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A simple homestyle braised tofu with basil. This is hearty, comforting, and packed with that extra flavour from the fresh basil. Blocks of extra firm tofu are cooked to a golden brown crisp before being simmered in a deliciously savoury sauce with basil.
I love making braised tofu at home and this one’s with a slight twist from the fresh basil leaves. I have a bunch of basil plants in the plant box right outside my kitchen so I’ve been finding more ways to use up all the basil since my basil grows really fast and I’m very thankful for the steady supply!
I used Thai basil for this, but you’re free to use other basil like holy basil or even sweet basil. Check out a photo of my basil plant below! 🙂
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED
You can also find the full recipe in the card below.
Tofu
- firm or extra firm tofu
- neutral oil for cooking
Sauce
- room temperature water
- corn starch
- dark soy sauce (optional for colour)
- soy sauce
- sugar
- vegetarian oyster sauce or stir-fry sauce
- Shaoxing wine or other rice wine
Basil Tofu
- basil leaves roughly broken apart (I used Thai basil, see notes)
- red onion or shallot
- green chilli (optional for heat)
- garlic
- veggies of choice (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
COOKING THIS BRAISED TOFU WITH BASIL
PREPARE AND COOK THE TOFU
- Press the tofu for at least 10 minutes to drain out excess liquid. I like to wrap mine in a towel and place a heavy flat surface on top (such as a few plates or chopping board).
- Slice the tofu into 2” (5-cm) cubes or other shape of choice. I like my tofu in large cubes because the tofu still has that soft spongy bite on the inside even if the outside is cooked to a crisp.
- Heat a large non-stick pan or pot over medium high heat. Add in enough oil to cover the surface. Alternatively, you can opt to bake or air-fry your tofu until golden brown and crisp.
- Add the tofu in the pan then pan-fry on each side until golden brown and crisp, around 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
- Transfer the tofu to a plate and set aside.
PREPARE THE SAUCE
- Mix all the sauce ingredients in a bowl until the sugar and cornstarch has dissolved.
BRAISE THE TOFU
- You can lessen the oil from the pan and then heat it again over medium high heat.
- Add in half of the basil and cook in down in the oil for 1-2 minutes until wilted. Add in the onion/shallots and chili, if using. Sauté for 1 minute. Add in the minced garlic and sauté for another minute.
- Give the sauce a good mix again to make sure the starch doesn’t stick to the bottom of the bowl. Over medium heat, pour in the sauce into the pan. Lower the heat to medium. Allow the sauce to come to a boil. It’ll start to thicken from the corn starch.
- Add in the cooked tofu. Lower the heat and mix well. Leave the tofu to cook in the sauce for 4 to 5 minutes for the tofu to absorb the flavours. The sauce will continue to thicken slowly as it cooks down. It’ll also start to beautifully coat the blocks of tofu.
- Taste the tofu and feel free to season with salt and pepper to taste, and more soy sauce, if needed.
- Turn off the heat and then serve warm with some rice for a perfectly hearty and satisfying meal. Enjoy!
You can find more tofu recipes here or down below:
Check out my tips on how to store tofu!
- Baked Peanut and Lime Tofu
- Kung Pao Tofu
- Pineapple Cashew Tofu Stir-Fry
- Crispy Salt and Pepper Tofu
- Black Pepper Tofu Steaks
- Tofu “Chicken” Teriyaki
- Korean Spicy Braised Tofu
- Fried ‘Chicken’ and Gravy
- Pan-Fried Tofu Cakes
- Tofu ‘McNuggets’
Braised Tofu with Basil
A simple homestyle braised tofu with basil. This is hearty, comforting, and packed with that extra flavour from the fresh basil. Blocks of extra firm tofu are cooked to a golden brown crisp before being simmered in a deliciously savoury sauce with basil.
