Vegan Thai Basil Tofu with Green Beans 

With the addition of fresh basil leaves, this vegan recipe for Thai Basil Tofu with Green Beans is fragrant, sweet, spicy, and savory. For a deliciously filling meal, you should eat this with a bowl of steaming rice.

I have definitely encountered my fair share of incredible tofu recipes, from this drool-worthy Pad Ped to this delectable Thai Red Curry Tofu I can say that this Tofu with basil and green beans is one of my all-time favorites.

What is Thai Basil?

Thai cuisine staple Thai Basil or Pad Kra Pao is often prepared with ground chicken and holy basil (Thai Basil Leaves). The main difference between my version and this stir-fry is that instead of chicken, I use tofu, which I crisp up nicely before combining with the vegetables, sauce ingredients, and rice. I substitute store-bought chili paste, also known as sambar oelek, for authentic Thai chilies, which might be difficult to find.

Tips and Variations

• Add some Thai red pepper flakes or thinly sliced Thai chilies to up the spiciness (de-seeded). To add more spice to the Thai tofu marinade, try Sriracha or another hot sauce.
• This simple tofu marinade will gain umami depth by adding a tiny bit of vegan oyster sauce.
• To add extra crunch and heart-healthy lipids, garnish the Thai tofu stir-fry with toasted, unsalted smashed peanuts or cashews. Sesame seeds can be added to the Thai tofu for a nut-free variation.
• Add other vegetables, such as broccoli/broccolini, carrot, mushrooms, or eggplant, to make this a heartier Thai basil tofu stir-fry.
• Any leftover Thai basil tofu should be allowed to cool before storing it for up to three days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. The dish shouldn’t be frozen because thawing the frozen vegetables would turn them into mush or water.
• To reheat the Thai tofu stir-fry, use a microwave or a low heat on the stove.

Ingredients

Ingredients you will need:

• green beans
• firm tofu 
• vegetable oil 
• ginger
• Thai green chili
• medium onion
• red bell pepper
• brown sugar 
• soy sauce 
• oyster mushroom sauce 
• ground white pepper 
• Holy Basil leaves 
• Salt 
• lemon

Instructions

Directions:

Now that we have already the ingredients, let’s start cooking the Vegan Thai Basil Tofu with Green Beans.

Heat one tablespoon of vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Once hot, fry the green beans for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Then, transfer the fired beans to a bowl and set it aside.

In the same pan, place the remaining oil, fry ginger slices and onion slices until fragrant for 60 seconds.

Add in crumbled tofu and stir to cook for another 5 minutes. Add in Thai green chili, brown sugar, soy sauce, and oyster mushroom sauce. And stir and continue sautéing for 2 minutes:

Add in the basil leaves, red bell pepper, and ground white pepper and cook until the basil is slightly wilted. Add in the fried green beans and mix well and season with salt to taste and a squeeze of lemon juice:

Turn off the heat and serve best served with steamed rice:

FAQ