, so adjust cooking time accordingly.
- In the meantime, to a small mixing bowl, add half of the sesame oil (1 Tbsp as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size), tamari, maple syrup, almond butter, lime juice, and chili garlic sauce/red pepper flake/Thai chilies. Whisk to combine. Then taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more almond butter for creaminess / nuttiness, tamari for saltiness, lime juice for acidity, or chili garlic sauce for heat. Set aside.
- If serving with rice, prepare at this time (see notes).
- Add baked tofu to the almond butter-tamari sauce and let marinate for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The longer it marinates, the more intense the flavor, but I find 5-10 minutes to be sufficient.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the tofu, leaving most of the marinade behind (this will be added to the vegetables for flavor).
- Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides and slightly caramelized. Remove from pan and set aside.
- To the skillet, add remaining sesame oil (1 Tbsp as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size), green beans and peppers and 2-3 Tbsp (30-45 ml // amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) of the marinade. Cover to steam for about 4-5 minutes or until green beans are slightly tender. Then remove lid, increase heat to medium high, and add remaining marinade and the tofu. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently. Then remove from heat.
- Serve as is or over cooked rice or cauliflower rice. For more heat, serve with chili garlic sauce or Sriracha.
- Best when fresh. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot.
Notes
*Tofu method adapted from How to Make Tofu Taste Good.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without rice.
Corinna Staples says
It was better than most tofu recipes!! I liked how the recipe was so easy to follow and there aren’t any hard to find ingredients.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Corinna! Thank you for sharing your experience! xo
Kathy says
Recipe came out too sweet for our tastes. Otherwise easy and flavorful. I subbed in lemon for lime d/t availability. Next time I will cut back on syrup, try to use lime or vinegar and make sauce slightly thinner.
I loved the tofu prep method. Plan to start using regularly.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing your experience, Kathy! Sorry to hear it turned out too sweet, but glad you enjoyed it overall!
Tracy says
This was really good! I used peanut butter instead of almond butter. When I heated up the leftovers, I thought it needed cashews. . . . . . and that addition was delicious!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Tracy! Thanks so much for the lovely review. xo
Cheri says
This is one of my favorite recipes! I often substitute broccoli for the green beans due to accessibility, and it’s just as good if not better. I also use the ultra firm tofu, which is a bigger block, so I make the 3-serving recipe. I then increase the vegetables a bit to soak up all that lovely sauce! I make this 2-3 times a month and because it’s just for me, the 3-serving size usually makes around 5+ meals.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Cheri. Thank you for sharing! xo
Lucy says
I love this recipe! It never disappoints! I especially love how simple and delicious the marinade is. I do also (like some other commenters) add green onion and ginger into the sesame oil to fry for a little before adding the vegetables to sauté, which adds a nice extra layer. I’ve made this recipe many times, and it works so well with lots of different vegetables – our new favorite combination is red pepper, yellow squash, and fairytale eggplant!
The prep time is usually longer for me than 15 minutes, but I may just not be a very efficient cook. However, it is always worth the time and energy. Thank you so much!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Lucy! Thanks so much for the lovely review. xo
Martha S. says
Oh my goodness, this was such a treat! Instant favorite. I added green onions, garlic, and ginger to saute for about 30 seconds before adding the green beans for a little extra pizzazz. I also made this a 2nd time with broccoli instead of green beans and both veggies were fabulous.
Thank you for such a great recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Martha! Broccoli sounds like an amazing sub. Thank you for the lovely review!
Danae F says
Made this after trying it at a friend’s house and it did not disappoint!y husband has always said you can’t make tofu at home that has restaurant quality but he loved the way this turned out! Super happy to add this recipe to our list of family regulars!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you both enjoyed the recipe. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, Danae! xo
Gabriela Aoun says
So good! I used chili flakes instead of oil and bell peppers, I also added mushrooms. Will definitely make again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Gabriela!
Mia says
Absolutely love this recipe. I’ve been making it for what feels like forever and I haven’t gotten bored of it yet! I love green beans so I’ve always used them but tonight I am going to try some other veg to mix things up :) Maybe even just make a small side salad with some fried courgette for a new texture.
Also, I always make this with vermicelli rice noodles as they are quick to cook and it really elevates this dish.
