Description
This vibrant and flavorful Tofu Pad Thai is a delightful vegetarian twist on the classic Thai street food. Featuring rice noodles, extra-firm tofu, fresh vegetables, and a tangy tamarind-based sauce, this dish is perfectly balanced with savory, sweet, and spicy notes. Ready in just 40 minutes, it’s an easy and satisfying meal for four that brings the authentic taste of Thailand to your kitchen.
Ingredients
Noodles
- 16 ounces of rice noodles
Pad Thai Sauce
- 2 tablespoons tamarind paste
- ½ cup veggie broth
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons sriracha
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
Main Ingredients
- 1 package extra-firm tofu, water pressed out and diced
- ½ tablespoon ginger powder
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jalapeno, diced (seeds removed if less spice desired)
- 1 cup broccoli, chopped
- ½ cup peanuts
Instructions
- Cook noodles: Prepare the rice noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside when done.
- Prepare sauce: In a bowl, combine tamarind paste, vegetable broth, soy sauce, sriracha, brown sugar, and peanut butter. Mix well and set aside.
- Cook tofu: Heat a non-stick pan or coat a pan with cooking spray. Add diced tofu, ginger powder, and minced garlic. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally until tofu is lightly browned on all sides.
- Add vegetables: Add diced jalapeno and chopped broccoli to the pan with the tofu. Continue cooking for 5 more minutes until vegetables are slightly tender.
- Combine noodles and peanuts: Add the cooked noodles, peanuts, and half of the prepared sauce to the pan. Stir to combine and cook until the sauce is absorbed by the noodles and tofu.
- Finish with sauce: Gradually add the remaining sauce, stirring continuously until the entire mixture is evenly coated and the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Pressing the tofu beforehand removes excess moisture and helps it brown better.
- Adjust the amount of jalapeno or omit seeds to control the spice level.
- To make this dish gluten-free, ensure soy sauce is gluten-free or substitute with tamari.
- For a nut-free version, omit peanut butter and peanuts, and replace with sunflower seed butter and seeds.
- Use fresh tamarind paste for authentic tangy flavor but bottled paste works as well.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Thai
