Braised Frozen Tofu

Braised Frozen Tofu

This **Crispy Frozen Tofu Stir-Fry** is a savory, aromatic dish that transforms simple ingredients into a flavorful masterpiece. The secret lies in freezing the tofu overnight, giving it a chewy, meaty texture that soaks up the rich, spicy-sweet sauce. Paired with tender potatoes and crisp green peppers, this dish is stir-fried with fragrant spices like star anise, cinnamon, and Sichuan peppercorns for a bold, warming taste. The rock sugar caramelizes in hot oil, creating a glossy, slightly sweet glaze that coats every bite. Quick yet deeply satisfying, this recipe balances heat, umami, and a hint of sweetness—perfect served over rice for a comforting meal. A must-try for tofu lovers and anyone craving a hearty, spice-infused dish!

15 Minutes
Advanced
4 servings
Recipe Hot Dishes

Ingredients

Metric US
4 serving

Main Ingredients

🥩
tofu
400g
🥩
potatoes
300g

The aromatics

🧅
green peppers
200g

The sauce & seasonings

🧂
star anise
2 pieces
🧂
cinnamon
1 piece
🧂
Sichuan peppercorns
1 tsp
🧂
ginger
2 slices
🧂
dried chili peppers
2 pieces
🧂
rock sugar
2 tbsp

Instructions

1. Step 1

Step 1
Buy a piece of tofu, rinse it with cold water, and freeze it in the refrigerator for more than one night.

2. Step 2

Step 2
After freezing, take it out and let it thaw at room temperature for 2 hours.

3. Step 3

Cut it into cubes of about 2cm in size. Place them in a colander to drain (it’s better to cut them when they’re not completely thawed).

4. Step 4

Peel the potatoes and cut them into pieces of similar size to the tofu.

5. Step 5

Wash the green peppers, remove the stems and seeds, and cut them into similar-sized pieces.

6. Step 6

Heat the pot, add oil, and when the oil is 50% hot, add rock sugar. Turn to medium-low heat and use a spatula to slowly stir, allowing the rock sugar to melt in the oil.

7. Step 7

After the rock sugar has melted, add star anise, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, ginger slices, and dried chili peppers. Stir-fry until fragrant for about 30 seconds.

8. Step 8

Turn to high heat, add the potatoes, and stir-fry for 2 minutes.

9. Step 9

Add the frozen tofu, then add soy sauce and salt. Stir-fry for 2 minutes, add water, bring to a boil, cover the pot, and simmer over low heat for a while.

10. Step 10

Open the lid to check on it, making sure it doesn’t dry out. After about 4 minutes, open the lid, turn to high heat, add the green peppers, and stir-fry for 2 minutes.

11. Step 11

When the sauce has thickened and there’s only a little left, add chicken essence and stir well.

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