Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (2024)

Table of Contents
Vegetarian/ Vegan food in Vietnam How to serve? Type of Tofu to use More easy tofu recipes More easy vegan and vegetarian tomato recipes Step by step photo instructions Recipe Vietnamese tofu in tomato sauce Ingredients Instructions Notes Nutrition More Main course Reader Interactions Comments Leave a Reply FAQs

Published: · Modified: by Vandana Chauhan. This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe

This simple, tangy Vietnamese tofu in tomato sauce is a comforting vegan dish that's very easy to make. It's made by adding fried or baked tofu in a simple onion-tomato gravy which can be served with any rice or noodle dish.

Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (1)

Life is so unpredictable, you never know what will happen to you the very next moment. Last year, this time we were busy finalizing our trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, not having the slightest hint of how different the following year would be.

To avoid feeling gloomy and depressed during the quarantine, I thought of re-living our time in Vietnam by cooking a simple dish on which we survived a lot of days during our two-week meat-free trip to Vietnam last year.

Jump to:
  • Vegetarian/ Vegan food in Vietnam
  • How to serve?
  • Type of Tofu to use
  • More easy tofu recipes
  • More easy vegan and vegetarian tomato recipes
  • Step by step photo instructions
  • Recipe

Vegetarian/ Vegan food in Vietnam

Finding Vegan or Vegetarian food in Vietnam is not very tough as there are quite a few restaurants providing the options.

Because of Buddhism, most people understand the meaning of Vegetarian food. You just need to remember the word 'Chay' with the correct tone (the Vietnamese language has 6 tones, more than Mandarin which has 4 tones), to communicate your vegetarian food preference.

However, there are only a few main ingredients that will be served to you in different forms if you want to have a meat-free meal in Vietnam. These ingredients were tofu, eggplant, pumpkin, and Vietnamese morning glory.

Of all these ingredients, my favorite was morning glory and I will share its recipe once we get free from this Pandemic and can go out shopping.

Today I am sharing a very simple Tofu recipe which is made by cooking tofu in a simple onion and tomato sauce. We had this dish at least once every day during our trip.

How to serve?

In Vietnam, we were always served this dish with some steamed jasmine rice and I think it tastes the best with it. Just serve some finely chopped chili peppers, calamansi/ lime wedges, salt, and ground black pepper on the side.

Just the thought of those simple Vegan Vietnamese meals makes me hungry.

You can also have it with stir-fried noodles if you want.

Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (2)

Type of Tofu to use

Use firm tofu for this recipe. In Vietnam, we always found this dish with deep-fried tofu cubes but when I make it at home, I prefer baking the tofu. You can choose whichever way you like.

These days a lot of stores also sell fried tofu in packets. To save time you can use that too. However, it won't be a healthy option.

In this recipe, I like very soft and silky tofu so bake it only for a few minutes. But, if you prefer crispy tofu either fry it or bake for a longer period.

More easy tofu recipes

Tofu is one of my favorite things to eat so I keep on making it in different ways. If you are looking for ideas to start adding tofu to your diet, don't miss to check out the following recipes:

  1. Peanut butter tofu
  2. Orange tofu
  3. Tofu Fried rice
  4. Chili garlic tofu
  5. Pineapple tofu

More easy vegan and vegetarian tomato recipes

  1. Tomato puff pastry tart
  2. Roasted bell pepper and tomato soup
  3. Bengali style tomato chutney
  4. Cherry tomato pasta

Step by step photo instructions

Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (3)
Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (4)
Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (5)

Recipe

Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (6)

Vietnamese tofu in tomato sauce

This simple, tangy Vietnamese tofu in tomato sauce is a comforting vegan dish that's very easy to make. It's made by adding fried or baked tofu in a simple onion-tomato gravy which can be served with any rice or noodle dish.

4.87 from 59 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian, Vietnamese

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 140kcal

Author: Vandana Chauhan

Ingredients

Ingredients for baked tofu

  • 1 cup firm tofu cubes
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder optional
  • ½ teaspoon cooking oil
  • Salt as per taste

Other ingredients

  • 3 cups chopped tomatoes fresh or canned both are fine
  • 1 medium sized onion sliced
  • 3 sprigs spring onion keep white and green part separated
  • ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves
  • 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
  • 1 Thai red chili finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
  • Salt as per taste
  • 1 tbsp cooking oil
  • 1 cup water adjust to get the desired consistency

Instructions

  • In a bowl toss tofu cubes, oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Spread on a baking tray and bake in a pre-heated oven at 200°C for 12-15 minutes or until it starts turning brown.

  • Meanwhile, heat oil in a pan. Add chopped garlic and saute until it starts turning brown. Add chopped red chili and white part of spring onion. Saute for a few seconds.

  • Next, add sliced onion and saute until it turns translucent.

  • Add chopped tomatoes, salt, sugar, soy sauce, and pepper. Mix and cook for around 5 minutes.

  • Pour 1 cup of water into the pan and cook for another 3-4 minutes.

  • Finally add baked tofu, spring onion green, and coriander leaves. Mix and cook for about a minute. Cover the pan and switch off the gas. Don't remove the lid for at least 5 minutes.

