Make the best spicy tofu recipe with crispy golden tofu, garlic, chilies, and fresh basil in just 20 minutes. This Thai basil tofu stir-fry is easy to make, vegan and protein-rich, and incredibly flavorful.
Try our tofu quinoa power bowl and crispy sesame tofu.
Thai basil tofu stir-fry
This Thai-style spicy stir-fry is a restaurant-quality meal ready in just 20 minutes. Crispy golden tofu is tossed with fresh garlic, green chilies, sauces, and fragrant Thai basil to create a dish that is sweet, spicy, and aromatic.
This tofu fry is vegetarian and vegan, packed with plant-based protein, and tastes amazing served over steamed jasmine rice or noodles. Whether you are meal prepping or making your weeknight dinner, Thai-style tofu is guaranteed to become a favorite.
Ingredients
Extra Firm Tofu: For a crispy golden texture. Works best for stir-fry recipes.
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Onion, garlic, ginger, and green chilies: Rich and base flavor for this dish.
Sauces: soy, Worcestershire, sriracha, tomato.
Thai basil: freshness that complements the sauce and gives traditional Thai flavor.
Check out the recipe card for the full list of ingredients.
Pan-fry Tofu
- Press the tofu to remove any extra moisture. Cut the tofu into the desired shape and sprinkle some salt.
- Heat a tablespoon of oil in a non-stick pan. Pan-fry the tofu till it develops some color. Remove and set aside.
Spicy Tofu
- Using a mortar and pestle, crush the garlic and green chili.
- Heat remaining oil in the same pan. Add onion, crushed garlic, green chili, and ginger, and sauté until light in color and fragrant.
- Now add soya sauce, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, sriracha chili sauce, brown sugar, pepper flakes, and salt to taste and mix well.
- Add the crispy tofu and fresh basil leaves. Mix well until the tofu is tossed in the sauce and basil wilts. Switch off the flame.
- Serve hot immediately and enjoy.
Tips
- Vary the amount of green chilies as per your taste.
- If fresh basil leaves are unavailable, dried basil leaves can be used.
- The recipe is flexible. Vary all the ingredients, especially the sauces, to taste. Any change in the ingredient quantity will change the taste of the dish, but it will be unique and flavorful.
- You can even add veggies like mushrooms, broccoli, spinach, baby corn, bok choy, snap peas, and zucchini to this recipe.
- Use extra-firm tofu for a crispy, firm texture on the outside.
- I have used a vegan/vegetarian version of Worcestershire sauce. Make sure you check the ingredient list in the sauce before you use it if you want it vegan.
- For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
Serving suggestions
- Spicy tofu tastes the best with steamed jasmine rice or noodles.
- You can also serve it with fried rice, udon noodles or quinoa.
- Try it with lettuce wraps.
- You can also use it as a vegetarian and vegan-based protein in a salad bowl.
Recipe FAQs
Extra firm tofu is the best if you want crispy golden tofu. It has the least liquid and gives a crispy, firm texture on the outside and a meaty texture on the inside, which will make you fall in love with tofu.
Remove as much liquid as possible from tofu to make it crisper. To do this, you will have to place weight on the tofu. Keep some paper towels on the plate. Wrap the tofu block in paper towels. Place another plate or cutting board on top and place a heavy item on it, like a bowl of water or canned items. Keep this aside for 15 minutes.
Stir fries are best when prepared fresh and served immediately. If there are any leftovers, you can place them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat in skillet for crispy texture.
More Tofu recipes
Recipe card
Spicy Tofu Recipe | Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry
Equipment
Ingredients
- 14 oz Extra Firm Tofu 1 block
- 1 Onion chopped
- 6 Garlic cloves finely chopped
- 2 to 3 Thai bird chilies Green chili; adjust to taste
- 1 inch Ginger grated
- ½ cup Fresh Basil leaves chopped
- 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce
- 1 to 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Tomato sauce ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon Brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Dried red pepper flakes optional
- 2 tablespoon Vegetable oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Pan-fry Tofu
- Press the tofu to remove any extra moisture. Cut the tofu into the desired shape and sprinkle some salt.14 oz Extra Firm Tofu
- Heat a tablespoon of oil in a non-stick pan. Pan-fry the tofu till it develops some color. Remove and set aside.2 tbsp Vegetable oil
Spicy Tofu
- Using a mortar and pestle, crush the garlic and green chili.6 Garlic cloves, 2 to 3 Thai bird chilies
- Heat remaining oil in the same pan. Add onion, crushed garlic, green chili, and ginger, and sauté until light in color and fragrant.1 Onion, 1 inch Ginger, ½ cup Fresh Basil leaves
- Now add soya sauce, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, sriracha chili sauce, brown sugar, pepper flakes, and salt to taste and mix well.1 tbsp Soy Sauce, 1 to 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp Tomato sauce, 1 tsp Sriracha chili sauce, 1 tsp Brown sugar, 1 tsp Dried red pepper flakes, Salt to taste
- Add the crispy tofu and fresh basil leaves. Mix well until the tofu is tossed in the sauce and basil wilts. Switch off the flame.
- Serve hot immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- Vary the amount of green chilies as per your taste.
- If fresh basil leaves are unavailable, dried basil leaves can be used.
- The recipe is flexible. Vary all the ingredients, especially the sauces, to taste. Any change in the ingredient quantity will change the taste of the dish, but it will be unique and flavorful.
- You can even add veggies like mushrooms, broccoli, spinach, baby corn, bok choy, snap peas, and zucchini for this recipe.
- Use extra-firm tofu for a crispy, firm texture on the outside.
- I have used a vegan/vegetarian version of Worcestershire sauce. Make sure you check the ingredient list in the sauce before you use it if you want it vegan.
- For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
Nutrition
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Note: We originally posted this spicy tofu recipe (Thai-style stir-fry) in September 2015. It has now been modified in July 2026 with Expert Chef Tips, FAQs, Storage Instructions, etc.
Alboni says
Your platting is stunning .... good recipe !!!
Kushi says
Thank you 🙂
swati pathak says
Love tofu! Looks delicious...
Kushi says
Thank you Swati 🙂