Thank you for this recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you’re enjoying it, Mia. Thank you for sharing! xo
Lydia says
Seriously good! I added an extra tbsp of almond butter for extra nuttiness which I think was a good move. Thanks for another fantastic recipe!
Donna Featherston says
This was easy and delicious–I will definitely make it again!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Donna! Thank you for sharing! xo
Christine says
Very tasty! Thanks for showing me how to crisp up tofu. I made as written except adding an extra teaspoon of garlic chili sauce for more heat and sweet red pepper instead of the spicy peppers because that is what I had. I will make this again
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Christine! Thank you for sharing! xo
Christine says
This was deeeeelicious! I saw the post on Instagram in the morning and made the recipe for dinner that night. I used broccoli and a partial red bell pepper because that’s what I had in the refrigerator. I also added extra chili garlic sauce. Will definitely be making this again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Christine. Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Kelly says
Do you think tahini would work in place of almond butter? Trying to use what I have on hand. Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Kelly, We think so! Or you could use this sauce instead. Hope that helps!
Claire says
To echo everyone’s comments, this is fantastic! I made it even easier by using an air fryer for the tofu—only took 15-20 minutes at 400 F. In the sauce, I substituted lemon for lime and sriracha + garlic powder for chili garlic sauce. I made the veggies even easier by using a microwave steam bag of fresh green beans, so I just added them to the pan and thickened up the sauce at the end.
Next time I think I’d use slightly less soy to balance the flavors, but my husband and I are adding this to our dinner menu rotation! Looking forward to trying different nut butters and veggies to keep it fresh.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thank you for sharing, Claire! xo
Hillary says
I absolutely loved this recipe!! The marinade is so flavorful and delicious [and works on tempeh too if you don’t have tofu-I just lightly cooked the tempeh before tossing it in the marinade]. I used asparagus since I didn’t have green beans, and chili sesame oil from Trader Joe’s since I didn’t have chili garlic sauce. This is one of my new favorite recipes & I cannot wait to make this again :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Hillary. Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications! xo
Dennis says
This was awesome! I ended up leaving tofu for close to an hour, and skipped the towel drying step (I know, I shouldn’t have). The sauce is also remarkably rich and fits the combination of veggies quite nicely. I went with broccoli, farro, bell peppers, spinach on white rice. Will be making tofu only using this method from now on. Many thanks.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum! Thanks so much for the great review and for sharing your experience, Dennis!
Heather says
My whole family (with very different eaters) loved this. That’s a big win for us. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Love that, Heather! Thank you for sharing! xo
Dasha says
Made it the second time. But I decided only to bake the tofu marinated in soya sauce with pepper flakes in the oven. I mixed the almond sauce in the green beans. Served it with the whole basmati rice:)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum! Thanks for sharing, Dasha!
Stephanie says
I’ve been making this recipe for years and it’s amazing every time. I usually sub peanut butter and add bell pepper. Thank you so much for this recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Stephanie! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Madison says
This is one of my favorite dinner recipes ever! I make it almost once a week and it’s so simple. I always use green beans and a red bell pepper for the veggies and it’s so good! I made this for Mu mom (who eats meat) once and now she is constantly asking me to make this for her again lol! Thanks for the delicious recipe!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! We’re so glad you both enjoy it, Madison. Thank you so much for sharing! xo
EP says
This had so much flavor and my kids (8;10) loved it. They haven’t had tofu much so I was pleasantly surprised. The marinade makes it!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Sara says
So good! Have made this many times with all different nut butters. SO good with sweet potato noodles. Love it.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Sara! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
becca says
We make this like every other week! It’s delicious. Once you get the hang of it, it’s so easy to make. Usually sub peanut butter. Also, it works with like any veggies you want – we’ve done eggplant, bell pepper, mushrooms, broccolini, bok choy… whatever we have on hand. Thank you for all your recipes!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Becca!
Elizabeth V Forrester says
My son in law has made this for us several times without altering anything, except he leaves out most of the heat because my husband and I don’t like it. It is delicious. I am going to make it this week for my son’s family but will sub broccoli for the green beans since the grandkids don’t like green beans. I’ll steam it for only a minute or two to keep it bright green and sturdy. I’ll try to let you know how it goes.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth. Let us know how it goes!
