Curried Tofu With Soy Sauce Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

RDCollins

Strongly disagree with comments about being bland. Secret is in the prep. Sauté cashews in oil until well browned, about 1 minute, drain on paper towels, coarsely chop, set aside. Cut tofu into ½" cubes and drain on paper towels for about 30 minutes, lightly pressing from time to time. Discarded oil from nuts, add another 2 tablespoons to pan, and sauté onion — ½" cubes — until browned. Increase curry to 2 tablespoons, add coconut milk, soy sauce, salt, black pepper, & cayenne.

Michael

Rather bland and one-note. The sauce is good but needs a couple of veggies in there to mix it up. Next time I will fry the tofu first, add French beans and maybe carrot slices or broccoli, and add some heat. We used light coconut milk to get away from the richness.

Kaitlin B.

So dreamy. I also disagree about the recipe being "bland," but I did wilt something like 4-5 cups of spinach in the sauce while the tofu was warming. I thought about adding frozen peas, which might have been good as well, but the silkiness of the spinach really complimented the tofu and the sauce, and the walnuts and rice created enough textures on their own. For reference, I also used maybe a 1/4 tsp. of cayenne. It was only enough to create a memory of heat after the bite. Perfect.

Bebe

Pretty good recipe. I served it with brown rice and green condiments (jalapeno pepper, parsley, tomato) for color. I'll add dried mushroom next time.

RDCollins

If you want to kick it up a notch, consider adding a chopped green pepper, 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger, and 1 tablespoon minced garlic to pan, and serve with minced cilantro and/or sliced green onions.

Annie Nord

It was very tasty. I had fresh wax beans from the garden and added them before the coconut milk. I also finished it off with a handful of fresh Thai basil.

June

A tsp of corn starch dissolved in 1/2 cup of water, plus 1/2 cup of vegetable (or chicken) broth, add more or less, to your taste.

Yvette

Easy, quick and tasty . I think though I'm going to try fish sauce next time instead of soy sauce as someone else mentioned. Just to see.

Jason G.

This underwhelmed. The curry had a nice consistency, but the tofu became gelatinous and seemed to carry little of the curry flavor I was expecting. The soy sauce's saltiness helped little to help the bland on bland creamy texture and the walnuts crunch didn't compliment the flavor of the curry at all. More heat, more spicy, more color *could* help, but not sure this is worth the bother.

Steve

Well, this gets a positive review for pure ease. I made half recipe as written (with walnuts), doubling the curry powder to taste, and a sprinkle of gochugaru flakes. I like the fish sauce idea and would probably do that next time, perhaps half and half with soy. This does scream for some greenery to freshen it up a bit though. I think snow peas or broccoli would be a good addition, as well as scallions and cilantro. Maybe a squeeze of lime?

Peter

Easy and quick. Don't use olive oil on onions (IMO) as it's a mistake I made. Added greens as well. Mixed cashews and walnuts. Will make again, but yhe recipe needs some tuning.

Barbara LeBlanc

Very good, but I'll keep tweaking. I loaded this up with vegetables -- spinach, green beans and mushrooms. Added grated fresh ginger. And doubled the curry powered. Next time, I'd roast the cashews before adding them, as suggested by others, and add a chilly pepper.

Anne Thompson

Pretty good is about right. Since everyone had used cashews I decided to try walnuts. I think cashews would have been better. I also added carrots, and though the dish was okay, it wasn't wasn't all that interesting.

PhyllidaLew

I browned the (extra firm) tofu before adding it to the sauce because I prefer that texture. It's very good!

Chris

Add some garam masala to the curry powder for more fullness. While the tofu was heating, I smashed the cubes and added spinach. Complete meal.

Clare Talwalker

I add mushrooms and carrot, before the curry powder, and then a tablespoon of rice vinegar at the end, with the soy sauce.

