Vegan Fried Tofu with Loaded Garden Rice
with Sweet Chili Katsu Sauce
- Soy
- Wheat
- Sesame
Tender tofu transforms into the star of the show in this satisfying dinner. First, it's tossed in a mix of flour and cornstarch and pan-fried, transforming into a golden, crispy-crunchy treat with pillowy soft interior. Fragrant fried rice, bejeweled with tender-crisp carrots and sparkling sweet peas and scallions, provides a fittingly tasty place to nestle the tofu. Finish with a drizzle of a tangy, sweet, and savory katsu sauce and sprinkling of scallion greens.
Ingredients
4 tablespoon
Katsu Sauce
(Contains: Soy, Wheat)
2 tablespoon
Cornstarch
6 ounce
Carrot
1 ounce
Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
1 unit
Onion
4 ounce
Peas
2 tablespoon
Soy Sauce
(Contains: Soy, Wheat)
1 unit
Tofu
(Contains: Soy)
1 unit
Pho Stock Concentrate
1 tablespoon
Sesame Oil
(Contains: Sesame)
2 unit
Scallions
¾ cup
Jasmine Rice
2 tablespoon
Hoisin Sauce
(Contains: Soy, Wheat)
½ cup
Flour
(Contains: Wheat)
Not included in your delivery
2 teaspoon (tsp)
Cooking Oil
teaspoon (tsp)
Salt
teaspoon (tsp)
Black Pepper
2 tablespoon (tbsp)
Cooking Oil
Nutrition Values
Utensils
Cooking Steps
• Wash and dry produce. • Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens. Halve, peel, and finely dice half the onion (whole onion for 4 servings). Trim, peel, and quarter carrots lengthwise; then thinly slice crosswise into quarter-moons.
• Heat a drizzle of oil and half the sesame oil (you’ll use the rest later) in a medium pot (large pot for 4 servings) over medium-high heat. Add scallion whites and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 1-2 minutes. • Add rice, stock concentrate, 1 cup water (2 cups for 4), and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until rice is tender, 15-18 minutes. • Keep covered off heat until Step 6.
• Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and a pinch of salt; stir to combine. Cover and cook, stirring twice, until lightly browned and almost tender, 5-7 minutes. • Uncover and stir in peas and 1⁄4 cup water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until veggies are tender and water has completely evaporated, 1-2 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Turn off heat; transfer to a plate. Wipe out pan.
• Halve tofu crosswise, then halve each piece horizontally through the middle to make four thinner squares (eight squares for 4 servings). Pat dry with paper towels; season all over with salt and pepper. • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, 1⁄2 tsp salt, and a pinch of pepper. Whisk in 1⁄3 cup cold water (2⁄3 cup for 4). TIP: If mixture is too thick, add more water 1 TBSP at a time until it reaches a pancake-batter- like consistency.
• Heat a 1⁄2-inch layer of oil in pan used for veggies over medium-high heat. • Add tofu to bowl with batter. Gently turn to evenly coat on all sides. • Once oil is shimmering, add coated tofu to pan. Cook until golden brown, 2-3 minutes per side. • Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.
• Once rice is done, add veggies, soy sauce, half the scallion greens, and remaining sesame oil to pot. Stir to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.
• In a second medium microwave-safe bowl, combine katsu, hoisin, chili sauce, and 1 tsp water (2 tsp for 4 servings). Microwave until warm, 20-30 seconds. • Halve each piece of tofu diagonally. • Divide rice between bowls and top with tofu. Drizzle with sauce and sprinkle with remaining scallion greens. Serve.
Customer reviews
Review summary
Updated on Feb 2026- Flavor: Many enjoyed the tasty loaded garden rice, though some found the sauce too sweet or overpowering.
- Ease of prep: Several noted it was time-consuming and messy to prepare, especially frying the tofu.
- Suggestions: Consider marinating the tofu for more flavor, or try smaller pieces for better texture and easier eating.
- Portions: Generous servings; some found it could easily feed more than the intended number of people.
- Texture: The crispy tofu was a hit for many, but some struggled with the batter sticking or becoming soggy.
Reviews from our home cooks
I loved this dish but liked the components better separately than together. I think the loaded garden rice makes a really nice meal with a fried egg on top. The vegan fried tofu was one of the best fried tofus I have ever made (like restaurant quality, but in my home!). I would have preferred to have it on a salad or something lighter than the rice though.
It was fun and more challenging than most HF recipes. It was nice to actually batter the tofu. I want to have more vegan options. It wasn't spicy. I added my own chili.
The veggie fried rice was delicious! Frying the tofu was a little messy. Enjoyed the contrast of texture between it and the rice, but a marinated tofu could have been easier to execute.
The rice was BOMB. The tofu triangles were well seasoned but tasteless. Why fry? It didn't add anything but a soft greasiness. Make the tofu tasty/flavorful. A tasty sauce can't cover that.
This was very good but I don't know if I agree with dredging tofu in a wet batter. For every fried Asian tofu dish I've made before it has been dipped in either a coating of just flour or just corn starch (no water) and I think that this dish didn't need the "breading" on the tofu.
I subbed my own low sodium soy sauce which I think you should include as there is plenty of salt in the sauce added at the end. Recipe was also was just a bit more work than I usually like. I think to make this less lengthy to cook you could provide precut carrots maybe. Or I wonder how the recipe would be without the batter. This made a mess, and I'm not sure really added to flavor. Could have probably sautéed the tofu as is.
I had to buy more tofu since mine was spoiled, but the recipe was really tasty. The sauce was incredibly sweet though - I think that's the only thing I'd change. I also probably would put a different coating on the tofu. This just kinda wanted to stay stuck to the pan.
Part-time vegan, carnivore, pescatarian...just a food lover. This was good. Coating on the tofu needs a little something, maybe some Chohula and spice to kick it up a notch.
Amazing, I'm allergic to carrots so I had to leave those out, but the tofu batter was perfectly crispy & leftovers heat up best in an air fryer.
This was amazing. The portion size was generous and the flavours were amazing. This recipe is definitely a keeper.
