Cashew Tofu Recipe - Gimme Some Oven (2024)

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This Cashew Tofu stir-fry is loaded up with healthy veggies, crispy tofu, roasted cashews, and tossed with a simple ginger stir-fry sauce. It’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner, and also naturally gluten-free and vegan!

Cashew Tofu Recipe - Gimme Some Oven (1)

Two things my husband can never get enough of: CASHEWS and TOFU.

Then man snacks pretty much every day on a handful of cashews or some kind of nuts, and always makes sure that they are extra-well-stocked in our pantry. And when it comes to making a big stir-fry for dinner, a batch of well-seasoned crispy tofu will always be his protein of choice. So when I was craving some old-school Chinese cashew chicken a few weeks ago, we decided to swap in tofu instead for a vegetarian (also vegan and gluten-free) substitute.

And you guys, this stir-fry was awesome. ♡

I modified my usual ginger stir-fry sauce so that it could be completely vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free (no oyster sauce), and it was so good that I totally recommend making a double-batch while you’re at it to use later (or just make yourself a super-saucy stir-fry). Feel free to also swap in whatever other stir-fry veggies or nuts that you have on hand, and dish this up over rice, noodles, quinoa or whatever sounds good. Barclay and I can also vouch that this one keeps and reheats well, as we’ve made it for easy meal prep lunches a few times since. And best of all, it’s just delicious.

Let’s make some cashew tofu!

Cashew Tofu Recipe - Gimme Some Oven (2)

Cashew Tofu Ingredients:

To make this cashew tofu recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

  • Tofu: One block of extra-firm tofu, which we will toss with olive oil and cornstarch, then sauté on the stove until crispy. (Or alternately, you are welcome to bake it in the oven.)
  • Veggies:I used a mixture of broccoli, red bell peppers and red onion. But feel free to swap in any other stir-fry-friendly veggies that you have on hand.
  • Cashews:You want to be sure to use roasted (not raw) cashews here, so that they are nice and crunchy.
  • Ginger Stir-Fry Sauce: Made with soy sauce (or tamari), water, honey, rice vinegar, cornstarch, ground ginger and garlic.
  • Toppings:I topped my stir-fry with some thinly-sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds, as garnish.

I also like to serve this cashew tofu over rice (any kind), rice noodles, sesame noodles or quinoa. But you are also welcome to just serve the stir-fry on its own.

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How To Make Cashew Tofu:

To make this cashew tofu stir-fry, simply…

  1. Drain the tofu. Sandwich the block of tofu between paper towels, weight it down, then let the tofu drain for 15-30 minutes.
  2. Make the stir-fry sauce. Just whisk all of the ingredients together until combined, then set the sauce aside until you are ready to use it.
  3. Sauté the tofu. Next, slice the tofu lengthwise into 1/2-inch slabs, then cut the tofu into bite-sized pieces. Gently toss the tofu with the olive oil until evenly coated, then toss with the cornstarch plus a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet and sauté the tofu in two batches, avoiding crowding the pan, until it’s browned and crispy on both sides. Transfer the tofu to a separate plate.
  4. Sauté the veggies. Add more oil to the sauté pan and briefly cook the veggies until crisp-tender. (Try to avoid overcooking them — you don’t want soggy veggies.)
  5. Combine everything. Add the cashews, stir-fry sauce and cooked tofu to the pan, and toss to combine. Continue cooking until the sauce has thickened and evenly coated the tofu and veggies.
  6. Serve. Then dish is up over rice or quinoa and serve warm, garnished with your desired toppings.

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Possible Variations:

Want to customize this cashew tofu stir-fry recipe? Feel free to…

  • Use a different protein:If tofu isn’t your thing, you are welcome to make this cashew stir-fry with tempeh, shrimp, chicken, beef, or pork.
  • Use different veggies:Any other stir-fry-friendly veggies would be delicious in this recipe, such as carrots, onions, snow peas, mushrooms, broccoli, green beans, etc.
  • Use different nuts:If cashews aren’t your thing, this stir-fry would also be delicious with peanuts. Or you could just leave the nuts out entirely.
  • Make it gluten-free:Just use gluten-free tamari in place of soy sauce!
  • Make it extra saucy:Feel free to double the sauce recipe if you would like, so that you can have extra to toss with the rice or noodles (or to use with another recipe later!).

