Vegan Sweet Chili Tofu Cups (Print Version)

Crispy tofu in sweet chili glaze served in lettuce with crunchy veggie slaw, perfect for a light, flavorful dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Tofu

01 - 14 oz firm tofu, pressed and cubed
02 - 2 tablespoons cornstarch
03 - 1 tablespoon neutral oil such as canola or sunflower

→ Sweet Chili Glaze

04 - 1/3 cup vegan sweet chili sauce
05 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
06 - 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
07 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil

→ Veggie Slaw

08 - 1 cup red cabbage, finely shredded
09 - 1 cup carrot, julienned or grated
10 - 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
11 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
13 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup or agave
15 - 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
16 - Pinch of salt

→ For Serving

17 - 12 large butter or romaine lettuce leaves
18 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
19 - Lime wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - Pat tofu dry with paper towels and cut into bite-sized cubes. Toss cubes gently with cornstarch until evenly coated.
02 - Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu cubes and cook, turning occasionally, until golden and crispy on all sides, approximately 8 to 10 minutes.
03 - While tofu cooks, combine sweet chili sauce, soy sauce or tamari, rice vinegar, and sesame oil in a small bowl.
04 - In a large bowl, combine red cabbage, carrot, bell pepper, green onions, cilantro, rice vinegar, maple syrup or agave, sesame oil, and salt. Toss well to coat and set aside.
05 - Once tofu is crisp, lower heat to medium. Pour glaze over tofu, stirring to coat evenly. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until sauce thickens and tofu becomes glossy.
06 - Lay out lettuce leaves. Add a generous spoonful of slaw to each leaf, top with sweet chili tofu, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve with lime wedges.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen when you actually spent less time than scrolling through your phone.
  • The textural play between crispy tofu, tender lettuce, and crunchy slaw keeps every bite interesting and alive.
  • It doubles as both an elegant appetizer and a light main dish, making it perfect for any occasion without apology.
02 -
  • If your tofu isn't crispy, it's usually because it wasn't pressed enough or your heat wasn't high enough, so give it proper time on the heat and don't rush it.
  • The lettuce cups are best served immediately after assembly because the warmth of the tofu starts to soften the leaves if they sit too long.
03 -
  • If you want extra richness, sprinkle toasted cashews or peanuts over the cups just before serving for a textural surprise.
  • The glaze recipe doubles beautifully if you want to make these for a group, and any extra can be refrigerated and used as a dipping sauce for other vegetables.
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