Stir-Fried Tofu with Eggplant
Stir-Fried Tofu with Eggplant is a low-carb meatless dish that’s loaded with flavor from red pepper strips, spicy Sriracha Sauce, and basil. And if you can make this tofu and eggplant dish with Thai Basil it will be even better!
PIN Stir-Fried Tofu with Eggplant to try it later!
I suspect this Stir-Fried Tofu with Eggplant might have two strikes against it for some of you with tofu and eggplant being the two main ingredients, but trust me when I say it was so delicious that it tasted like it came from a restaurant.
And the sauce has just enough Sriracha Sauce (affiliate link) to make it interesting, and Thai Basil also bumps up the flavor here. You can also use regular basil (or leave the basil out completely if you don’t have any basil.) No matter how you make it this combination of tofu and eggplant is so delicious!
I’m not a vegetarian, but I do love vegetables, and I really enjoy tofu when it’s firm and cooked well-done so it’s slightly chewy. Jake and I made this several times to get the sauce ingredients and the timing just right, and if you’ve never cooked tofu (or eggplant) I bet you’ll love this too if you give it a try.
What ingredients do you need?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- firm or extra firm tofu
- Peanut Oil (affiliate link), or other neutral-flavored oil
- whole garlic cloves
- thin Asian eggplants
- red bell pepper
- thinly sliced green onion
- Thai basil leaves, or other basil
- soy sauce or Gluten-Free Soy Sauce (affiliate link)
- fish sauce (see notes)
- fresh-squeezed lime juice (I used my fresh-frozen lime juice)
- Golden Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link), or another sweetener of your choice (see notes)
- Sriracha Rooster Sauce or Sriracha Sauce (affiliate link)
What Tofu do you need for Stir-Fried Tofu with Eggplant?
Use Firm or Extra Firm Tofu for this recipe where the tofu is stir-fried with eggplant.
What To Use if you want Vegetarian Fish Sauce:
We used some fish sauce in the cooking sauce to give it a nice savory flavor, and I’m guessing that’s an ingredient that some plant-based foods fans might not mind. But if you’re vegan or don’t want to use fish sauce, Vegetarian Fish Sauce (affiliate link) is available online or at many Asian markets, or you can make your own vegan fish sauce. Or even easier, just replace the fish sauce with more soy sauce and the flavor will still be great.
Is Thai Basil a must for this tofu and eggplant recipe?
Thai Basil is a slightly more spicy and anise-flavored type of basil that’s grown all over Southeast Asia. Thai Basil keeps it’s flavor better when it’s cooked, but you can certain substitute any type of fresh basil for this recipe. Or use diagonally sliced green onion if you prefer or don’t have any basil.
Is Japanese Eggplant a must for this tofu and eggplant recipe?
Japanese Eggplant is a type of long-thin eggplant that’s perfect for grilling or using in stir-fries, but you can use cubes of any type of eggplant in this recipe. See more about different types of eggplant.
How to Make Stir-Fried Tofu with Eggplant:
(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- Put the tofu in a colander and let it drain for at least 10 minutes. (You can prepare veggies, herbs, and sauce while the tofu drains if you’d like.)
- Then press the tofu between two layers of paper towel to press out even more of the water.
- Cut the pressed tofu into pieces that are just over an inch square. (Don’t cut them too small or they are hard to keep turned when the tofu is browning.
- Cut the red bell pepper into long thin strips.
- I used smallish Ichiban Japanese eggplant from my garden, which are perfect for stir-fries.
- Cut the eggplant into slightly diagonal slices about an inch thick.
- I made this when I had lots of basil in my garden, but you can use any fresh basil, or skip the basil completely if you don’t have any.
- If you’re using basil, pull the leaves off the stems and wash in the salad spinner.
- Mix together the soy sauce, fish sauce (or use Vegetarian Fish Sauce or more soy sauce), lime juice, sweetener of your choice, and Sriracha to make the cooking sauce.
- Heat the wok, then heat the oil, then add the garlic cloves and stir-fry just until they are fragrant. Then discard the garlic. This is called “seasoning the oil.”
- Add the tofu cubes to the seasoned oil and cook over medium-high heat, turning the tofu several times, until all the pieces are well-browned.
- It took about 8-10 minutes to get all the tofu browned and we used tongs to turn the pieces of tofu. Remove tofu to a plate while you cook the vegetables.
- Add another tablespoon of oil as needed, then add the eggplant and stir-fry four minutes.
- When eggplant is starting to soften and brown add the red pepper strips and cook about 2 minutes more.