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More Favorite Stir-Fry Recipes:

Looking for more delicious stir-fry recipes? Feel free to swap in tofu as the main protein in any of these other favorite recipes!

  • Japchae (Korean Noodle Stir-Fry)
  • Pineapple Ginger Stir-Fry
  • Thai Basil Noodle Stir-Fry
  • Kung Pao Noodle Stir-Fry
  • Sizzlin’ Spicy Szechuan Stir-Fry
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Cashew Tofu Recipe - Gimme Some Oven (6)

Cashew Tofu

★★★★★4.8 from 15 reviews

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 35 mins
  • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Print Recipe

Description

This Cashew Tofu stir-fry is loaded up with healthy veggies, crispy tofu, roasted cashews, and tossed with a simple ginger stir-fry sauce. See notes above for possible ingredient variations.

Ingredients

Scale

Cashew Tofu Stir-Fry Ingredients:

  • 1 (14-ounce) package extra-firm tofu
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
  • 1 head broccoli, cut into bite-sized florets
  • 1 large red bell peppers, cored and cute into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 small red onion, peeled and thinly-sliced
  • 1 cup roasted cashews
  • toppings: thinly-sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds

Stir-Fry Sauce Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 large garlic clove, pressed or minced

Instructions

  1. Drain the tofu. Sandwich the block of tofu between a few layers of paper towels. Then place a cutting board on top of the tofu, and stack a few heavy cans or pots or whatever you can safely balance on the cutting board. The idea is to put a lot of pressure/weight on the tofu, which will help the excess water to press out into the paper towels. Let the tofu drain for at least 15-30 minutes.
  2. Make the stir-fry sauce. Meanwhile, whisk all of the ingredients together in a small bowl (or shake them together in a mason jar) until combined.
  3. Coat the tofu. Once the tofu has been drained, slice the block lengthwise into 1/2-inch slabs, then cut the tofu into bite-sized pieces. Transfer the tofu to a large mixing bowl, drizzle it evenly with1 tablespoon olive oil and toss until coated. Sprinkle the cornstarch plus a generous pinch of salt and pepper over the tofu, and toss until evenly coated.
  4. Cook the tofu: Heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat in a large non-stick skillet. Add about half of the tofu (however much can fit in an even layer without overlapping) and sauté for about 4-5 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crispy and golden on both sides. Transfer the tofu to a separate plate and repeat with the remaining tofu.
  5. Sauté the veggies. Add the remaining oil to the sauté pan and add the broccoli, red pepper and red onion. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender.
  6. Combine everything.Add the cashews, stir-fry sauce and cooked tofu to the sauteé pan, and toss to combine. Continue cooking for 1-2 more minutes, until the sauce has thickened.
  7. Serve. Remove pan from heat and serve the stir-fry warm over rice, noodles or quinoa, garnished with your desired toppings.

posted on January 20, 2020 by Ali

Chinese-Inspired, Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Main Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian

25 Comments »

Cashew Tofu Recipe - Gimme Some Oven (2024)

FAQs

Why isn't my tofu getting crispy in the oven? ›

Do not skip the draining. This is key for making crispy tofu in the oven. If you skip this step, your cubes may be too soft to crisp up nicely. Cut into larger or smaller cubes as you prefer.

Is it better to fry or bake tofu? ›

Baked, Not Fried.

My method for baking tofu produces tofu that's chewy, but it's cooked in the oven, making it much healthier.

How to get a crispy crust on tofu? ›

Spread your Tofu on a Silicone Baking Mat, leaving enough space between each cube. Bake at 425F for 20 minutes, then carefully flip the Tofu and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes, depending on how crispy you like it.