Joyce says
I made this for dinner last night; one reason was it did not require a lot of ingredients, and it offered directions to prepare tofu by baking it first. I have been aware of a trend in this direction and wanted to try it. I think it gave the tofu more presence in the final dish, which is a good thing in my opinion. I added green beans as indicated, using a package of frozen thin green beans, but instead of small hot peppers, I thinly sliced half an orange pepper and added that. Based on other comments, it appears most vegetables probably work well, another plus. Bottom line, it was easy to prepare, was flexible to substitutions, and very tasty. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Joyce! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Stephanie says
I have a giant bottle of toasted sesame oil (but no regular sesame oil). Would that work? Also, do you have other recipes that work with toasted sesame oil?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Stephanie, regular sesame oil would be a better fit in this recipe. But we’d say try one of these: https://minimalistbaker.com/quick-ginger-garlic-miso-tahini-dressing/, https://minimalistbaker.com/easy-chinese-chicken-salad-gf-soy-free/, or https://minimalistbaker.com/rainbow-quinoa-salad-with-chili-garlic-sesame-dressing/. Hope that helps!
Lauren W says
Haha – I make this recipe very often and never noticed that regular, not toasted sesame oil is called for! Nonetheless it is fantastic! I often make it using brussel sprouts instead of green beans.
Tip: Partially roast the veggies in the oven when / after you’ve baked the tofu.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing, thanks for sharing Lauren!
Hailey says
I loved learning this tofu method. I always avoid making tofu because it never turns out right, but this was awesome. I really like the sauce too! For veggies, we used red bell pepper, green beans, and broccoli. I accidentally overcooked my veggies a bit, which is never fun. :( Not sure I will make this exact recipe again, because no one ooh-ed/ahh-ed, but if I do, I will use brown or white rice as a base instead of the cauliflower rice I used. The cauliflower did not provide enough variance in texture for us.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing your experience, Hailey!
Sarah says
2 out of 3 of my tofu recipes are from this website, you really know how to make it taste good! My partner and I loved this so much. We don’t have chilli garlic sauce and my partner doesn’t like spice so I just used some fresh garlic in it. I only used 2 tbsp of honey and it was still delicious.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, thanks so much for the lovely review, Sarah! We’re so glad you both enjoyed it! xo
Shane Brannigan says
This recipe is one of the tastiest dinners I’ve ever made, hands down. It’s relatively easy and SO good. Being new to a plant-based diet, these types of recipes are incredibly helpful and easy to learn – thanks for this one! :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Shane!
Katrina says
Today I will be making a version of this recipe – BUT what I really want to comment on is the instruction to pre-bake the cubed tofu and then marinade it. I had stumbled across this recipe months ago and saw that ‘hint’ and have been using that technique almost every time I have cooked tofu since! It is a home-run, a slam dunk, sure thing, etc.
Give it a try, bet you will love it and share with others like I have been doing!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Katrina!
Christine Graham says
This recipe was wonderful. I have been struggling to find an enjoyable way to prepare tofu, and this is it. The stir fry sauce is simple (I subbed sun butter due to a nut allergy and that worked fine). I added some sliced mushrooms to the veg mix – I honestly think you could use whatever veg you have on hand without issue. I will definitely make this again and again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Christine! Thanks so much for sharing!
Laneya Wiles says
Just made this. I recommend boiling the green beans separately before adding them to the dish, I clearly needed mine to steam for longer, but my family and I DEFINITELY felt this was tasty.
My family trusts eating tofu that I cook because of you! I’ve also made your General Tso’s and that was the 1st hit.
Thank you! I feel like making more of this tomorrow.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Laneya!
Elana says
Delicious!
Ashley says
We make this dish once a week! It is an easy weeknight dinner and we keep it exciting by switching up the veggies. I have shared this recipe with multiple friends who have never had tofu before, and they have all been pleasantly surprised at how tasty and easy to make.
Nikki says
I want to try this and I have cashew butter on hand. Do you think that would work??
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We haven’t tried that, but we think it would work! Let us know how it goes!
Nikki says
I made it and it was SO GOOD! Hands down the best tofu stir fry I have made.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Nikki! xo
Maggie Johnson says
What salad would you pair with this if you wanted a side of greens?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Maggie, perhaps one of these: https://minimalistbaker.com/vibrant-mango-salad-with-peanut-dressing/ or https://minimalistbaker.com/20-minute-asian-kale-salad/. Hope that helps!
