Vegan Pad Thai with Veggies and Crispy Tofu
Author Chef Summer Storm - garden grub
Rice noodles are tossed with various vegetables, crispy tofu, and a sweet and savory sauce, then garnished with peanuts, cilantro, bean sprouts, and fresh lime. This vegan pad Thai is easy to make and full of flavor!
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 45 minutes mins
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Thai
Sauce
- 1/3 cup organic brown sugar, packed
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp vegan fish sauce *See 'tiparooskis,' located below the recipe, for a substitution.
- 2 tbsp tamarind paste *See 'tiparooskis,' located below the recipe, for a substitution.
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- Vegan sriracha (Amount is personal preference depending on how spicy you want the Pad Thai. I add about 2 tablespoons.)
Crispy Tofu
- One 14 ounce package firm tofu (I like A LOT of tofu, so I fry an entire 14 ounce package. If you want an equal amount of tofu compared to veggies, I suggest cutting this 'Crispy Tofu' recipe in half.)
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil, divided
Veggies
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, bite-sized strips
- 1/2 cup carrots, peeled and cut into "chips"
- 1/2 cup snow peas
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp garlic cloves, peeled and minced
- 1/2 cup liquid Just Egg
- 1/2 cup fresh bean sprouts
Garnishes
- Dry roasted peanuts
- Fresh bean sprouts
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- Lime wedges
First, prepare the rice noodles. Cook them according to the package instructions, except undercook them by about 2 minutes, as they will cook more in the sauce later. After you've boiled them, run them under cool water to stop them from cooking, and then hold them in cold water while you prepare the rest of the recipe.
Crispy Tofu
Drain and rinse off the tofu, then lay it down flat. Cut it into 1/2 inch thick rectangular slabs, cut the rectangular slabs into squares, and then in half to create triangles.
Add the cornstarch, salt, and pepper to a plate or wide, shallow dish and whisk to combine evenly.
Place a large saute pan over medium heat. Once hot, add two tablespoons of the vegetable oil.
Evenly toss half of the tofu in the cornstarch mixture and place it in the pan. Cook the first side for about 5 minutes or until lightly golden brown and crispy- do NOT stir them around. Once they're crispy, flip them over and cook the second side for the same amount of time.
Place the tofu on a sheet pan lined with a wire rack. Prepare and cook the second half of the tofu the same way.
Veggies/How to Cook Pad Thai
Place a large saute pan over medium heat. Once hot, add in the vegetable oil, bell peppers, carrots, and snow peas. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add the green onions and garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Push all of the veggies to one side of the pan, and pour the liquid Just Egg to the other clean side of the pan. Scramble the egg mixture, which will take roughly 1 minute or so, breaking it up into small pieces. Then mix the scrambled egg bits into the veggies.
Add the drained noodles and sauce into the pan and stir until well combined. Turn the heat up to medium-high. Once the sauce begins to boil, turn the heat down to medium/medium-low. Add the tofu and bean sprouts, stir well, and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes or until most of the sauce has cooked off. *Feel free to leave the tofu out of the pad Thai and serve it on top if you'd like it to remain super crispy. If you do decide to add the tofu in, it will soak up a bunch of the sauce, so be careful not to overcook the pad Thai or it will become dry.
Taste for seasoning. Add more sriracha if you'd like it spicier, a tiny pinch of salt or a splash more of soy sauce if you'd like it saltier.. adjust it to your liking! :)
Garnish your serving with peanuts, more bean sprouts, cilantro leaves, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice!
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