Why is my tofu rubbery? ›

Overcooked tofu is rubbery and dry (not great). In my experience, newbies to eating tofu prefer a firmer tofu texture (well done) at first. To achieve that, cook the tofu for a few extra minutes or cut it into smaller tofu cubes which creates a firmer, meaty texture.

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

What does adding cornstarch to tofu do? ›

A light coating of cornstarch will absorb even more moisture from the tofu's surface and contribute to a distinct coating. Sprinkle over the starch (potato starch, tapioca starch, and arrowroot all work too) a little bit at a time and toss the tofu, pressing gently so the starch adheres.

What is the secret to cooking tofu? ›

Tofu contains a large amount of water when it comes out of the package. In order to bake, fry, or scramble tofu, it's best to press out as much water as possible before cooking.

Can you coat tofu in flour instead of cornstarch? ›

Substitutions: If you prefer not to cook with cornstarch, you can substitute in an equal volume of all-purpose flour or potato starch. Tofu: This recipe can also be made with medium-firm tofu, but you'll need to be a bit more gentle while pressing and coating it.

How to cook tofu for beginners? ›

This is quite simple. We'll simply preheat the oven to 425F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the tofu (minus the excess marinade) that's been coated in our starch onto the baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.

How to make fried tofu like Chinese restaurants? ›

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. One piece at a time, dip the tofu into the cornstarch to coat both sides, then into the beaten egg. Immediately transfer to the skillet for pan frying. Cook until both sides turn golden brown.

What should I marinate tofu in? ›

In a mixing bowl or measuring cup with a spout, whisk together the marinade: soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, olive oil, sesame oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, ginger, and Sriracha. Drizzle over the tofu. If any pieces look bare, turn them over in the marinade a few times so all of the sides are coated.

What is the crispy tofu called? ›

Agedashi dōfu (揚げ出し豆腐, "lightly deep-fried tofu") is a Japanese hot tofu dish. Soft or medium-firm silken tofu (kinugoshi) is cut into cubes, before being lightly dusted with potato starch or cornstarch and then deep fried until golden brown.

Why does my tofu taste like egg? ›

But the star ingredient just might be kala namak. Also known as Indian black salt or Himalayan black salt, kala namak brings that distinctive umami-rich, egg-like flavor, similar to the yolk of a hard-boiled egg.

What can I add to tofu to make it taste better? ›

Toss the cubes with olive oil, tamari or soy sauce, and sriracha. If desired, you could also add cornstarch to make the cubes extra crispy. Finally, bake! Transfer the baking sheet to a 425°F oven and cook until the cubes are browned around the edges.

How do you cook tofu so it's not rubbery? ›

Press the tofu: Tofu contains a lot of water, which can contribute to a rubbery texture. To remove excess water, place the tofu between two paper towels or a clean kitchen towel and press gently to remove as much moisture as possible before cooking.

Why is my crispy tofu not crispy? ›

If your crispy tofu isn't getting crispy, it could be because there is too much moisture in the tofu. Another issue could be the oil isn't hot enough to fry the tofu.

How do you fix soggy tofu? ›

Find something heavy, such as a can of beans or tomatoes or even a heavy sauce pan. Place a second plate on top of the tofu and put your heavy item on top. This will help press even more moisture out of the tofu.

Why is my tofu so mushy after cooking? ›

The tofu is too soft, too water logged (it'll just steam,) to large or cold for the oil, oil not a proper temp. Purchase extra firm tofu, let it sit in a colander or cheese cloth, slice it in wide strips or slightly larger then playing dice size squares, make sure oil is hot enough so that it begins to bro...

How do you bake tofu to dry it out? ›

Arrange tofu on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet to prevent sticking and bake for a total of 25-35 minutes, flipping once halfway through to ensure even cooking. This will dry out the tofu and help give it a more meat-like texture. If you want a tougher texture, cook it for 30-35.

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