Karin P. says
This is the first time I cooked with tofu, as I’ve only started a plantbased diet a few months ago. Absolutely delicious! I used soy sauce as I had no tamari and asparagus instead of beans. Will definitely make this a regular! Thank you ?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Karin! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Maggie Johnson says
While being home during this quarantine, I am on a Minimalist Baker cooking-spree! This was a hit in my house. I am always looking for ways to switch things up with tofo (especially being vegetarian) and this “home-made” sauce was incredible! I added mushrooms for more veggies to the dish which were great. Next time I would even add more vegetables since the sauce is delish!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Ha- we love it, Maggie! Thanks so much for sharing! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Hanna says
One of my go-to recipes! I make this nearly every week. I find that it makes exactly 3 servings. I’ve made it with the green beans and broccoli, and both turned out incredible. Cannot recommend this enough!!!
Lynne S says
This was delicious!!! I didn’t have green beans, so I used red peppers, carrots and broccoli instead, and I made it with the brown rice per the instructions. This was really an excellent dish and I will definitely be making it again! Thanks for the recipe, and also for showing me how to make tofu without using a lot of oil.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Lynne! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Lynne says
Oh, one thing I forgot to say also, is that I didn’t have any lime juice so I used one part lemon juice and one part rice wine vinegar. Yum!
Amanda says
I always make this recipe for non-vegan dinner guests, and I have always gotten rave reviews! Normally I load it up with bell peppers and extra green beans (foregoing the rice option). It always impresses and is very forgiving in terms of ratios/ having exactly the right ingredients on hand.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Amanda!
Cat says
This was really super!! I tried the tofu at all stages of the process and it was awful until the end – then it was incredible!
Really delicious, I’m glad I made double – it’ll be great for tomorrow too! ?
Thanks for the lovely recipe.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Cat! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Alexi says
This is really good! I added chopped green onions and minced garlic, but otherwise followed the recipe. Served it over cauliflower rice. Next time I think I’ll add the sauce just at the end, because it left quite a sticky mess on my pan.
Shelley Cockrell says
This. Was. Amazing. I am new to tofu and am not a big fan of the texture so when I followed the instructions in this recipe, it was perfect! I swapped out the almond butter for peanut butter (I can never get enough peanut butter.) I also used bell peppers instead of greens beans and put it all on brown rice. I could not stop eating it. And I didn’t want to share. I HIGHLY recommend this recipe and will definitely be making it again within a few days.
Meredith says
We use this at least two times a month or even once a week as bowls on a salad, in everything!!!
Casper Amos says
Just made this for dinner! It came out so good, but next time I think I’d do less maple syrup or more salt. My 4 year old nephew was over for dinner and he even wanted to try some! Delicious, definitely will be making again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Casper. We are so glad you enjoyed it and your nephew was interested too! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Sophie says
This was fantastic – baking the tofu gave it a more interesting texture and made it hold together in the pan really well. Will definitely be making this recipe again!
Maria says
I have made this several times. I adjusted it recently to accommodate “The Daniel Fast” in which my family participates yearly. It is challenging to convert even healthy recipes because of the restrictions of the fast. but this came out so good I had to share.
I left the tofu drained and raw- my preference
2 blocks tofu
2 tbsp of canola oil
2 tbsp reduced sodium tamari
4 tbsp of almond butter. (I like TJ raw)
6 medjool dates + 6 to 8 tbsp of water to replace the liquid
Chili flakes
Marinate tofu in sauce and mix in
Steamed green beans well done
This could look like a different recipe on paper, but mimics the original SO much that MB has to get the credit. I love this blog for inspiration and well rounded flavors. Thank you.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for your kind words and lovely review, Maria! We’re so glad you enjoy our recipes! xo
Amanda V says
I make this all the time! We sometimes swap the green beans for broccoli and sometimes add carrots, but rely on this heavily in our rotation. I never buy reduced-sodium tamari, so we usually half it for this recipe, and we like it a touch hotter, so we add a little more sriracha.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy this recipe, Amanda! Thanks for the lovely review!
nicholas genier says
Tasted great!
Used with olive oil instead of sesame and peanut butter instead of almond butter and soy sauce for the tamari.
