Are you looking for some Chinese tofu recipes for yourself? What about Chinese tofu recipes for vegetarians? Youâve come to the right place if youâre looking for Chinese tofu recipes for vegetarians.
Letâs face it: tofu is bland. It has been a staple in Asian cooking for centuries, but it hasnât caught on with Americans yet. The most common way to cook tofu is to throw it into soups and stir-fries, but there are lots of other ways you can make tofu more interesting.
This list includes some of our favorite recipes for deep-fried silken tofu that use this ingredient as their primary protein sourceâplus a few other ideas thrown in for good measure!
In this article, we will go over:
- Delicious Chinese tofu dishes for vegetarians
- How long does cooked tofu last
- Sauces for tofu
Table of Contents
Chinese Tofu Recipes For Vegetarians To Try
If youâre a vegetarian and you like Chinese foods, try these fantastic Chinese tofu dishes for yourself and your family.
Crispy Orange Tofu
Crispy orange tofu is one of our favorite Chinese tofu recipes.
It is for the tofu in two parts, the bean curd, and the block. You can use either one or both to make this dish.
To make crispy orange tofu:
- In a pan over medium heat, add oil and fry until golden brown (about 3-5 minutes). Add ginger and garlic paste and stir-fry for another minute or so until fragrant.
- Add orange juice/water mixture, salt, sugar, and soy sauce (if used). Bring it all together until it starts boiling; then lower the heat to medium-low so that everything simmers while you continue making your side dishes to go along with the crispy orange tofu!
General Tsoâs Tofu
General Tsoâs Tofu is a popular Chinese dish that uses tofu instead of chicken. The name comes from the sauce used in the recipe, which tastes like General Tsoâs chicken.
The general idea behind this recipe is to replace the meat with tofu and use it as a substitute for chicken in your favorite dishes. Itâll make them healthier, but they wonât taste any different!
Silken Tofu Dressed With Hot Sesame Oil And Soy Sauce
Silken tofu is one of our favorite Chinese tofu recipes. Here is how you make it.
- Take a nonstick pan and add some hot sesame oil.
- Add the tofu to the pan and cook it on both sides until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side (the more you cook it, the chewier it will be).
- Meanwhile, mix soy sauce, sesame oil, and salt to taste; pour over tofu when done cooking not to waste any liquid from the cooking process!
Crispy Deep-Fried Silken Tofu With Sichuan Hot Sauce And Broth
Silken deep-fried tofu is one of the classic Chinese tofu recipes for deep-fried tofu, with a spicy Sichuan hot sauce and broth. Itâs simple but delicious, and you can use any tofu you want!
Ingredients:
- Two blocks of silken tofu (about 1 pound)
- 1 tsp sesame oil or canola oil
- œ cup soy sauce (or tamari)
- Πcup water
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil until it starts shimmering. Cut each block into four slices; arrange them in the pan, so they donât touch each other as they fry on both sides, then flip them over after about 10 minutes to crisp up further.
Meanwhile, whisk together all ingredients except scallions into a bowl until smoothâthis will give it some body so that it sticks together better when frying later.
Once all pieces are cooked through (they should be golden brown), remove them from heat immediately before serving, so they donât get overcooked!
Now that weâve gone over some Chinese tofu dishes, letâs explore the answer to âhow long does cooked tofu last?â.
How Long Does Cooked Tofu Last?
The best way to ensure that you enhance the shelf life of your tofu is to cook it. Cooked tofu lasts much longer than raw tofu, and if you cook the tofu, it can last for about 6 to 7 days.
However, it is not always necessary that the tofu wonât go wrong. Just like another food item, it cannot go well if the proper storage conditions are not maintained. In addition, it also depends on whether you have stored your tofu open or unopened.
It is always recommended to keep the tofu in appropriate storage conditions as you got it from the store. If youâve received it from a refrigerated cabinet, store it in the fridge, but if youâve received it open, then keep it at room temperature.
Tofu can quickly go rancid at room temperature, and it contains an ample amount of moisture. At room temperature, tofu releases water, which becomes a hub for the bacteria and fungus to grow. Hence, keeping tofu on the counter or at room temperature can quickly go rancid.
While opened, tofu kept in the fridge under perfect storage conditions can easily last for 3 to 5 days. You can cook that tofu quickly.
However, it can also be kept raw in the fridge for around six days maximum if not being cooked.
Sauces For Tofu You Can Experiment With
Many people mostly have Chinese tofu with saucesâmoreover, most Chinese tofu recipes incorporate sauces. There is a wide variety of sauces that you can use for your tofu recipe, and you can use some sauces for tofu as a pour-over sauce or dipping sauce.
- The Korean dipping sauce is spicy and salvaging. It contains garlic, sesame oil, red pepper, gochujang, scallions, and garlic.
- Another is vegan ranch sauce which is oil-free and contains garlic, apple cider vinegar, parsley, and lemon juice.
- Spicy mayo dipping sauce. This sauce contains onion powder, lemon juice, and sweet chili sauce.
- Asian dipping sauce contains rice vinegar, soya sauce, ginger, and garlic.
Tofu contains lower calories, is high in protein, and has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. If youâre a vegetarian and looking to start eating healthy, tasty food, try our Chinese tofu recipes for an irresistible experience for your taste buds.