  • Serve hot with steamed Jasmine or sticky rice.

Notes

  1. Instead of baking you can also shallow or deep fry the tofu cubes.

Nutrition

Calories: 140kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 518mg | Potassium: 413mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 368IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 3mg

Tried this recipe?Tag me on instagram #greenbowl2soul

More Main course

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See Also
More-Vegetable-Than-Egg Frittata RecipeSimple but Amazing Cranberry Sauce RecipeCarrot Risotto With Chile Crisp RecipeThe Best Stuffing Recipe (Classic Thanksgiving Dish)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (11)Gina

    Would this tomato sauce freeze well?

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (12)Vandana Chauhan

      Yes, you can freeze it for 3-4 months in a freezer safe container.

      Reply

  2. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (13)Huyen Schweitzer

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (14)
    I was craving this dish as my late mother use to make it when I was a kid. The dish brought back those feels! It is such a hearty dish x

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (15)Vandana Chauhan

      Thank you, Huyen for sharing this comment. I am sorry for your great loss. This dish reminded you of something that your late mother cooked for you is a great compliment.

      Reply

  3. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (16)Katy

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (17)
    Thank you, this worked out really well! Luckily I can get hold of veggie "fish" sauce so played around with this and soy to taste. Delicious and will be making it again!

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (18)Vandana Chauhan

      Hi Katy. Thanks for sharing your feedback, I am glad to know that you enjoyed it :).

      Reply

  4. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (19)Thomas

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (20)
    recipe looks good. One suggestion to make it truly vietnamese traditional, in place of soy sauce, you use fish sauce. Another alternative instead of sugar, you can use a bit of ketchup.

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (21)Vandana Chauhan

      Hi Thomas. Thanks for sharing the tips. As I am a vegetarian I use soy sauce, not fish sauce. I will definitely try using ketchup next time.

      Reply

  5. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (22)James

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (23)
    This is REALLY Nice. Thank you! And so easy!

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (24)Vandana Chauhan

      Thanks a lot James.

      Reply

  6. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (25)James

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (26)
    This was a pretty easy and delicious dish to make. I had a whole bunch of tomatoes picked from the garden and was ready to use them, glad I found your dish first!

    Reply

  7. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (28)Amrita Roy

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (29)
    Oh yes none of us must have ever imagined about the current situation.. but your tofu dish definitely cheers up the mood...quick and easy recipe

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (30)Vandana Chauhan

      Thanks Amrita 🙂

      Reply

  8. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (31)Priya Srinivasan

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (32)
    Vietnamese tofu looks very inviting! I m still trying to learn to cook inviting dishes with tofu, love how simple and tempting the dish is! Bookmarking this to try!

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (33)Vandana Chauhan

      Thank you Priya 🙂

      Reply

  9. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (34)sapana

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (35)
    We love tofu and this tomato sauce tofu looks so so delicious, I would love tot ry this delicious recipe for my family. Pictures are so inviting.

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (36)Vandana Chauhan

      Thank you Sapana.

      Reply

  10. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (37)Jagruti's Cooking Odyssey

    I am LOVING all your vegan asian dishes, that are so easy to whip up and tasty same time. Let's hope everything get back to normal very soon.

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (38)Vandana Chauhan

      Thanks a lot, Jagruti 🙂

      Reply

  11. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (39)Padma Veeranki

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (40)
    This vietnamese tofu looks so delicious and the colour looks so vibrant and tempting me to try soon...Thanks fo rthe recipe!!

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (41)Vandana Chauhan

      Thanks a lot Padma.

      Reply

  12. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (42)Mayuri Patel

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (43)
    How times have changed for all of us. At this moment I was suppose to be in Montreal with my son ;( Well, we just have to be patient as there is always a greater plan. As for the tofu in tomato sauce it really looks so inviting. Love it. I wish I was able to buy tofu here to make it. I guess I'll have to just bookmark the recipe and try it when I get some tofu.

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (44)Vandana Chauhan

      Thank you so much, Mayuri. You are right it's a challenging time for all of us. Hope it gets over soon :).

      Reply

  13. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (45)ARCHANA

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (46)
    My kids prefer tofu to paneer so I am greatful that we can have an option without me messing the recipe. This vietamese tofu will be on the table sometime soon. Hopefully sooner ...Thanks a lot.

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (47)Vandana Chauhan

      Thanks Archana 🙂

      Reply

  14. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (48)Uma

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (49)
    Fried tofu in tomato sauce sounds delicious. But never tasted vietnames tofu, i will try this as soon as i get tofu from the stores. thank you for the recipe!

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (50)Vandana Chauhan

      Thanks Uma.

      Reply

  15. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (51)Lata Lala

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (52)
    Trying recipes with tofu is on my to do list. Your recipe looks so interesting. The Colour of Vietnamese tofu in Tomato sauce looks so vibrant. A must try recipe.

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (53)Vandana Chauhan

      Thanks a lot Lata.