Lisa

Cubed and dried tofu. Sautéed tofu with the onions. Used walnuts. Doubled curry. 1tbl soy sauce and 1 Tbl fish sauce. Could have used a little more soy. 1/4 gocochang Loved it

H. Stern

This was the single worst recipe I've ever made. It is definitely missing several ingredients that can make it something other than a bland dish that others here have mentioned. The smell from the meal permeated my home for days. Despite it not taking long to make, it just wasn't worth the effort.

jd212

Perfected this on the last day of the big batch I prepped:Cast iron skillet is needed (i.e. not stainless)Order of operations:Vegetable oilOnions 5-10 minMix in curry powder, saltNuts for 1 minute, mixed inTofu, try to coat in the dust from the nuts so it doesn’t stick, stir/flip pieces over for a minute or twoAdd cooked rice and combineAdd milk, spoonful of peanut butter, soy sauce, mix

Jonice Webb

I added two teaspoons of garlic powder and it made the sauce more complex with more depth of flavor. Also, I think whole roasted cashews are awesome in this recipe vs. walnuts. Husband and I both loved it made this way.

Amanda

This is the worst NYT recipe I’ve ever made. Heavy, bland - the flavors just don’t work together. I’m perplexed by the 5 star rating. I’m a professionally trained chef, but nothing I did could save this one, sorry.

jamie

Bland but easy enough. Even with extra spice it lacks depth maybe. But easy for a week night

Erin V.

So very disappointing! Sadly, this smells waaaayyy better than it tastes. I can only surmise that the 5-star rating came from an army of bots. I read the comments. I doubled the curry; added ginger; worked in some fresh spinach and mushrooms; and even finished it with a light dusting of cilantro ... but to no avail. So much effort, for so little reward. Won't make again.

allie

Hate to say it, but this was bland for me too. Made it exactly as per the recipe (with walnuts) but served with spaghetti squash instead of white rice. I love tofu and I’ll even snack on a few cubes raw. But this was unique enough and bland enough that I can’t think of enough to potentially punch it up to try the recipe again.

Maggie

Doubled up the curry powder as many others that recommended. Added a bit of chopped ginger and garlic along with the curry powder. I used half fish sauce and half soy sauce before the tofu. I also added broccoli before the tofu. Really enjoyed.

Vika

Really liked this. Used extra curry powder homemade blend), roasted salted cashews, a bag of baby spinach and topped with cilantro. Great weeknight dish.

Nercon5

This was quick and good, but I suspect the leftovers will be everything I’d hoped the original would be. I also doubled curry powder, added a green bell pepper, and pre-fried cashews before later adding. Definitely weight and drain your tofu! Scallion garnish was welcome. Thanks daddy bittman:)

ESylvester

This was very good and easy. I added cauliflower and broccoli at the same time as the nuts which was a great add. I wouldn’t say it was bland but could use a little punch, even after garnishing with sriracha and more soy sauce. Maybe lime juice? Either way, would totally keep this in the rotation because it’s quick, easy, and veggies can easily be added

Kaitlyn

Agree with other reviewers that this was too bland. Needs more curry powder, a tad more soy sauce, and is in desperate need of some acidity and/or greens. Seems more trouble to keep fine-tuning the recipe so I’ll probably not make again.

Pam from NJ

Loved this. Doubled the curry, using a good blend important. Removed the onion-nut mixture while sautéing fresh spinach until it released all its water, then proceeded as directed. Would definitely make again!

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Curried Tofu With Soy Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to cook tofu before putting in curry? ›

In addition to the Indian dishes, cooked tofu can be added to the Vegan Thai Green Curry, Pad Thai, Panang Curry or used in Thai red curry to substitute chicken. Note: Simply stir in baked/air-fried/pan-fried tofu just before you are ready to serve the dish! There is no need to cook it again.

Do you put cornstarch before or after marinating tofu? ›

Once the tofu is marinated, I use a cornstarch coating with some cumin powder in it. Not only does it create a super crispy result, but the seasoning further brings out the flavor of the tofu.

How to make great tasting tofu? ›

Press tofu and cube it. Coat it in garlic, black pepper, salt (plus more of your favourite seasonings), liquid aminos and some olive oil. Then mix it into some cornstarch and toss it all together, then bake for about 20 minutes. Cornstarch also helps to draw out excess moisture so it really gets the tofu crispy.

How do you make tofu not boring? ›

I gently pat its outside dry, cut it into 1/2-inch cubes. I cook the tofu in 2 tablespoons of oil (I like to use coconut, but vegetable oil or grapeseed oil also work well) over medium-high heat, and salt it. The tofu cooks in a single layer for 4-5 minutes, undisturbed (this is how it gets its lovely, crispy crust).

