Go Back
White rectangular plate full of large purple eggplant chunks, puffy brown glazed tofu and red peppers. Blue chopsticks are taking one tofu piece and holding it up in the air.
Print

Panda Express Eggplant Tofu

If you have always loved eggplant tofu but Panda Express doesn't serve it near your location anymore or if you always wanted to try it but never had a chance, you should fry up your skillet now and make this tofu, eggplant, and bell pepper dish stir-fried in a sweet and spicy sauce.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Asian
Keyword copycat panda express, eggplant tofu, tofu stir fry
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Pressing 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 168kcal
Author Nandor Barta

Equipment

  • our Cast-iron Skillet by UnoCasa
  • Wok
  • Non-stick frying pan (10.5 inch / 26 cm)
  • TofuBud (pressing tofu in 15 minutes)

Ingredients

  • 10 oz Eggplant (medium)
  • 10 oz Firm tofu
  • 1 Bell pepper
  • 1 Tbsp Ginger
  • 1 Tbsp Garlic
  • 3 Tbsp Vegetable oil
  • ¼ tsp Salt
  • ⅛ tsp Black pepper

Spicy & sweet sauce

  • 1 Tbsp Sriracha (or any other chili paste)
  • 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
  • 1 Tbsp Rice vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp Soy sauce or tamari
  • 2 Tbsp Sweet chili sauce
  • 1 Tbsp Hoisin sauce
  • ½ cup Veggie broth
  • 1 Tbsp Corn starch

Instructions

Preparing the ingredients

  • Use firm tofu and press it.
  • Cut tofu into small thick triangles.
  • Wash and cut the eggplant into larger chunks leaving the peel on.
  • Wash and cut bell peppers into larger chunks as well.
  • Peel and mince garlic and ginger.
  • Take a small bowl and whisk together all ingredients for the sweet & spicy sauce.

Stir-frying

  • Take a large skillet, wok, or non-stick frying pan and preheat it to medium-high heat.
  • Add vegetable oil and cubed tofu.
  • Fry them for 6-8 minutes until all sides are golden brown and the texture is puffy and crispy. When they are ready, set them aside. We usually place them on a plate with a paper towel to drain any excess oil.
  • Take the same skillet and saute minced garlic and ginger in the leftover oil for approx. 1 minute over medium heat.
  • Turn it to high heat and stir fry eggplant and bell pepper chunks for 6-8 minutes. If eggplant absorbs the oil and it starts to dry out much, add extra Tablespoons of oil.
  • Add the sweet and spicy sauce and fry them for 2-3 minutes until the corn starch activates and the sauce thickens and glazes the vegetables.
  • Finally, add the pre-fried crispy tofu and stir them well. Serve and enjoy!

Video

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="bpN2Ws9O" upload-date="2022-09-07T19:44:49.000Z" name="Copycat Panda Express Eggplant Tofu Stir-fry" description="If you have always loved eggplant tofu but Panda Express doesn’t serve it near your location anymore or if you always wanted to try it but never had a chance, you should fry up your skillet now and make this tofu, eggplant, and bell pepper dish stir-fried in a sweet and spicy sauce." player-type="default" override-embed="default"]