      Reply

  16. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (54)Pavani

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (55)
    We LOVE tofu in our house and this is a such delicious looking Vietnamese recipe. Crispy tomato cooked with tomato sounds yummy. I will try this recipe for my family soon.

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (56)Vandana Chauhan

      Thank you Pavani.

      Reply

  17. Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (57)Bless my food by Payal

    Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (58)
    I have never tried my hand on tofu but this lipdmacking recipe and pictures are forcing me to go for it. This is so lively in appearance.

    Reply

    • Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (59)Vandana Chauhan

      Thank you 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Vietnamese Tofu in tomato sauce-an easy under 30 minutes vegan recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do I need to soak tofu before cooking? ›

Many cooking experts champion a quick soak as a way to give the protein more texture and flavor. “Simmering cubed tofu in salted water for 60 seconds pulls out excess moisture and tightens the proteins on its surface,” Lukas Volger told Bon Appétit in 2021.

Keep Reading ›
What do you do with medium firm tofu? ›

Because there's more whey in medium-firm tofu, it may break up during vigorous stir-frying, and pan-frying can lead to sad, deflated tofu planks. How to Prep: Pressed, drained, salt-soaked, or frozen. Best Uses: Battered, stir-fried, baked, and fermented.

See More ›
How is tofu used in Vietnamese cooking? ›

Tofu pieces are fried until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They are then dipped in a savory scallion fish sauce mixture, and they turn from boring into flavorful tofu. Watch how quick and easy to make this classic Northern Vietnamese dish in the video below.

View Details ›
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.

View Details ›
How do you make tofu taste good quickly? ›

Marinate it: Tofu can be marinated in a variety of flavorful sauces or spices. You can use soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and other seasonings to make a simple marinade. Let the tofu marinate for at least 30 minutes (or up to a few hours) before cooking or grilling.

Know More ›
Why pour boiling water over tofu? ›

It may seem counterintuitive to add water to something you're trying to dry out, but boiling water will actually cause the tofu to squeeze out more moisture, bringing it to the surface and making it easier to blot off, while the salt gently seasons the slices.

Get More Info Here ›
Is it OK to eat uncooked tofu? ›

Yes, it's safe to eat raw firm tofu. It has a mild taste and a somewhat spongy texture. To enhance its flavor, you can marinate or season it. Try slicing it into cubes or strips, then marinate in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, and your choice of herbs or spices.

View More ›
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.

View More ›
What to eat with tofu? ›

What to serve with tofu. These easy tofu meals go well with white rice, toasted bread, or noodles.

Discover More Details ›
What kind of tofu is the best? ›

In general, I find that firm and extra-firm tofu are the most useful because they're versatile. They hit the tofu texture sweet spot—soft enough to absorb flavor but hardy enough to be cooked without risk of falling apart. Do note that some firm tofu, like House Foods', skews soft, more like medium-firm.

Discover More Details ›

How long does tofu last in the fridge? ›

If it darkens in color, begins to smell, or feels slimy, it should be thrown away. Bottom line: Open packages of tofu are good in the fridge for up to five days, provided you change the water daily.

Show Me More ›
What is tofu called in Vietnamese? ›

In Vietnam, the curd is strained and molded in a square mold, and the end product is called đậu khuôn (molded bean) or đậu phụ (one of the Vietnamese ways to pronounce the Chinese dòufu). The tofu curds are allowed to cool and become firm. The finished tofu can then be cut into pieces, flavored or further processed.

Get More Info ›
Why do Asians love tofu? ›

Why Chinese love fermented bean curd and even stinky tofu: it's cheap, adds flavour to rice and congee, is a good source of protein, and lots more.

View Details ›
How do Asians use tofu? ›

These 15 Tofu Recipes are classic Chinese restaurant dishes that you will now be able to make at home cheaper and healthier.
  1. Salt and Pepper Tofu. ...
  2. Hot and Sour Soup. ...
  3. General Tso's Tofu. ...
  4. Tofu Stir Fry with Cashews. ...
  5. Sweet and Sour Tofu. ...
  6. Rice Paper Dumplings. ...
  7. Spicy Sesame Tofu Stir-fry. ...
  8. Chinese Braised Claypot Tofu.
Feb 2, 2023

Discover More ›
How do you make tofu taste less bland? ›

Some marinades I like:
  1. balsamic vinegar/soy sauce/Worcestershire/scallions (vegan worcestershire if you don't eat fish)
  2. garlic/ginger/soy sauce/chili/lemon juice/brown sugar.
  3. rosemary/garlic/orange juice.
  4. sesame oil/brown sugar/vinegar/chili pepper/garlic, or lemon juice/basil/garlic/pepper.
Oct 9, 2016

Discover More ›
Why is my tofu so tasteless? ›

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.

Discover More ›
What's the best way to cook tofu? ›

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.

Read On ›
What does adding cornstarch to tofu do? ›

A light coating of cornstarch will absorb even more moisture from the tofu's surface and contribute to a distinct coating. Sprinkle over the starch (potato starch, tapioca starch, and arrowroot all work too) a little bit at a time and toss the tofu, pressing gently so the starch adheres.

Know More ›
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