Green Curry Glazed Tofu

Published Sept. 25, 2022

Green Curry Glazed Tofu
Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
Total Time
25 minutes
Rating
4(3,764)
Comments
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To make crispy, flavorful tofu without having to press it first, use this smart method from Andrea Nguyen, the author of “Asian Tofu” (Ten Speed Press, 2012) and other cookbooks: Warm the tofu in a pan with a small amount of flavorful sauce. As it cooks, it will dry out and absorb the flavors of the sauce. Next, you add oil to the pan, which crisps the tofu. In Ms. Nguyen’s recipe, soy sauce is used, but here, the aromatics in Thai green curry paste and the sugars in coconut milk toast and caramelize on the tofu. Once the tofu has a deep-brown crust, remove it, sear a quick-cooking vegetable in the same pan, then reduce the remaining curry-coconut mixture into a fragrant, sweet-and-spicy glaze.

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Ingredients

Yield:2 servings
  • 1(14- to 16-ounce) block extra-firm tofu
  • Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
  • 1(14-ounce) can full-fat, unsweetened coconut milk
  • 3 to 4tablespoons Thai green curry paste
  • 1tablespoon neutral or coconut oil, plus more as needed
  • 2cups chopped vegetables, such as snap or snow peas, asparagus, broccoli, kale, fennel or corn kernels or a combination (see Tip)
  • 2tablespoons lime juice (from 1 lime)
  • Cooked rice or another grain, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (2 servings)

826 calories; 60 grams fat; 45 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 53 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 30 grams protein; 1533 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cut the tofu in half lengthwise, then slice crosswise into 6 sections. (You’ll have 12 squares total.) Transfer to a towel-lined plate and pat dry, then sprinkle with salt.

  2. Step 2

    Transfer the coconut milk to a liquid measuring cup or medium bowl, add the green curry paste, stir with a fork until smooth, then season to taste with salt. (Be aware that some curry pastes are quite salty.)

  3. Step 3

    Arrange the tofu in an even layer in a large (12-inch) nonstick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet. Pour 2 tablespoons coconut-curry mixture over the tofu and flip the tofu to coat. Set the skillet over medium-high and cook tofu without flipping until the skillet is dry and the undersides of the tofu are speckled golden, 3 to 5 minutes.

  4. Step 4

    Add the oil, swirl to coat, then flip the tofu. Cook until browned and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes, then flip once more until the remaining side is browned and crisp, 1 to 2 minutes, adding more oil as needed. Transfer to a plate.

  5. Step 5

    If the skillet is dry, add more oil, over medium-high, then add the vegetables, season with salt and cook, without stirring, until charred underneath, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in the remaining coconut-curry mixture and boil, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the liquid has thickened to a glaze, 4 to 5 minutes. (The sauce is ready when a spoon dragged across the bottom of the skillet leaves a trail.) Turn off the heat, stir in the lime juice, then add the tofu and gently stir to coat. Season to taste with salt. Eat on top of rice.

Tip
  • This recipe accommodates any vegetable that will cook in 6 to 8 minutes. If you’d like to use a vegetable that takes longer, like sliced carrots or winter squash, sear them for a few additional minutes, tossing occasionally, before pouring in the coconut-curry mixture.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
3,764 user ratings
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Comments

I had all the ingredients on hand, so I made this and we thought it was delicious! An interesting way to deal with tofu: it did get crispy, without cornstarch or the hassle of pressing/freezing/nuking/etc. For veggies, I used asparagus + mini bell peppers + scallions, then spinach added with sauce after the initial veg sauté. I added a couple handfuls of pea shoots at the very end. The fresh lime juice was a nice touch. Suggestion: cut tofu smaller. Try technique with other jarred simmer sauces.

Why open a jar of curry paste? It takes 10 mins or less to make a much better one (where you don't have to worry, as Slagle writes, about too much salt). Basic green curry recipes involve blitzing in a food processor the following ingredients: -small green serrano chiles -green bellpepper -fresh garlic -ginger -scallions -lemongrass -lemon + lime juice -black pepper, cumin, coriander, turmeric + sea salt -oil -a dash of maple or agave syrup. Press button—and voila! (Google it.) Bon appetit!

Like a dummy I followed the recipe exactly and put all those crispy vegetables in while the sauce cooked down. I knew it would turn them to mush but still I followed the recipe to the T. And yes they turned to mush. So, once you’ve got those vegetables nice and crispy and delicious and fresh set them aside until you have cooked that sauce down to the thickness that he would like.

Amazing way to cook tofu fast and healthier. Agree with cooking the veggies in coconut oil, transfer to bowl, then cook down the green curry to desired thickness, then add back tofu and veggies. Added eggplant and fresh spinach and fresh basil leaves.

This is an excellent method for cooking tofu. It did get a nice crust. Make sure your pan is truly nonstick - I started with a regular skillet and the tofu stuck badly. I switched to cast iron and everything worked perfectly. I used sugar snap peas, broccoli, zucchini and carrots, and topped with some minced cilantro and Thai basil in addition to the lime.

Has anyone tried using frozen vegetables in this (e.g. snap peas, bell peppers)? Thinking to save time and a grocery trip.

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