Ingredients
Tofu
- 19.5 oz firm or extra firm tofu
- Neutral oil for cooking
Sauce
- 3/4 cup room temperature water
- 1 tbsp corn starch
- 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce optional for colour
- 1-2 tbsp soy sauce adjust more to taste
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp vegetarian oyster sauce or stir-fry sauce
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine or other rice wine
Basil Tofu
- 1/2 cup packed basil leaves roughly broken apart (I used Thai basil, see notes)
- 1 small red onion or shallot sliced
- 1 long green chilli sliced (optional for heat)
- 3 cloves garlic chopped or minced
- Other veggies of choice see notes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Press your tofu for at least 10 minutes to drain out excess liquid. I like to wrap mine in a towel and place a heavy flat surface on top (such as a few plates or chopping board).
- Slice the tofu into 2” (5-cm) cubes or other shape of choice. I like my tofu in large cubes because the tofu still has that soft spongy bite on the inside even if the outside is cooked to a crisp.
- Meanwhile, mix all the sauce ingredients in a bowl until the sugar and cornstarch has dissolved.
- Heat a large non-stick pan or pot over medium high heat. Add in enough oil to cover the surface. Alternatively, you can opt to bake or air-fry your tofu until golden brown and crisp.
- Add the tofu in the pan then pan-fry on each side until golden brown and crisp, around 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
- Transfer the tofu to a plate and set aside.
- You can lessen the oil from the pan and then heat it again over medium high heat.
- Add in half of the basil and cook in down in the oil for 1-2 minutes until wilted. Add in the onion/shallots and chili, if using.
- Sauté for 1 minute. Add in the minced garlic and sauté for another minute. If adding other veggies into this dish, sauté the veggies until tender before adding the sauce.
- Give the sauce a good mix again to make sure the starch doesn't stick to the bottom of the bowl.
- Over medium heat, pour in the sauce into the pan. Lower the heat to medium. Allow the sauce to come to a boil. It’ll start to thicken from the corn starch.
- Add in the cooked tofu. Lower the heat and mix well. Leave the tofu to cook in the sauce for 4 to 5 minutes for the tofu to absorb the flavours. The sauce will continue to thicken slowly as it cooks down. It’ll also start to beautifully coat the blocks of tofu.
- Taste the tofu and feel free to season with salt and pepper to taste, and more soy sauce, if needed.
- Turn off the heat and then serve warm with some rice for a perfectly hearty and satisfying meal. Enjoy!
WATCH Video
Notes
BASIL
- You can also use sweet or holy basil for this recipe.
OTHER VEGGIES
- This is a very versatile recipe so you can add other vegetables like bell peppers, cabbage, carrot, and even mushrooms into the mix.
NUTRITIONAL INFO
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 930mg | Potassium: 490mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 317IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 107mg | Iron: 4mg
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Please leave a rating or comment and share a photo on Instagram, and tag me @thefoodietakesflight or use #thefoodietakesflight 🙂
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This Post Has 15 Comments
Yummy!
This was fantastic. I will make this again.
Thanks Cher! Enjoy!! ◡̈
Yum!
Why don’t you use cornstarch to fry the tofu in this recipe, cause you do that in many others?
I didn’t coat these in starch since I wanted the texture of fried tofu as-is, but you’re free to coat yours with corn starch before frying, if you’d like. Do note that cooking down the tofu coated in starch in the sauce can cause it to thicken the sauce more. Hope this helps ◡̈
This tofu was SO effing good!! It’s my first time using fresh basil and man did it come through in this recipe. You’ve done it again, Jeeca!! 💖
Thank you so much Annika! Really hope you enjoyed it! ◡̈
I love this recipe! It is so delicious. It’s is on regular rotation for my family. Thank you!
Thanks so much Walker!! ◡̈
The recipe says to see notes for possible other veggies to add, but I cannot find any note.
Hey Sally, sorry about that! You can add other veggies such as cabbage, bell peppers, carrots, or even mushrooms into the mix. I added it into the recipe notes as well ◡̈ thanks for the heads up!
You are one of my favorite food bloggers. We really enjoyed this in our house and it has become one of our regular favorites. Thanks for amazing and interesting recipes!
Hi Lynn, thanks so much! Really means a lot 🤗
It was delicious thank you! One question – you mention putting in 1/2 the basil goes in but I don’t see where the rest goes in?
Hi Tanya! Sorry about that! You mix it in right before turning the heat off 🙂