Eggplant Tofu Panda Express Recipe
Eggplant Tofu (Panda Express Copycat) Recipe is a mix of crispy tofu & vegetables sauteed in a sweet & spicy sauce! It's a dish that you will surely enjoy!
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Small Bowl
- Baking Sheet/Wire Metal Rack
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Of Olive Oil
- 1 lb Of Extra-Firm Tofu Squeezed & Cut Into Small Cubes
- 1 Eggplant Large & Cut Into Small Pieces
- 1 Red Bell Pepper Large & Cut Into Small Square Pieces
- 2 tbsp Of Cornstarch
- 3 To 4 Onions White & Green Parts Separated
- 1 tbsp Ginger Minced
- 5 Garlic Cloves Minced
For The Sauce
- ¼ Cup Of Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Of Rice Vinegar
- ¼ Cup Of Water Or Vegetable Broth
- 1 tbsp Of Cornstarch Or Arrowroot
- 1 tbsp Of Sesame Oil
- 1 tbsp Of Brown Sugar
- 1 tbsp Of Chili Paste Or Sambal Oelek
Instructions
- Take a large skillet and add olive oil. Heat it over medium to high heat.
- In a small bowl, add tofu and cornstarch. Toss everything properly so that it is well coated.
- Now add the coated tofu into the skillet and don't toss it or stir for at least 10 minutes. This is done to make it crispy and this can be done with all the sides or even two sides, whatever you prefer.
- When the tofu is cooking, prepare the sauce. Take one bowl and add all the ingredients. Stir everything well to make it a smooth sauce.
- Now the tofu is all golden brown, so keep it aside on a baking sheet or a wire metal rack to let it stay all crispy.
- Next, use the same skillet and add the red bell peppers, eggplant, ginger, garlic and green onions. Sautè everything until everything becomes crisp and well cooked.
- Add the tofu now and then pour all the sauce over it. Cook it over low to medium heat and let it simmer for at least 5 minutes. Turn off the heat.
- Serve the delicious eggplant tofu dish with white parts of the onion and season it with salt & pepper. And it's ready to enjoy!
Notes
- It's important to squeeze out the extra moisture in the tofu as it helps to make the tofu crispy and chewy.
- You can use Tamari Sauce instead of Soy Sauce if you want to go vegan.
- Instead of using red bell peppers, you can also use green or yellow bell peppers. However, any other vegetable such as baby corn, snap peas or bok choy can also be used.
- You can use maple syrup or granulated sugar in place of brown sugar.