2teaspoonsvegetable oil, divided - See Notes section for oil-free tips.
3Tablespoonslow-sodium tamari or soy sauce, divided
3Tablespoonsrice vinegar or white wine vinegar, divided
1 (14 ounce)packageextra firm tofu, drained, pressed, and cubed - or super-firm tofu (no need to press)
1smallsweet onion, chopped
1red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1cupcanned diced pineapple, juice reserved
1Tablespoontomato paste or ketchup - I had an open bottle of BBQ sauce in the fridge so I used that instead.
2Tablespoonsmaple syrup
1Tablespooncorn starch
4cupscooked rice of choice
Instructions
Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat, along with 1 tablespoon tamari and 1 tablespoon vinegar. Add the tofu to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer the tofu to a plate.
Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of oil to the pan along with the onion. Cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the bell peppers and the pineapple to the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened, about 10 more minutes. Add the tofu back into the pan.
Whisk together the tomato paste, maple syrup, cornstarch, remaining 2 tablespoons tamari, 2 tablespoons vinegar, and ½ cup of the reserved pineapple juice in a small bowl. Pour the mixture into the pan and gently stir to coat everything well. Cook for a few more minutes, until the sauce thickens and is heated through.
Serve over the cooked rice.
Notes
First-Timer tip: If you’re short on time, you can used store-bought baked tofu and a bag of frozen stir-fry vegetables in this recipe. Baked tofu is already seasoned, so you can skip step 1. Just add it to the pan with the frozen veggies in step 2 and add the sauce after they’re both heated through.Need to make it oil-free? Instead of cooking the tofu in oil in the first step, dry-broil it as described in this post. Another option is to season the tofu with tamari and rice vinegar, then bake. Or simply sauté it as described above and add a bit of broth or water, as needed. Thoroughly pre-heating the pan is also very important to prevent sticking.Storage: Store leftover sweet and sour tofu in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.