- Then add the tofu back to the wok, add the sauce, and cook 2-3 minutes, turning often, until all the tofu and vegetables are coated with sauce.
- Add the Thai basil or basil (or sliced green onions) and cook about one minute more. Serve hot.
More Tasty Tofu Recipes:
Stir-Fried Tofu with Eggplant
You'll love Stir-Fried Tofu with Eggplant for a perfect plant-based meal! And this recipe has red bell pepper, spicy Sriracha Sauce, and basil adding extra flavor.
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 14 oz. firm or extra firm tofu
- 3 T peanut oil, divided (see notes)
- 8 whole garlic cloves
- 6 thin Asian eggplants, cut into 1 inch diagonal slices
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onion (see notes)
- 3/4 cup Thai basil leaves (see notes)
Sauce Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 T soy sauce
- 1 1/2 T fish sauce (see notes)
- 1 T fresh-squeezed lime juice
- 1 T Golden Monkfruit Sweetener, or another sweetener of your choice (see notes)
- 1 T Sriracha Rooster Sauce, or more (see notes)
Instructions
- Put tofu pieces in a colander placed in the sink and let them drain at least 10 minutes.
- While tofu drains, cut eggplant into slightly-diagonal slices about 1 inch thick, cut the red bell pepper into thin strips, thinly slice green onion, and wash Thai basil leaves (if using.)
- Mix sauce ingredients.
- When the tofu has drained, put a double layer of paper towels on a cutting board, lay the tofu pieces on the paper towel, and put another double layer of paper towels on top of the tofu.
- Press down with the palm of your hand to press water out of the tofu so it’s absorbed by the towels.
- Discard towels and cut tofu into squares slightly over 1 inch square. (Don’t make them too small.)
- Heat the dry wok over high heat for about one minute, add 2 tablespoons of the oil and heat one minute more, then add the garlic cloves and cook just until they are fragrant, about 30-45 seconds. (Don’t let the garlic brown.)
- Remove garlic and discard.
- Add the tofu cubes, laying each on one of the larger sides so the tofu is in a single layer.
- Cook over medium-high heat, turning often, until the tofu is well-browned on all sides. (Pay close attention to keep the tofu turned so it doesn’t burn. We use a pair of long-handled tongs for this.)
- Remove browned tofu to a plate while you cook the vegetables.
- Add the other tablespoon of oil and heat for about a minute, then add the eggplant slices and stir-fry about 4 minutes, or just until the eggplant is just starting to soften and brown.
- Add red pepper strips and stir-fry about 2 minutes more.
- Add the browned tofu pieces back into the wok and cook for 1 minute to be sure the tofu is hot.
- Add the sauce to the wok and cook the mixture for 2-3 minutes, stirring often so all the pieces of tofu and the vegetables get well-glazed with the sauce.
- Add the sliced green onions and Thai basil (if using) and cook about 1 minute more.
- Serve hot.
- This will keep overnight in the fridge and can be reheated in the microwave, but it’s best when it’s freshly made.
Notes
Peanut Oil (affiliate link)ย is ideal for the recipe, or use any high smoke-point oil.
Green onion is optional, or use it in place of Thai Basil or Basil if you prefer.
Thai Basil is great in this dish but definitely optional, or use regular fresh basil if you have some.
I use Golden Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link) for this recipe, but use any no-calorie sweetener you prefer.
Be sure to use Gluten-Free Soy Sauce (affiliate link) if needed.
You can use Vegetarian Fish Sauce (affiliate link) for the recipe or use more soy sauce.
One tablespoon Sriracha Sauce was fairly spicy so only use more if you really want it spicy.
This recipe created by Kalyn with help from her cooking assistant (and nephew) Jake!
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 171Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 0mgSodium 891mgCarbohydrates 12gFiber 3gSugar 6gProtein 9g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
As long as you use an approved sweetener, ingredients in this Stir-Fried Tofu with Eggplant would be approved for low-carb diets and for any phase of the original South Beach Diet. Tofu is recommended for only 1/2 cup serving size for South Beach Phase One, so use portion control if you’re eating this for the South Beach Diet.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use the Stir-Fry Recipes to find more recipes like this one.Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalynโs Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes Iโm sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe for tofu and eggplant cooked in a stir-fry was posted in 2012. It was last updated with more information in 2024.
34 Comments on “Stir-Fried Tofu with Eggplant”
This recipe was surprisingly easy. The sauce turned out great – I love spicy so I doubled the sriracha.ย
Considerations:
โข you can pre-soak the eggplant if you donโt want it soaking up too much cooking oil.ย
โข add the seasoning garlic back to finish. Remove from heat and fold back in. ::Chefโs kiss!:: Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed!