What happens if you don't press tofu before cooking? ›

And if tofu is vacuumed packed or firm already, you definitely don't need to press it. Here's why: moisture in tofu is a good thing. Tofu is over 80% water, and that moisture is what makes it such a succulent, juicy source of protein. Pressing it can make the tofu unnecessarily dry and strip it of its intended texture.

What happens if you don't cook tofu? ›

Can you eat raw tofu? It's not dangerous, as long as you take care to observe good hygiene. As we mention below, just like any other food, if tofu is not stored and prepared correctly, you run the risk of bacterial contamination, and you could get sick.

What does cornstarch do to soy sauce? ›

If you're using an unsalted broth, keep adding more soy sauce to taste until the stir-fry sauce tastes sparkling and savoury like a good potato chip. Cornstarch: this is the sauce thickener. It produces a clear, glossy sauce that coats the stir fry beautifully with lustre and deliciousness.

How much cornstarch per block of tofu? ›

Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the cornstarch over the tofu, then toss to evenly coat. Continue sprinkling and tossing until all the cornstarch is used. This is most easily done with a small strainer, but can also be done by sprinkling with your hands.

How do you get cornstarch to stick to tofu? ›

Season the Tofu

Toss until evenly coated. Try to be gentle with the tofu so that the cubes stay intact. I find using a big rubber spatula helps. Sprinkle the cornstarch over the seasoned tofu and once again toss until tofu is evenly coated and there's no dry cornstarch left at the bottom of the bowl.

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 should I season tofu with? ›

Tofu seasoning rub: Rub the pressed tofu with lots of spices like garlic or onion powder, salt and pepper, nutritional yeast or a spicy taco seasoning, KFC seasoning, Buffalo spice, etc. Tofu marinade: Soak the tofu cubes in your favorite chicken/meat marinade to infuse extra flavor.

How do I know if my tofu is fully cooked? ›

If you're cooking slices or cubes, cut the tofu into slices, layer them between paper towels and weigh down the individual slices. The finished tofu should be spongy yet dry (you'll need to weigh it down for 30 minutes to 2 hours).

What pairs well with tofu? ›

Best Vegan Side Dishes for Grilled Tofu at a Barbecue or Cookout
  • Vegan Dill Potato Salad with Fiddleheads (No Mayo) ...
  • Herb Grilled Vegetables. ...
  • Vegan Spinach Salad Recipe with Maple Balsamic Dressing. ...
  • Fresh Tomato Lime Salad Dressing with Cilantro. ...
  • Salad with Beans, Quinoa, Rice, and Pecans and Lemon Herb Dressing.
Jul 12, 2021

How to cook tofu for beginners? ›

Cut tofu into cubes. Step 2: Place those cubes in a bowl, and toss gently with 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Step 3: Arrange tofu on a parchment-lined baking sheet and drizzle with some olive oil and salt. Step 4: Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes, or until as crispy as you'd like.

Why does my tofu taste bland? ›

Plain tofu has no specific flavor and is honestly, quite bland. This might be why people tend to hate it but the fact that it's bland is exactly why we should LOVE it. The texture of tofu is more important than the taste- all the different types of tofu have different textures.

Does tofu have to be cooked first? ›

Tofu can be eaten raw, and so cooking it is completely optional and is mostly done for texture or to bind the sauce to the tofu. You can pan-sear the sides and add it to a colorful stir-fry or deep-fry it and coat it in a savory and sweet sauce.

Does raw tofu need to be cooked? ›

You can eat raw tofu without cooking directly from the pack, but make sure that you drain off the excess water first because it does not add anything to the experience. Tofu is also called bean curd. It is a white, creamy, soft, relatively flavorless food product made from soybeans.

Is it important to cook tofu? ›

Tofu is a lot like cheese, and it can be eaten raw—as it often is, tossed in salads and on skewers as appetizers. However, when frying, it can take up to 5 minutes per side, depending on the size of the cuts, to get a nice browned or crisp exterior. Shortchanging your cook time will ensure a soft, unexciting tofu.

Should tofu be cooked before adding to soup? ›

You can put raw tofu in the soup and let it simmer for 10 to 15 minutes to warm and flavor it. Tofu can be eaten raw, so it's no problem to add it raw to soups.

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