Crispy Szechuan Tofu and Vegetable Stir Fry

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This crispy Szechuan tofu and vegetable stir fry features a sticky homemade spicy Szechuan sauce made with toasted peppercorns for a unique and tingly flavor. This amazing salty, sweet, sour and slightly spicy sauce coats the crispy, baked tofu and tender stir fry bell peppers and crunchy snow peas!

This recipe is vegan and easy to customize with your favorite veggies or preferred spice level.

crispy Szechuan tofu and vegetable stir fry on top of white rice in a green bowl with wooden chopsticks. — crispy Szechuan tofu and vegetables

Why You’ll Love This Crispy Szechuan Tofu Recipe

If you’re like me, then you love a good tofu recipe for dinner. Recently, I made a grilled marinated tofu recipe and a sticky sesame tofu recipe and I thought it was time for another new one!

Here are a few more reasons we love this recipe and you will too:

Emily’s Recipe Notes:

Incredibly Flavorful & Satisfying: The Szechuan sauce has a perfect balance of spicy, savory, and sweet flavors.
Easy Crispy Tofu: The crispy tofu cubes add a satisfying crunch, while the tender snow peas and bell peppers provide a nice contrast in texture.
Easy & Customizable: Customize this recipe to your liking- add in your favorite vegetables or increase the spice level of the sauce!
Time: This easy recipe takes about 30 minutes to make, perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

This recipe features a homemade Szechuan sauce that incorporates Szechuan peppercorns for a uniquely tingly and flavorful kick. The sauce is a combination of soy sauce, brown sugar, Chinese black vinegar, garlic, ginger, toasted sesame oil, chili oil (or sambal oelek), water, and cornstarch.

Here’s are the main ingredients you’ll need to make this stir fry!

Super or extra firm tofu
Cornstarch
Chinese 5 spice
Neutral oil, like canola
Green onions
Red bell pepper
Snow peas
Szechuan peppercorns, also called Sichuan peppercorns
Soy sauce or dark soy sauce
Brown sugar, or swap maple syrup or coconut sugar
Chinese black vinegar or rice vinegar
Garlic
Ginger
Toasted sesame oil
Chili oil or sambal oelek
Water or low sodium vegetable stock

Ingredient Notes

One of the things that makes this recipe so special is the use of several unique ingredients that are commonly used in Szechuan cuisine. Here’s a brief overview of each of them and their unique flavors:

Szechuan Peppercorns: These peppercorns have a unique flavor profile, including a tingling, numbing sensation on the tongue. They’re a key ingredient in many Szechuan dishes, including the homemade spicy Szechuan sauce in this recipe. You can find them online, at specialty grocery stores, or your local Asian Market.

Chinese 5 Spice: A blend of five spices commonly used in Chinese cuisine, including cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise, and Szechuan (Sichuan) peppercorns. It adds a warm, complex flavor to dishes.

Black Vinegar: A type of vinegar commonly used in Chinese cuisine. It has a slightly sweet and sour flavor and adds a depth of flavor to the homemade Szechuan sauce.

Toasted Sesame Oil: This oil is made from toasted sesame seeds and has a deep, nutty flavor. It’s commonly used in Chinese cuisine, and a little goes a long way in adding depth of flavor to dishes.

Szechuan peppercorns in a vintage metal measuring cup. — Szechuan peppercorns

Substitutions

Chinese 5 spice: if you don’t have Chinese 5 spice, you can use a combination of cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds, star anise and Szechuan peppercorns to create a similar flavor profile. You can omit this if you don’t have it but the dish will be lacking a lot of flavor.
Black vinegar: if you don’t have black vinegar, you can use rice vinegar, rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar instead.
Sambal oelek: you can use any other chili paste or hot sauce of your choice.
Vegetables: feel free to substitute the veggies in this recipe with any other veggies you like, such as broccoli, carrots, bok choy or mushrooms.
Szechuan peppercorns: use regular black pepper or black peppercorns instead of Szechuan peppercorns if you can’t find them.

Helpful Equipment

Baking tray
Parchment paper
Mortar and pestle or spice grinder
Large skillet or wok

Step-By-Step Instructions

Make the Crispy Tofu

⭐️ If you’re new to tofu, I have an entire Beginner’s Guide to Cooking Tofu already on the blog! ⭐️

STEP 1: Prep a large baking tray with parchment paper and a drizzle of oil. Preheat the oven.

STEP 2: Drain and press the extra-firm tofu with paper towels, then cut it into 1/2-inch cubes.

STEP 3: In a shallow dish, mix cornstarch, Chinese 5 spice, and salt. Coat the tofu cubes evenly in the cornstarch mixture. Then, transfer the tofu pieces to the oiled baking sheet. Toss them so they’re coated evenly in oil. Bake, flipping halfway until golden brown and crispy.