Carol, so glad you enjoyed it. And love it when people adapt the recipes to use whatever ingredients they prefer!
This was SO good, even without the tofu. I was looking for a side dish to go with fish, and thought "Hmmm – guess I could leave out the tofu". So I did. Couldn't find Japanese eggplant, so used regular, peeled/cubed it/salted it for about half an hour, then riinsed quickly and rolled in paper towel. All other ingredients and instructions I followed. Big hit! Will definitely do this again! Thanks.
Vanessa, so glad you all enjoyed it.
Thank you! We made this tonight and it got 100% approval from everyone at the table. Our family is a big fan of this dish at restaurants and it's great to be able to make a delicious version at home.
I tried it yesterday and it was delicious. The way eggplant sucked in the hot sause is amazing. Next time I will leave the tofu though, just veggies must be even better. Thanks for the recipe!
Grace, so glad you enjoyed it!
Aggie, loving eggplant like this here. Hope you will try this!
This looks BEAUTIFUL!! Those are my favorite eggplants to cook with and I am so happy to find them easily at this little local produce store that has them all the time. I am always trying to cook more tofu dishes, one of those foods I don't cook often enough. I could eat this in a heart beat, and a lot of it ๐
This is an amazing recipe! Absolutely wonderful, both in appearance and taste! I made it 2 nights ago, then repeated again last night. I used small, regular eggplants from the farmers' market, yellow bell peppers, and fresh basil (Italian, not Thai) from my garden. Couldn't believe how visually beautiful it was, and how tasty! In fact, if I find eggplant at the market tomorrow, I may make it again this weekend. Kalyn, thanks!
Tracy I haven't stir-fried with larger eggplant so I'm not sure if it needs to be salted, but I'm guessing not since the high heat of the stir fry will draw out the moisture. Other than that, I'm sure it will work.
This looks awesome! Do you think regular eggplant would work ok? I have one in my refrigerator just waiting for me to use it ๐ Should I salt it or anything? Thanks for the great recipes!!
John, glad you liked it and by all means, adjust the sauce to your personal preferences!
Enjoyed this one, thanks! I was worried the aubergine (I used baby ones) would come out greasy, but they were actually OK – heat and a short time cooking I suppose.
It could have taken more heat personally for me than the 1 tbsp I put in. Also, it came out rather salty – much less soy, much more lime next time, I think.
Veracious, so glad you enjoyed it!
This was good but FYI I found this recipe with the same exact language in the directions on Boston Organics website.
I wish you would leave the link for me; I can’t see how to search their website but it sounds like they have copied my recipe. I am always shocked at how many people seem to think that is okay.
Thanks for the inspiration! No Japanese eggplant or Thai basil available in my Nordic home country but this turned out great with just the basic ingredients and the sauce.
Thanks Jeanette. Wish I could give you some of my eggplant!
Kelley, regular basil will be fine (should have said that in the recipe; will edit!) If you're making this for kids, you might use even less than 1 T of Sriracha.
Oh Kalyn, this is fantastic! I have a bunch of eggplant in my fridge that I've been unsure of how to use….you just made my decision easy! I don't have thai basil but plenty of regular basil…you think it's ok to substitute?
Kalyn – this reminds me of dish I had at a local Thai restaurant. The color of your eggplant is just brilliant inside and out!
Thanks Sheila; my faves too!
These are some of my favorite flavors – I am bookmarking this to make next week Kalyn!
Thanks Elise. I do love all these ingredients. Great idea to plant Thai basil with the flowers! It's so pretty it's almost wasted in the garden.
I love this Kalyn! And I have both Japanese eggplant and a ton of Thai basil growing in the garden. Don't you love Thai basil? It's such a vigorous and pretty plant with its purple flowers. I think I may plant it next year again, but just in the landscaping, not the garden.
Caron, so glad you like it (and thanks for the pin!)
Kalyn, this looks terrific! Perfect recipe for me. Combine with some brown rice and I've got a couple of meals!
Thanks Lydia. I just wish you lived next door and I would keep you supplied with garden produce!
I love tofu in stir-fries, and I love Sriracha in just about anything. The tofu absorbs all of those lovely flavors, so even people who say they don't love tofu should love this. PS: gorgeous eggplant. I am jealous of your garden.
Thanks Dara; me too!
That is just the way I like my tofu, with a lovely golden brown crust on it. Wonderful dish, Kalyn!
Thanks Joanne. Really loved this!
Maria, love making stir-fries on the Thermador!
This is my kind of meal! Love it!
I am a HUGE fan of tofu and of stir fries in general so this spicy dish definitely appeals to me!