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Home > Recipes > Tofu

Sweet and Sour Tofu

Published: Apr 13, 2022 · Modified: Oct 8, 2022 by Iosune Robles · This post may contain affiliate links

4.87 from 67 votes
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Side photo of a plate of sweet and sour tofu witht the words sweet and sour tofu
Photo of a plate of sweet and sour tofu with the words sweet and sour tofu

Sweet and sour tofu, made in just 30 minutes. A plant-based version of this classic Chinese food that is much healthier than take-out!

Photo of a plate of sweet and sour tofu

Tofu is a staple in my kitchen. I use it a lot and, lately, I've been obsessed with this delicious sweet and sour tofu. It’s a great meat alternative, especially when you’re trying to recreate meat-based dishes because, if you cook it properly, you can get a similar texture.

This sweet and sour tofu recipe is super flavorful and ready in just 30 minutes. Besides, it is way better and healthier than take-out. It makes the perfect dinner!

Contents hide
1. How to make sweet and sour tofu
2. Sweet and sour tofu ingredients and tips
3. Looking for more tofu recipes?
4. Did you make this sweet and sour tofu recipe?
5. Easy Sweet and Sour Tofu

How to make sweet and sour tofu

  • Mix the soy sauce and apple cider vinegar in a bowl until well combined.
  • Incorporate the tofu cubes and let marinate for at least 5 minutes.
  • Drain the tofu and transfer ⅓ of the tofu cubes to a freezer bag with 2 tablespoon of cornstarch and toss to coat. Repeat this step with all the remaining tofu and cornstarch.
  • Heat half of the oil in a skillet and when it’s hot, incorporate the tofu cubes. Cook over medium-high heat until all sides are golden brown. Remove the tofu from the skillet and set aside.
  • Heat the other half of the oil in the skillet and add the veggies. Cook over medium-high heat until golden brown. Set aside.
  • To make the sauce just mix all the ingredients until well combined.
  • Pour the sauce into the skillet or pan and cook until it thickens.
  • Mix the tofu, veggies, and sauce in the skillet, stir, and cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat.
  • Serve your sweet and sour tofu immediately.
Photo of sweet and sour tofu in a pan

Sweet and sour tofu ingredients and tips

  • Soy sauce or tamari: I used soy sauce, but tamari is a good gluten-free alternative. If you don't consume soy, coconut aminos is a great substitute. You could also add the same amount of water or vegetable stock and add more salt.
  • Apple cider vinegar: you could also use white vinegar or lemon juice instead.
  • Firm tofu: firm or extra firm tofu work best for this sweet and sour tofu recipe. Soft or silken tofu is not a good choice as it will fall apart easily.
  • Cornstarch: I’ve only made this recipe using cornstarch, but any type of starch should work.
  • Extra virgin olive oil: I’m Spanish, so I use extra virgin olive oil to cook most of my dishes. However, any type of oil will work. I always use extra virgin oils when possible because they’re healthier. 
  • Carrot.
  • Green bell pepper.
  • Red bell pepper.
  • Onion.
  • Sugar: I used brown sugar, but feel free to use the type of sugar you want, or even other sweeteners like maple or agave syrup.
  • Tomato paste: it can be replaced by tomato puree, ketchup, or tomato sauce.
  • Water.

Looking for more tofu recipes?

  • General Tso's Tofu
  • Marinated Tofu
  • Sesame Tofu
  • Teriyaki Tofu
  • Tofu Stir Fry
Side photo of a plate of sweet and sour tofu

Did you make this sweet and sour tofu recipe?

Please leave a comment below, share it, or rate it. You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST. I’d love to see what you cook!