I also used 1/2 tsp of chili flakes.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Nicholas. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Vashti says
Made this recipe so many times and always love it (with various veggie combinations:)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Vashti! xo
Allison says
I have made this twice now as written (and using peanut butter because our almond butter just does not last long around me) and my fiancé and I both really, really love it… Will definitely be making regularly. You are awesome.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
So kind! Thanks, Allison!
Alex says
i have a confession!
My partner loved this recipe and I took all the credit :[]
He was all like: ooooh the almond butter is so creative, you’re so creative!
LOL
And I couldn’t resist!
But usually I say oh this is someone else’s recipe, or my spin on it, but I followed this recipe pretty closely with very little variations. I prepared it with broccoli and asparagus instead of the green beans (just didn’t have any), added minced garlic to the sauce, and did the proportions to my liking. It was awesome! So will be on repeat.
We both felt ‘clean’ after eating :) so that’s cool
For a month now I’ve been cutting back on meat consumption to about 50% of what it was, so I’m always looking for vegetarian recipes that look like they’ll be satisfying. This one is a winner, and I’ll be all over your blog onward.
Thank you for sharing with us! :),
Alex
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We are so glad you both enjoyed it, Alex! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Heather says
I love this recipe. It has even converted my husband to eating tofu. It’s easy, quick, makes delicous leftovers, and has accessible, year-round ingredients. I
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Heather!
Helda says
Can I substitute jarred cherry peppers for fresh ones? If not where can I purchase these peppers?
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Hmm, I’m not sure. I’d say fresh is best!
Tanya says
This recipe is simple and delicious and has been in constant rotation ever since I discovered it. I use chicken instead of tofu and I make an extra side of the sauce because my husband likes to drown his food in it :)! Oh, I also serve it with Atjar ketimoen. Yum!
Katie says
This was sooooo good, the marinade was incredible! I’m definitely going to make this again. I switched out the green beans for broccoli and it worked seamlessly.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Katie!
Steph says
This recipe is simple, wholesome, and so, so delicious every time. I’ve followed the recipe exactly and been very happy, but I’ve also made tweaks in a pinch and been equally pleased. It was still delicious when I swapped in lemon juice for lime, carrots for spicy peppers, and firm tofu instead of extra firm. And it’s even more delicious the next day. If you’re looking for a tasty way to eat tofu, this is it!
Franki says
This was delicious! Every recipe I make from this website is so good.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much, Franki! So glad you enjoyed this recipe and others!
Capri says
I made this last night and it was seriously so good. Normally I’m overly critical of my cooking (even when I follow a yummy recipe) or I no longer have an appetite for the thing I’ve been sampling throughout the cooking process (is this just me ??♀️) But gobbled this up, it was so delicious! I made double the portion so I could have plenty through the week (less cooking for the win!) And it was also very good cold straight from the fridge the next night.
I couple adjustments I made:
I split the almond butter and with half regular peanut butter just because I’m not a huge fan of almond butter. I added some prepackaged carrot chips which ended up being the family’s favorite veggie in the dish. But I just love carrots in most Asian inspired dishes.
Then I did half cauliflower rice and half white rice (cooked separately) and then mix the two together and added some of the sauce so that it wouldn’t dry out in the fridge. I really liked the texture of the combined rices. I may be doing this from now on.
Only suggestion I would make is to make extra sauce if you have a husband like mine who likes lots of sauce on his food haha. We made ours a little more spicy with extra chili sauce. Thank you for this recipe and for making tofu yummy ?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
So glad you enjoyed this, Capri! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications!
Robin says
Absolutely delicious! Made it for dinner last night and it tasted just as great for dinner tonight. This will definitely be my new go to stir fry recipe.
Marc Sager says
This recipe went together really well. I don’t have an oven, so I prepared the tofu as Iusually do, in the pan. I only used 3/4 of a pound of green beans, because that’s what I had left from another meal. It seemed about right to me. The thing that’s really made the meal was the marinade. I had stopped using almond butter because the price has gone way up, but splurged. Well worth it.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for sharing, Marc! We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! xo
Suzanne says
This is one of our favorite recipes. We try to eat meatless 4-5 times per week. I always add extra hot! Great with broccoli too. Thanks for your excellent recipe ideas. As retirees, we try and eat as healthy as possible so we can be here for our grands for many years to come.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
So glad you enjoy this recipe, Suzanne! Thanks for the lovely review! xo
Natasha says
I’ve made this recipe more than a dozen times. It’s definitely one of my favorites from your blog! It’s delicious, simple, and yields wonderful leftovers!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! So glad to hear you enjoy this, Natasha! Thanks for the lovely review! xo
Sarah says
Hi, I haven’t done much cooking with tofu and am wondering if firm tofu would work just as well as extra firm? Just bought a four-pack at Costco… Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes, that should work though you may find it falls apart more than extra firm tofu!
