Easy and delicious kung pao tofu! A healthier and lighter take on the popular take-out dish. With a sweet yet savory sauce, tons of veggies and it cooks in one skillet. Vegan & gluten free.

It’s time to stir-fry it up! With this easy and delicious kung pao tofu!

Or otherwise known as the vegan / vegetarian version of kung pao chicken.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t eat a ton of tofu, but every so often I like to switch things up and use it in stir-fry. Because, umm, we enjoy a whole lot of stir-fry at our house and variety is the spice of life.

But anyway. Let’s talk today’s recipe specifically.

So, I wouldn’t call this a super authentic version of kung pao sauce … BUT it is pretty darn tasty and made with all pantry staples that you’re likely to have on hand.

And it still has that savory, slightly sweet / almost syrupy flavor with a touch of spice and tang (i.e. like the original), thanks to the use of some balsamic vinegar and sriracha. Again, not authentic but it does the trick.

Not to mention that I couldn’t help but pack this dish full of tons and tons of veggies. We’re talking way more than what you get in the take-out version. Because more veggies = always a good thing.

It’s a healthy, simple dinner coming right up!

How To Make This Kung Pao Tofu Recipe

So, let’s talk about how this dish goes down.

First, we whisk together that aforementioned sauce made with all pantry staples like soy sauce (or tamari), sriracha and maple syrup.

Next, we cook up some pressed tofu in a large skillet until lightly golden and slightly crisp. We remove it to a bowl and then use the same skillet to saute plenty of veggies, like red onion, bell pepper, zucchini and bok choy, until perfectly tender.

The tofu, sauce and some peanuts get added back in, cooked for about one minute until thickened and then dinner is served! Over some delicious brown rice, please and thank you.

Tips & Tricks for This Kung Pao Tofu

1. One of the great things about this dish is that it is super customizable. So, let’s talk options. First up – the veggies. While I love the combo listed down in the recipe, you could change this up based on what you have on hand. Just be sure to use the same overall amount and keep in mind the cook time (i.e. I wouldn’t go with something like sweet potato here since it will take much longer to cook!).
2. Not feeling the tofu? Use chickpeas instead! Drain and rinse one (15 ounce) can, then add to the skillet when you would the cooked tofu. Easy peasy and it will cut down on the overall recipe time if you go this route.
3. Raw cashews make a great substitute for the peanuts.
4. And finally, let’s talk spice. As written, I don’t find this dish overly spicy (and almost not at all if you use less sriracha than what’s listed). If you find you want more spice, add in extra sriracha or red pepper flakes at the very end after it’s finished cooking – this way you can tweak the heat level to your taste.

How To Store

Let the stir-fry cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container (you can store with or without the brown rice for serving).

It will keep like this for about 3 to 4 days in the fridge. 

Additional Vegan Stir-Fry Recipes You Might Enjoy!

• Rainbow Vegetable Lo Mein
• Spicy Broccoli Carrot Noodle Stir-Fry
• Peanut Ginger Vegetable Stir-Fry
• Orange Chickpea and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Did you make this recipe? Rate and review it down below! I’d love to hear from you.