TIP: Make sure the tofu is in a single layer! This helps them get extra crispy.

the cornstarch coated tofu. — the tofu coated in cornstarch

the cornstarch coated tofu on an oiled pan. — the tofu coated in cornstarch

How to Make the Szechuan Sauce

STEP 4: While the tofu bakes, make the Szechuan sauce. In a skillet over medium heat, toast the Szechuan peppercorns for 1 minute. Transfer to a mortar and pestle and grind into a fine powder.

STEP 5: In a bowl or glass measuring cup, mix the toasted and crushed peppercorns with all the sauce ingredients, except for the cornstarch.

toasting the Szechuan peppercorns. — toasting the peppercorns

mixing the sauce for the stir fry. — toasting the peppercorns

STEP 6: Transfer the sauce to the same skillet and heat over low heat. Mix in the cornstarch so there are no lumps. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring continuously, until the sauce thickens (about 3 minutes). Remove from the heat, transfer back to the mixing cup or a small bowl and set aside.

The Stir Fry Veggies

STEP 7: In a large skillet or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Add the green onions and Szechuan chilis (if using) and cook for 1 minute. Then, add the bell peppers and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes.

STEP 8: Add the snow peas to the skillet and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

green onion in chili oil in a white pan. — the green onion

bell pepper in a white pan. — the green onion

STEP 9: Once the tofu has baked for 20 minutes, toss the crispy pieces of tofu in 3/4 of the sauce, making sure the pieces are well coated.

📌 Optional: For extra crispy, caramelized tofu- increase the oven to 450°F and bake the tofu with the sauce for another 5 minutes to caramelize and crisp the tofu further.

STEP 10: Mix the remaining 1/4 of the sauce with the stir-fry vegetables over low heat.

the crispy baked tofu. — crispy baked tofu

the sauce coated baked tofu. — crispy baked tofu

Serving

This crispy Szechuan tofu and vegetable stir fry is best served hot over a bed of fluffy white rice (or brown rice), and topped with fresh chopped cilantro, sesame seeds, and a drizzle of chili oil. You can also try topping with sliced green onions or diced red chili peppers for added color and heat.

If you’re looking to add even more flavor and texture to your dish, try adding some additional garnishes. Some popular options include:

Crushed peanuts or cashews for a crunchy texture and nutty flavor.
Julienned carrots or sliced mushrooms for extra veggies.
Fresh lime wedges to squeeze over the top for a tangy finish.
Sriracha or other hot sauce for extra heat.

Feel free to also customize this recipe with your favorite vegetables. While we love the combination of snow peas, red bell pepper, and green onions, you can also try using other veggies like bok choy, broccoli, green beans, shiitake mushroom, or even baby corn. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time as needed to ensure everything is cooked to perfection.

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
To reheat, microwave or heat on the stovetop with a drizzle of oil until warmed through.

the Szechuan stir fry garnished with green onion and sesame seeds. — the stir fry garnished with green onion

Helpful Tips For The Best Szechuan Vegetable Stir Fry

Use extra-firm or super-firm tofu for best results. Softer tofu varieties won’t hold up as well during the baking and won’t get as crispy.
Don’t skip the step of pressing the tofu. This removes any excess moisture and helps the tofu crisp up in the oven.
To make this recipe gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce and ensure that all other ingredients are gluten-free. (Black vinegar often has wheat in it, so be sure your specific vinegar is gluten-free).
Customize the spice level of the dish by adjusting the amount of chili oil or sambal oelek used in the Szechuan sauce.
The Szechuan peppercorns are what give this dish its unique and tingly flavor. If you can’t find them at your local grocery store, they can be purchased online or substituted with regular black peppercorns.

the crispy Szechuan sauce coated tofu. — the crispy Szechuan sauce coated tofu

FAQ

What are Szechuan peppercorns and where can I find them?

Szechuan peppercorns are a type of spice commonly used in Chinese cuisine. They have a unique flavor profile that includes a tingly and numbing sensation. You can usually find them at specialty spice stores or Asian markets. You can substitute black peppercorns but they don’t have the same flavor or mouthfeel.

Is Szechuan the same as Sichuan?

Szechuan and Sichuan refer to the same place. The spelling u0022Szechuanu0022 is an older transliteration of the Chinese characters, while u0022Sichuanu0022 is the modern spelling. Szechuan/Sichuan cuisine has a unique flavor profile, which combines spicy, sweet, sour, and umami flavors in a single dish. It is also known for its use of fresh, bold ingredients and cooking techniques, such as stir-frying and braising.

Can I use a different protein in this Szechuan stir fry besides tofu?

Absolutely! This recipe works well with a variety of proteins, such as tempeh or seitan.

How can I adjust the spiciness level of the Szechuan sauce?

The level of spiciness can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the amount of chili paste or chili flakes in the Szechuan sauce. Start with a small amount and gradually increase until you reach your desired level of heat.