Minced Tofu with Spicy Black Bean Sauce Recipe
A flavorful Minced Tofu with Spicy Black Bean Sauce recipe featuring air-fried crumbled tofu combined with a savory and slightly sweet black bean sauce, stir-fried with aromatic garlic, ginger, and onions. This dish is perfect served over steamed rice and garnished with fresh green onions, offering a delightful texture and rich umami flavor with a hint of spice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
Tofu
- 1 lb extra firm tofu (drained and pressed)
- Neutral cooking oil (for spraying)
Sauce
- 2 tbsp Chinese fermented black beans
- 1–2 tbsp soy sauce (to taste)
- 1–2 tsp dark soy sauce (optional, for color)
- 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegar
- 2 tbsp maple syrup (or other sweetener)
- 1/4 cup room temperature water
- Neutral cooking oil (for stir-frying)
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tbsp minced ginger
- 1 tbsp shallot sauce (optional but highly recommended)
- Soy sauce (to taste, if needed)
For Serving
- Steamed rice
- Green onions (for topping)
Instructions
- Prepare Tofu: Drain the tofu from liquid and press it to remove excess moisture. Crumble the tofu with your hands into small pieces.
- Air-Fry Tofu: Place the crumbled tofu in a lined air-fryer basket and spray it lightly with neutral cooking oil. Air-fry at 350°F (180°C) for 13-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the tofu is lightly golden brown but not overly dry to maintain good texture.
- Set Tofu Aside: Once the tofu is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and set it aside for stir-frying with the sauce.
- Prepare Sauce: In a bowl, mix the Chinese fermented black beans, soy sauce, dark soy sauce (if using), Chinese black vinegar, maple syrup, and room temperature water until well combined. Adjust seasoning to your taste.
- Heat Pan and Aromatics: Heat a medium-sized pan or wok over medium heat and add neutral cooking oil. When hot, add diced onion and stir-fry until translucent. Then add minced garlic and ginger, cooking until fragrant.
- Add Shallot Sauce and Sauce Mixture: Stir in the shallot sauce if using. Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the pan, lower the heat, and let it gently simmer.
- Combine Tofu with Sauce: Add the air-fried tofu to the pan and mix thoroughly with the sauce. Cook until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly due to the sugars, allowing the tofu to absorb the flavors.
- Final Seasoning: Taste the tofu and add more soy sauce if needed to adjust seasoning.
- Serve: Serve the minced tofu hot over steamed rice and garnish with chopped green onions as desired. Enjoy the dish while warm.
Notes
- Pressing tofu well is crucial to remove excess moisture and achieve a better crisp texture when air-frying.
- Do not overcook the tofu in the air fryer; leaving some white parts keeps the texture enjoyable and prevents dryness.
- Shallot sauce adds depth to the dish but can be omitted if unavailable.
- Soy sauce amounts can be adjusted to taste depending on salt preference.
- This dish pairs perfectly with steamed jasmine or short-grain rice.
Keywords: Tofu recipe, Spicy black bean sauce, Air-fried tofu, Chinese tofu dish, Vegetarian main, Vegan stir-fry