Square photo of a plate of sweet and sour tofu
4.87 from 67 votes

Easy Sweet and Sour Tofu

Love Chinese takeout? Try this Easy Sweet and Sour Tofu! In just 30 minutes, you'll have a healthier, vegan version of this classic dish. It's tasty and perfect for satisfying those takeout cravings!
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 20 minutes mins
Total: 30 minutes mins
Servings: 2
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Ingredients 
 

For the sweet and sour tofu:

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar, I used rice vinegar
  • 10 ounces firm tofu, cubed
  • 6 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoon oil, I used extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • ½ red bell pepper, chopped
  • ½ green bell pepper, chopped
  • ½ onion, chopped

For the sweet and sour sauce:

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar, I used rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 6 tablespoons water
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
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Instructions 

  • Mix the soy sauce or tamari and apple cider vinegar in a bowl until well combined.
  • Incorporate the tofu cubes and let marinate for at least 5 minutes.
  • Drain the tofu and transfer ⅓ of the tofu cubes to a freezer bag with 2 tablespoon of cornstarch and toss to coat. Repeat this step with all the remaining tofu and cornstarch. Add more cornstarch if needed.
  • Heat half of the oil in a skillet and when it’s hot, add the tofu cubes. Cook over medium-high heat until all sides are golden brown. Remove the tofu from the skillet and set it aside.
  • Heat the other half of the oil in the skillet and when it’s hot, incorporate the veggies (carrot, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and onion). Cook over medium-high heat until golden brown. Set aside.
  • To make the sauce just mix all the ingredients until well combined.
  • Pour the sauce into the skillet and cook until it thickens, stirring frequently.
  • Mix the tofu, veggies, and the sauce in the skillet, stir, and cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve your sweet and sour tofu immediately with some sesame seeds on top (optional).
  • Keep the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Notes

  • Some people add pineapple to this sweet and sour tofu recipe, but I don’t. If you want to enjoy this dish with pineapple, just sautée it with the veggies.
  • Feel free to use any type of vinegar, starch, oil, veggies, or sweetener you have on hand.
  • Tomato paste can be replaced by tomato puree, ketchup, or tomato sauce.
  • The amount of sodium is not a real measurement because you’d need to marinate the tofu for hours for it to absorb all the soy sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 63.8g | Protein: 14.6g | Fat: 20.1g | Saturated Fat: 3.2g | Sodium: 1114mg | Fiber: 4.7g | Sugar: 31.6g
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below and let me know how it was!
Course: Main Dish, Tofu
Cuisine: Chinese
Author: Iosune Robles

Update Notes: This post was originally published in May of 2018, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions, and tips in April of 2022.

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15.3K shares

Comments

  1. Kevin Patrick says

    February 28, 2025 at 1:55 am

    5 stars
    Hi losune, wonderful sweet and sour tofu. Simple and healthy. I added some pineapple pieces, just for a bit more varied texture and sweetness. Your blog is great, easy to read and user friendly. Unlike many other online recipes your inclusion of US / metric measures and serve size that actually work is a credit to you. Look forward to many more of your wonderful healthy recipes. Thanks, and regards

    Reply
  2. CassieAni says

    June 23, 2024 at 6:40 pm

    5 stars
    This has become THE recipe everyone ask me to cook 🫶🏼

    Reply
    • Iosune says

      June 28, 2024 at 4:02 pm

      Hi CassieAni! So glad to read that 🙂

      Reply
  3. Mitzi says

    January 11, 2024 at 8:57 pm

    5 stars
    My husband (who doesn’t like tofu) and I simply loved the sweet and sour tofu. I used broccoli instead of carrots as that’s what I had. I used ketchup in place of tomato paste. We absolutely loved it! Thank you for an easy delicious recipe.

    Reply
    • Iosune says

      January 18, 2024 at 10:27 am

      Hi Mitzi! Thank YOU for your comment 🙂 Have a nice day!

      Reply
  4. Tro says

    December 07, 2023 at 7:41 pm

    5 stars
    My non-vegan partner loves sweet and sour duck.. thanks to you this sweet and sour tofu recipe is now a staple in our home and he really loves it! It's so simple and turns out perfect every time. Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Iosune says

      December 11, 2023 at 2:50 pm

      Hi Tro! So glad to hear that 🙂

      Reply
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Side photo of a plate of sweet and sour tofu witht the words sweet and sour tofu
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Hi, I'm Iosune!

I share easy and delicious vegan recipes perfect for everyday meals and special occasions, all made with simple, everyday ingredients.

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