Tawnie says
Love this recipe! Made it with peanut butter instead of almond butter. Next time I’ll double the recipe and maybe add extra vegetables so we have leftovers.
Stephanie says
This is absolutely delicious and will become a regular go-to. I am so glad you have shared how to make the tofu good without frying. This sauce is so yummy. I will likely not use the 2nd TB of sesame oil next time – it’s just not my favorite flavor. And I will likely try this with broccoli next time. Thank you!!!
Sarah says
Thanks for all your great & healthy recipes. I hadn’t been eating much tofu (8 years vegan) because I didn’t know how to prepare it well. I’ve been experimenting lately (Costco sells a case of firm tofu in the refrigerated section! Who knew?) and this recipe was one of the first I tried. I saw online that a Japanese method to make tofu absorb marinade and stir fry better is to freeze and thaw it before using, and it’s definitely something you should try! It adds another step to any recipe, but I throw the baking sheet with the thawed cubes of tofu right into the oven. Super spongy on the inside and crisp on the outside.
Brittany says
Hi Dana!
I’ve made this before and it’s easily my go-to when I have guests! Quick q…can the tofu be made a day ahead to speed up cook time?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes, that should work!
Cindy says
Hoping for a reply. :)
This was great and so easy. I used a serrano chile and red bell peppers but will try the Thai chiles next time as it was not spicy enough for me even after additional garlic chile paste. The tofu was rather tough and was wondering have you tried this without baking the tofu? I used Trader Joe’s Organic extra firm tofu. Served over cauliflower rice. Will make this again. Thank you!
Cindy says
The was great and so easy. I used a serrano chile and red bell peppers but will try the Thai chiles next time as it was not spicy enough for me even after additional garlic chile paste. The tofu was rather tough and was wondering have you tried this without baking the tofu? I used Trader Joe’s Organic extra firm tofu. Served over cauliflower rice. Will make this again. Thank you!
Jayson Tan says
I tried it just now and I like it, but a shame is that I can’t taste the crispy texture I desired, anyway good recipe and I would definitely try it again?❤️
Maddy Borowski says
Sooo goood!! I made mine with Japanese sweet potato, carrots, bell pepper, and broccoli. Thank you for your delicious vegan recipes!!
Jessie Johnston says
This recipe was delicious! Great for a meat-free super healthy dinner and leftovers for lunch. I sliced my tofu in half to create 2 big thin rectangles before wrapping in towels to get the water out, which seemed to speed the process up and made for perfectly crispy tofu. I tossed it with 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp tamari, and 1 Tbsp cornstarch, then threw it on a well-seasoned cast-iron pizza pan. After stirring occasionally it was perfect in about 30 mins. I didn’t want to take the extra step to marinate the tofu and then re-heat it in a pan, so while the tofu was cooking I sautéed my veggies (asparagus, carrots, shallots, cabbage, yellow pepper, and kale) and just combined everything at the end. I also added grated ginger and garlic to the marinade. I definitely increased this to more than 10 ingredients, but it still turned out fantastic and took minimal effort.
Melissa Gillaume Cappaert says
This might be our favorite stir fry yet!!! Amazing :)
Eileen says
Whole family loved this dish!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Glad to hear it, Eileen!
Lillie says
Great recipe! The tips for making the tofu crispy were spot on. My first try and my family loved it!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Glad to hear it, Lillie!
