I love a good rice bowl and this Minced Tofu with Spicy Black Bean Sauce used extra firm tofu that I crumble and cook until it resembles a minced meat texture before cooking it down in an umami-packed spicy black bean sauce with Chinese fermented black beans as a base.
WHAT KIND OF TOFU SHOULD I USE?
Extra firm tofu is the best option for this. It has the least water and cooks down well to create a meaty, chewy texture. If you can't find extra firm tofu, firm tofu is the next best substitute. But I really recommend to use extra firm tofu, which is the best for this recipe.
Silken and soft tofu will not work for this recipe.
CHINESE FERMENTED BLACK BEANS
Chinese fermented black beans are very umami-packed and versatile. A small amount goes a long way because they're also quite salty! I use this as a base for my sauce and this jar/bottle can last months in the refrigerator and perfect for other uses like noodle stir-fries, stews, and more!
INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED FOR THIS TOFU WITH SPICY BLACK BEAN SAUCE
TOFU
- 1 lb extra firm tofu drained and pressed (you can also use the extra firm tofu that has been pressed!)
- Neutral cooking oil
SAUCE
- 2 tbsp Chinese fermented black beans
- 1-2 tbsp soy sauce to taste
- 1-2 tsp dark soy sauce, optional for color
- 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegar
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/4 cup room temperature water
FOR STIR-FRY
- Neutral cooking oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tbsp minced ginger
- 1 tbsp shallot sauce , optional but highly recommended! This adds so much flavor!
- Soy sauce to taste, if needed
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE
TOFU
- Drain the tofu from liquid and press to draw out any excess moisture. Crumble the tofu with your hands.
- Place the tofu in a lined air-fryer basket. Spray with some oil.
- Air-fry at 350F/180C for 13-15 mins or until lightly golden brown, flip halfway through cooking. Don’t over cook! Some white parts are fine, this will add to the overall texture of the dish. Cooking for too long will dry out the tofu.
- Once cooked, set aside for stir-frying.
SAUCE
- Prepare the sauce ingredients and mix until well combined. Feel free to adjust according to desired taste.
TO STIR-FRY
- Heat a medium-sized pan or wok over medium heat with oil. Once hot, add the onion and stir-fry for a few seconds until translucent. Add the garlic and ginger. Cook until aromatic.
- Add in the shallot sauce (if using). Pour the sauce into the pan. Lower the heat. Allow the sauce to come to a gentle simmer.
- Add the air-fried tofu. Mix in the sauce until well-combined. Cook down until the sauce has reduced and slightly thickened fro meh sugars.
- Taste the tofu and season with more soy sauce, if needed, to taste.
- Serve while hot with steamed rice. Top with green onions, if desired. Enjoy!
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Minced Tofu with Spicy Black Bean Sauce
I love a good rice bowl and this Minced Tofu with Spicy Black Bean Sauce used extra firm tofu that I crumble and cook until it resembles a minced meat texture before cooking it down in an umami-packed spicy black bean sauce with Chinese fermented black beans as a base. This is an easy chinese vegan recipe!
Ingredients
TOFU
- 1 lb extra firm tofu drained and pressed
- Neutral cooking oil
SAUCE
- 2 tbsp Chinese fermented black beans
- 1-2 tbsp soy sauce , to taste
- 1-2 tsp dark soy sauce , optional for color
- 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegar
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or other sweetener
- 1/4 cup room temperature water
FOR STIR-FRY
- Neutral cooking oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tbsp minced ginger
- 1 tbsp shallot sauce , optional but highly recommended!
- Soy sauce to taste, if needed
TO SERVE
- Steamed rice
- Green onions for topping
Instructions
TOFU
- Drain the tofu from liquid and press to draw out any excess moisture. Crumble the tofu with your hands.
- Place the tofu in a lined air-fryer basket. Spray with some oil.
- Air-fry at 350F/180C for 13-15 mins or until lightly golden brown, flip halfway through cooking. Don’t over cook! Some white parts are fine, this will add to the overall texture of the dish. Cooking for too long will dry out the tofu.
- Once cooked, set aside for stir-frying.
SAUCE
- Prepare the sauce ingredients and mix until well combined. Feel free to adjust according to desired taste.
TO STIR-FRY
- Heat a medium-sized pan or wok over medium heat with oil. Once hot, add the onion and stir-fry for a few seconds until translucent. Add the garlic and ginger. Cook until aromatic.
- Add in the shallot sauce (if using). Pour the sauce into the pan. Lower the heat. Allow the sauce to come to a gentle simmer.
- Add the air-fried tofu. Mix in the sauce until well-combined. Cook down until the sauce has reduced and slightly thickened fro meh sugars.
- Taste the tofu and season with more soy sauce, if needed, to taste.
- Serve while hot with steamed rice. Top with green onions, if desired. Enjoy!
NUTRITIONAL INFO
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 545mg | Potassium: 385mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 2mg
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Hi Jeeca…Could you provide alternative instructions to cook the tofu in the oven? I can’t wait to make this!
Hi Amy, instead of air-frying the tofu you can place it on a lined baking tray and cook at 350F until lightly brown. I would say around 20-25 mins or longer, then flip halfway through cooking 🙂
Hello! What’s the bright red sauce you used? I see it in the photos and your Youtube short but not in the ingredients. Thanks!
Hi Hana, I used a shallot sauce (bottled, purchased) for this recipe. Is this what you were referring to? 🙂
Delicious ?
Thanks Angel, glad you liked it! 🙂