Shaken Tofu (Vegetarian Version)

 This shaken tofu (tofu lúc lắc) is my vegetarian adaptation of the classic shaken beef dish.  I simply replace the beef with tofu and use soy sauce instead of fish sauce, while keeping the remaining ingredients the same.

For vegetarians, tofu is nearly indispensable—not only because it’s a clean source of plant-based protein, but also because it absorbs flavors beautifully and pairs well with vegetables and mushrooms. Today, I’ll show you how to make an easy, colorful, and delicious shaken tofu with bell peppers.  It’s simple, nutritious, and full of flavor.

Ingredients:

Main Ingredients

16 oz. firm tofu

2 cups mixed bell peppers (green, red, yellow), cut into squares

1 cup white onion, cut into squares

Cilantro for garnish

Tofu Marinade

½ tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp vegetarian seasoning

½ tsp pepper

Sauce ingredients:

1/3 cup all-purpose stir-fry sauce (posted on 11/24)

1 tbsp ketchup

1 tsp chili sauce

1 tsp mushroom seasoning powder

1/4 cup water

Aromatics ingredients:

1 shallot

1 tsp garlic

1 tsp minced ginger

Directions:

1. Preparing this one the tofu:

Rinse the tofu, then boil it in water for 5 minutes.  This helps it firm up.

Cut the tofu into square pieces.

Fry the tofu in hot oil over medium heat until golden brown on all sides.

Remove from the pan and toss with the tofu marinade ingredients (salt, sugar, pepper, and vegetarian seasoning).

Let it sit for about 1 hour so the tofu absorbs the flavors.

2. Preparing the vegetables and aromatics:

Wash and cut the bell peppers into squares, removing the seeds.

Wash and chop the cilantro.

Blend the shallot, garlic, and ginger into a smooth mixture using a spice grinder.

3. Stir-frying the vegetables:

Remove excess oil from the pan.

Add half of the shallot–garlic–ginger mixture and sauté until fragrant.

Add the bell peppers and stir-fry.  Season with ½ tbsp vegetarian seasoning powder.

Stir-fry for about 2 minutes, then remove from heat and set aside.

4. Making the sauce:

In the same pan, add 1 tbsp oil and heat it.

Add the remaining shallot mixture and sauté until fragrant.

Pour in all the sauce ingredients and bring to a boil.

5. Combining everything:

Add the fried tofu to the pan and gently stir-fry on low heat so it absorbs the sauce.

Add the stir-fried bell peppers back in and toss lightly.

Sprinkle in chopped green onions or cilantro to taste.

Turn off the heat.

6. Serving:

·       Transfer the shaken tofu to a plate.

Serve hot with steamed rice.

Enjoy a vibrant vegetarian dish with rich flavor, tender tofu, and crunchy bell peppers—a perfect everyday meal that’s both healthy and satisfying.