Irriella says
So I just made this as a spur of the moment lunch and it’s soooooo good!!! Someone threw out my almond butter so I had to sub PB and I didn’t have any lime anything so I subbed rice wine vinegar to get that nice acidity and my god after I had finished cooking the tofu I had to stop myself from eating it all wait for the green beans to finish up! I doubled up the tofu so I can have half now and half for dinner later. I also couldn’t find any peppers so I dumbly used chili infused olive oil when cooking the beans and made it stupid hot on accident lmao
This was so quick and easy tho I’m so happy I made this and I’m gonna make it forever now!!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks so much for sharing your recipe changes, Irriella! We are glad you enjoyed it :D
Nathalie says
super easy and super yummy to make ! i usually make this when i dont have any ideas on what to cook that night or if i’m low on ingredients but I always have tofu and some veggies stocked so that makes this super convenient.
Christy says
Just perfect! Easy. Tastes like there’s no way you made this yourself. Perfect balance between salty and sweet. The almond butter gives it a creamy texture and delicious nutty flavor. I didn’t have peppers so just used extra pepper flakes. The 1/2 lime I had was desiccated so I used the zest instead.
Fredda says
Made an adapted version of this for dinner tonight and it was delicious. The adaptations involved the use of silken tofu as it was all I had. Instead of just baking the tofu cubes, I used the convection mode to make sure the tofu dried well, It was perfect and caramelized very well. Also had no green beans so used green peas instead. The spicy sauce on the sweet peas was amazingly delicious. Otherwise, I followed the recipe exactly and we really loved it. Thanks.
Bhoomi says
Loved this! Turned out amazing and my husband wants to include it in our rotation.
Britton says
So delicious! I don’t usually care for tofu unless it’s firm and crispy, and this was perfect!
Daniel James Ortiz says
This has become a staple dinner for my wife and I. Thank you so much! Incredibly delicious and straightforward. Would recommend to anyone!
Jackie Magoon says
Fabulous. I made it with broccoli and red bell peppers. Next time (and there will definitely be a next time) I’ll be more creative with the veggies. The marinade is fabulous.
Taylor says
I made this a few times last year and was thinking about the marinade when I saw some nice broccoli in the store so made it again tonight with broccoli instead. I love the flavor of the marinade and the tofu-crisping method but found that unless green beans are in season they are tough and stringy. Tonight I roasted the broccoli with the tofu and finished the dish on the stove after marinating the tofu in the sauce. Now I’m thinking which other veggies could be good here! :) Thanks for another great recipe!
Emma says
Made this for dinner last night and it was awesome! The marinated tofu was so good I could have probably eaten a whole bowl on its own. I was daydreaming about the leftovers all day today but also a bit apprehensive because I find that oftentimes tofu dishes aren’t so good on the 2nd and 3rd go-arounds…but this one held up really well! It was definitely best fresh out of the pan, but still yummy tonight. I had never baked tofu before because of the extra effort required, but I think it’s going to be my go-to method from now on. I might try making your eggplant and almond butter tofu bowls again with baked tofu, because the leftovers from that came out a bit sad and soggy the last time I made it (which was disappointing because it was also awesome fresh!)
Nichole says
I made this with peanut butter instead, because it’s what I had on hand. It was amazing! It’s now a staple! ???
Maureen Morales says
Wow. I have never made tofu at home before although I often order it when eating out. I found your blog and thought this looked delicious and approachable.
The marinade is fabulous. My husband told me twice it was very good. I subbed peanut butter for the almond butter since that’s what I had on hand. I am excited to try so many of your other recipes. Thank you.?
Emily says
Fantastic!
Lucy says
SO GOOD!! I love how simple and tasty the marinade is, and and how versatile the recipe (lots of good green veggies work!). I used shallots instead of hot peppers one time, and broccoli and broccoli stems.
One question: Is the marinade okay to make in larger quantities to store for another meal later on? How long would it last in the fridge? Freezer (or would it even work there)?
Thank you so much – I love your blog and use your recipes all the time!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Lucy! You can make it in larger quantities to store for later!
Nick says
This is such an awesome recipe! I was able to make it even w/o all the listed ingredients and it was still delicious. I just substituted brown sugar for maple syrup, peanut butter instead of almond, and lemon juice for lime. I also served it over brown rice noodles instead of rice. Definitely gonna make this one again! (even more if my wife likes it!)
Dominique says
My boyfriend has always been very open to my vegan lifestyle, and has always been open to trying out your incredible recipes. When I told him we were having tofu for dinner, he definitely wasn’t the happiest of bunnies…but boy was he surprised by the end result! He LOVED it. He’s already cooked it up for himself multiple times!
Keep up your amazing work Dana!